The Glorious Lover, Book 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Shewing what Conſultations there were amongſt the infernal Spirits to bring Jeſus, Prince of Light, under the power of Death; a Council called in Hell: the Princes of the fallen Angels in a deep combination againſt him, for fear their Kingdom ſhould fall, and the poor Creature be delivered. The grand Counſel of Old Satan is taken. He enters into Judas. Judas's ſin diſcovered. Jeſus is apprehended. A terrible battel, or Chriſt's Agony before his Paſſion. Sin and Wrath combine together: ſhewing the Prince's Conqueſts over them both. Seven aggravations of Chriſt's ſorrows in the Garden; and a Dialogue between the Devil, King of Darkneſs, and Death, the King of Terrors.
HEre let's a while reflect with careful heed;
What! doth the guiltleſs for the guilty bleed?
This may aſtoniſh all, here's Love indeed!
Do Mortals ever greater love extend,
Then to lay down their lives for a dear Friend?
But for a Prince, a mighty Prince to die,
Not for a Friend, but for an Enemy,
Convicted and condemn'd for horrid Treaſon,
Thus to ſtep in at that moſt Critick ſeaſon,
When juſt the fatal blow was to be given;
This Love's above our Reach, higher than Heaven,
Deeper than Ocean Seas, ſo Infinite,
As well deſerves our wonder day and night.
What? Was the Father free his Son to give,
His dear and only Son, that ſhe might live?
And doth the Son i'th midſt of Enemies
Yield up himſelf to be a Sacrifice?
Yet who can be ſo bold to lay their Hands
Upon this Prince, that Heaven & Earth commands?
How ſhall this thing be now accompliſhed?
And by, what means ſhall his dear Blood be ſhed?
Let's now inquire who is't that will conſent
To be the grand and chiefeſt Inſtrument
To execute this precious ſpotleſs Lamb,
Who for this purpoſe down from Heav'n came?
Has he on Earth any ſuch ſpightful Foe,
As dare's attempt this 'mazing thing to do?
You heard before he daily was beſet,
And with what Enemies he often met;
But now his hour is drawing very near.
Great Conſultations 'mongſt his Foes there were,
How they might take his bleſſed Life away,
Who ſeem'd himſelf impatient of delay.
He long'd until his work were finiſhed,
Which could not be until his blood were ſhed:
And though he had moſt raging Enemies,
Yet knew they not what project to deviſe
To bring this bloody traiterous deed to paſs,
Which long before by them deſigned was:
Until Apollyon finding by his Art
The dire Intentions harbour'd in their Heart,
Doth rouſe them up, and firſt the matter ſtart
To the Infernal powers, to wake them …l
A ſecond time upon this Prince to fall.
Then Belzebub, Satan, and Lucifer,
Conſult afreſh how to renew the War,
And to this purpoſe wee'l ſuppoſe they ſpake:
Apollyon.
Shake off your fears, and ſpeedily let's make
The ſtrongeſt Head that poſſibly we can
Againſt this ſtrong, this Devil-amazing man.
Now, now's the day, let's bring him to Death's ſting,
And then with ſhouts of Triumph we may ſing:
For over Death 'tis we the power have,
And we may ſure ſecure him in the Grave.
'Tis he alone who frights us in our ſtation,
And puts us all into great Conſternation.
Our Kingdom by this means is like to fall,
And we thereby be ruin'd great and ſmall.
I have engag'd him once, but could not ſtand,
I know his ſtrength, he has a pow'rful Hand.
Belzebub.
My Sentence is for War; this Enterprize
Well managed, will make our Kingdom riſe,
And re-inthrone us in our Antient Skies,
To a great Height and flouriſh, as before:
When he is down, we'l let him riſe no more.
Can we but once deprive him of his Life,
'Twill put an end to all our fears and ſtrife.
Lucifer.
Dominions, Pow'rs, and Principalities
You all in danger are; awake and riſe
From off your Seats, and lazy Beds of Down:
Sleep you ſecure, or, fear not the dread frown
Of him who caſt you down, and joys to ſee
Your abject ſtate confeſs his Victory?
Shall all our brave infernal Regiments yield,
And baſely quit the even yet doubtful Field?
What? by one man ſhall ſuch a pow'rful Hoſt
Be overcome, and all at once be loſt?
Come, ſhew your valour, I'le command the Van,
Tho we're to engage withone that's more than Man,
Yet fear him not; why doth each ſpirits hand
Shake thus? why do you all amazed ſtand?
Has none found out a way to make him yield,
And either by fraud or force to quit the Field?
At this old Satan roſe from off his Seat,
Ready to burſt with Rage and Malice great,
And caſt a terrible look (if minded well)
Enough to fright all th' Devils out of Hell.
Satan.
You mighty Lords of the Infernal Lake,
Hark unto me, who for our Empires ſake
Have now devis'd a Stratagem, that may
(If I miſtake not) prove the only way
To bring about the Ruin of our Foe,
Whom I both hate and dread, as you well know.
There is his Servant Judas, he's our Friend,
And into him forthwith will I deſc1end,
Who by my ſtrong perſuaſions ſoon will do
That which may make for's Maſter's overthrow.
He will betray him to our Servants hand,
Who will ſecure him ſafe at your Command,
And put him unto Death, who when deſtroy'd,
We never any more ſhall be annoy'd.
They all agreed to what old Satan ſaid,
Combining jointly to aſſiſt and aid
Him in this great, though curſed enterpriſe,
And bid him make what haſt he could deviſe.
Delays are dangerous, Devils well know that:
But why need they Grim Satan inſtigate?
He needs not be provoked to make haſte,
When 'tis to injure Souls; or them to waſte;
Or wreck his Malice, Rage, and Helliſh ſpight
On the ſweet perſon of the Prince of Light.
For now, alas! is come the diſmal hour,
The time of Darkneſs. And Hell's direful pow'r
No ſooner ſpoke, but Satan flew away,
Winged with ſpight, impatient of delay.
He takes poſſeſſion of poor Judas heart,
And unto him in ſecret doth impart
The grand Deſign of this Cabal of Hell;
Who preſently conſents, and likes it well.
Away he goes, reſolv'd the work to do:
A work, Lord, did I ſay? ſad work! Oh who
Could think that a Diſciple could do this,
Betray his Lord with a falſe treach'rous kiſs?
Perfidious wretch! what villany is here?
Who can conceive the Crime? or who declare
The horrid nature of this vile offence?
Tranſcending all degrees of inſolence.
No treacherous Act like it was done on Earth,
Since Man firſt from enliv'ned Clay took breath.
Where was thy Conſcience, wretch, it did not fly
Into thy face for this Impiety?
Were all his wondrous works out of thy mind,
His tender Love and pity to mankind?
Betray the Son of Man! Can this be ſo?
What hadſt thou in thine Eye? what made thee do
This horrid deed? Was't mony did thee move
To forfeit thy Allegiance, and thy love?
'Twas from that filthy Root, Root of all Evil!
Baſe forbid Gain, thou ſoldſt Chriſt to the Devil;
(That is to thoſe vile men he did employ
To perpetrate this curſed Tragedy.)
This ſhew'd thy malice, and how thou didſt hate him;
But tell us, Judas! at what price didſt rate him?
What price didſt ſet upon his bleſſed Head?
Are Thirty pence enough? What, valued
At this low price?—Is Jeſus worth no more?
Such a ſad Bargain ne're was made before.
A Box of Ointment's worth, in thy eſteem,
Three hundred pence; and doſt thou value him
Not to amount in worth 'bove the Tenth part?
Thou ſhew'ſt how blind, and how deceiv'd thou art?
He whoſe moſt precious perſonage out-ſhines
The fading Luſtre of all Ophirs Mines.
And carries ſweeter Odours in his Breaſt,
Than all the Spices that perfume the Eaſt;
He that's Omnipotencies choice delight,
Whom trembling Angels worſhip day and night;
He that the Saints above all Worlds do prize,
In whom all worth and true enjoyment lies;
Shall he be ſold at ſuch a rate? O fie!
Thou wilt repent it to Eternitie,
That thou didſt ever ſuch a Bargain make:
What? Thirty Bits of curſed Silver take
For th' Pearl of matchleſs price; thou ſorbid Sot!
Wilt thou be trading, when thou knoweſt not
What 'tis thou ſell'ſt? Fool, 'tis a precious ſtone,
The Indian Quarries yield not ſuch an one,
Worth more than Heaven & Earth. But it is gone?
So rich a Jewel loſt?—Go howl and cry;
Thou'lt hang thy ſelf; next in Hell-torments fry.
And who can pity thee? I prethee who
To ſuch a Traytor will compaſſion ſhow?
Now 'tis too late thou doſt begin to mourn;
Better (vile wretch) thou never hadſt been born.
Under incenſed wrath, ah! now he lies,
Where flames torment, and Conſcience terrifies.
Be not offended, Sirs, I judg him not;
But his own Maſter's words can't be forgot,
Who ſpeaking of his ſad and ſinful fall,
Doth him the S… of black perdition call,
And ſays that he is loſt. Chriſt is the Judge,
And to repeat his Sentence who can grudge?
But to proceed—how can my ſpirits hold?
I need Relief, my heart (alas) grows cold,
Whilſt I with wonder look on what's behind,
Soul-melting pity overwhelms my mind.
Who can of ſuch heart-breaking ſuff…rings hear,
And not diſſolve each Eye into a Tear?
But, ah! methinks ſomething doth intervene,
The thought of which puts me to as much pain,
As doth the ſad, but uſeful Contemplation
Of his unhappy happy bloody paſſion.
Then let's ret…at, and to the Garden go,
For in that place began his grievous woe:
Before he doth with th' King of Terrors fight,
Another King ſets on him full of ſpight,
Whoſe powr's great, by curſed uſurpation,
He domineers and rules o're every Nation;
He brings the Mighty down unto his feet,
And makes them all with rigour to ſubmit:
The good, the bad, the wiſe, the old, the young,
The rich, the poor, the beautiful, and ſtrong,
All that live, ore're liv'd, have worſted bin
By this proud lofty one, whoſe name is SIN.
A Baſtard Devil of moſt monſtrous Birth,
Begot in Hell, by Satan firſt brought forth;
Already you have of his Malice heard,
And how in wrath he never Mortal ſpar'd.
A crafty Foe, who oftner ſteers his courſe
In all his wars, by fraud than open force:
'Tis he that keeps the Soul in Iron Chains,
And robs her of all Senſe; leſt thoſe great pains
She otherwiſe might feel, ſhould make her cry
To be deliver'd from his ſlavery;
Unleſs our Jeſus doth this Foe deſtroy,
The Soul he loves he never can enjoy.
He had with him before oft a hard Duel,
And worſted him, eſcaping all his cruel
Attaques, but rallying now with other Foes
He joyns, to lay on more impetuous blows.
Well may we dread here an amazing Fight,
For lo! with him confederate in our ſight
The Wrath of God, moſt fearful to behold:
Both theſe ſad Enemies, with courage bold,
Are making all the Head that e're they can
Againſt this bleſſed Prince, the Son of Man.
Oh! let our Souls be arm'd with courage bold,
Whilſt we this furious Battel do behold.
Before the Fight begins, do you not hear
How he doth cry unto his Father dear;
O let this Cup from me, Lord, paſs away,
If it be poſſible; Let it, I pray,
Paſs from me, that of it I may not drink.
Until this time he never ſeem'd to ſhrink
From any pain, conflict, or ſuffering;
This Combat is, alas, a different thing,
From what before he ever met withal;
From hence he did unto his Father call
Once and again, repeating of his cry,
It'h ſenſe of what was now approaching nigh.
Some may at this 'tis likely much admire,
That our dear Saviour ſhould ſo loud deſire
To be deliver'd from that bitter Cup,
Which was prepared for him to drink up.
It did not riſe for his unwillingneſs;
But from the pain, the anguiſh, and diſtreſs
'Twould bring him to: this humane Nature's weak
From thence he might ſuch ſupplications make.
Ah! wrath Divine, what humane Soul can bea…?
But of Divinity he hath his ſhare,
Which doth again his fainting ſpirit chear.
And ſuch ſupport he needs—Caſt but an Eye,
See how the Combatants with fury fly
Upon each other; What a Battel's here,
Enough to melt our Souls into a tear.
Lo! the firſt blow that Sin and Wrath doth give,
It is the worſt he ever did receive.
Behold! how frightfully grim Wrath doth frown;
Nay, more, the Prince ſeems by their ſtrength caſt down.
Now Sin & Wrath upon him both do lie,
Which makes him groan, and bitterly to cry,
With panting breaſt, and half-expiring Breath,
My Soul is ſorrowful, ev'n unto Death.
Can the great Prince of Earth and Heaven feel
Such heavy ſtrokes, as thus to make him reel?
The diſmal weight of Sin this doth declare;
None but a JESVS▪ could it fully bear.
Happy are we, as the bleſt Prophet ſaid,
Our Help was upon One that's mighty laid.
Could man or Angel ev'r have born all this,
And not have been caſt down to th'deepſt Abyſs?
Nay of this mighty One, Saint Mark hath rais'd
Our Wonder higher, He was ſore amaz'd:
Nay more than this, he fell upon the Ground:
No Soul before ſuch anguiſh ever found,
To ſee the Lord of Life brought to the Earth,
Under the preſſure of God's heavy Wrath;
And that he ſuffer'd all this in our ſtead,
May make our Souls to ſtand aſtoniſhed;
Eſpecially, if to theſe Trials we
Shall add his great and bloody Agony,
Wherein the ſweat fell from him as he ſtood,
In Crimſon dy, like trickling drops of blood.
Ah! precious Lord! this work was very ſore;
But ſtill thy Love, and its bleſt Vertue's more;
Through all theſe Toils thou graſpſt at Victory,
And Captive lead'ſt at laſt Captivity.
If Sin that day had not receiv'd a fall,
Grim Death and Hell had quickly ſwallow'd all
The race of Man; we all had been undone,
No help, no hope, no life for any one;
Sin was condemn'd, it had a fatal blow,
That now to Saints it little hurt can do.
But to proceed, here I ſhall now relate
Some things which very much do aggravate
The ſufferings which Chriſt in's Soul indur'd,
When he this Conqueſt for our Souls procur'd;
No greater ſorrows did he ever know,
Than thoſe which then his Soul did undergo.
Several Circumſtances which demonſtrate the Greatneſs of our Saviours sufferings in his Soul in the Garden.
Firſt.
They did not ſeize him with the leaſt ſurprize,
From thence oft-times doth great Amazement riſe
Unto poor Mortals: we are not aware
Oft-times what's nigh, know nothing of the ſnare.
But thus 'twas not with the bleſt Prince of Light;
What can be hid from Great Jehovah's ſight?
He knew full well what would upon him fall;
Yet when it came, ſo great, ſurpaſſing all
Were th' Griefs he felt, he in amaze doth call
Unto his Father dear moſt earneſtly,
If 'twere his will to let that Cup paſs by.
Secondly.
It was the very thing he came to do,
And yet cry'd out in ſuch ſad ſort; O who
Can then conceive what he did undergo?
He freely did his precious Life give up;
And yet he's ready to refuſe the Cup.
He takes it (as it were) into his hand
Moſt willingly, but preſently doth ſtand
Pauſing a while: then puts it to his Lip,
And after he had took one bitter ſip,
Looks up to Heav'n, and cryes, O may it be
Thy will, dear God, this Cup might paſs from me.
Thirdly.
He knew unleſs he drank it up, that we
Muſt periſh All to all Eternitie;
And that his coming would prove all in vain,
If he refuſed for us to be ſlain;
And yet with ſighs and groans how did he cry,
In ſenſe of wrath, and that extremity,
Which he beheld would quickly overtake him,
When once his bleſſed Father did forſake him!
Fourthly.
The Angels which did there to him appear,
Demonſtrate plain how great his ſorrows were:
For like as one diſtreſſed, makes complaint,
Quite tired out, and all his ſpirits faint,
Needs to be ſtrengthned by ſome faithful Friend:
So God to him did Holy Angels ſend,
For to relieve and comfort him that Day,
When Sin and Wrath ſo heavy on him lay.
Fifthly.
But what's Aſſiſtance from an Heavenly Hoſt,
To the great Power of the Holy Ghoſt!
Some little meaſure of the Spirit hath
Cauſed bleſt Saints to triumph over Death.
How have they ſung with flames about their Ears,
Contemning pains, regardleſs of all fears?
This Spirit reſted on him bodily,
Without meaſure; and yet how doth he cry!
As ſcarce well knowing which way to bear up,
Whilſt he partakes of this moſt painful Cup.
This greatly doth his ſuff'rings amplify
To humane ſenſe, if weighed ſeriouſly.
Sixthly.
O Lord! what means theſe melting ſighs and Tears?
Why is thy Soul amaz'd, why fill'd with Fears?
Ah! 'tis enough to break our hearts to think
Upon that bitter potion thou didſt drink;
Thou knewſt thy ſorrows would be quickly o're,
And then thou ſhouldſt ne'r ſigh nor ſuffer more;
'Twas from thy worth, both Wrath and Juſtice cryes,
We are appeas'd with this thy Sacrifice.
Might not the ſhortneſs of this Conflict yield
Thee ſome Relief? Beſides thou knew'ſt the Field
Thou ſhouldſt obtain, the Conqueſt was thine own,
And quickly too the Conflict would be gone.
I'th midſt of Wars, or anguiſh, Men indure,
If any can them certainly aſſure,
That in ſhort time their Troubles will be over,
They ſtraight rouſe up their ſpirits to recover,
And patiently reſolve to bear the ſmart,
For this is like a Cordial to the Heart.
All this thou knew'ſt, and more abundantly;
Yet Sins dire weight ſo heavily did lie,
That with ſtrong groans & horror thou didſt cry.
The Torments, Lord! of Hell took hold on thee,
Our Souls from that devouring Wrath to free.
But why didſt thou into a Garden go
Thus to encounter with the helliſh Foe?
Was it becauſe there firſt began our woe?
Or, was it, Lord, to have us call to mind
When we in Walks and Gardens pleaſures find,
What thou didſt for us in a Garden bear,
To take our Hearts from ſlitting pleaſures here?
But ſtop, my Muſe! look back, and let us ſ…e
What did ſucceed Judas his Treachery.
O mind, what Joy's amongſt th' Infernal Crew,
In hopes of what is likely to enſue.
Not once, but many times? this makes me quake:
We are undone, ſhould he refuſe to take
Part now with us in this Extremity,
When all we have and are at ſtake doth lie.
To this Advice the Devils all conſent,
And call for Tyrant Death, who doth preſent
His gaſtly face, and boldly do's demand,
What 'twas they would have him to take in hand?
Then ſoon Apollyon, King of Darkneſs, breaks
Silence, and to this purpoſe gravely ſpeaks.
Apollyon.
Dread King of Terrors, if thou ſtepſt not in,
Down goes our Hell-bred Monarchy of Sin.
We now can walk the ſpacious Earth about,
And have we Friend or Foe, we find him out.
Where e're we ſee a perſon that's upright,
We ſeek his ruin with the greateſt ſpight.
When we by fraud or craft can't him intice
To yield to Pride, or Luſt, or any Vice,
But that he'l watch us with a wary Eye,
And perſevere in all true Piety;
Then on him do we bring outward diſtreſs,
To make him loſe, or leave his Holineſs.
Our Kingdom by this practice is made ſtrong,
Potent and large, and ſo has proſper'd long.
But now thy help we need, for much we fear
The downfal of our Kingdom draweth near.
Upon the Earth there now appears in ſight
A mighty Foe, one call'd The Prince of Light.
…
And for what end ſhould he from Heaven come,
If not to execute on us that Doom
Which Heav'n long ſince decreed? To end which ſtrife,
We are reſolv'd to take away his Life.
Already he's betray'd; if things hit right,
And then we'l yield him up unto thy Might.
For thy Aſſiſtance, Death, we do implore,
Elſe to theſe miſchiefs this will happen more,
That Creature we ſo long have captivated,
Will in her Pomp again be re-inſtated.
The thoughts of which there's none of us can bear,
Speak, ſpeak, pale Monarch! for we long to hear
What's thy Advice? Thou mighty art in pow'r,
And canſt, we know, whole Nations ſoon devour.
The King of Terrors.
Great Prince of Darkneſs, you muſt underſtand
We are not wholly at your proud Command.
For there's a mighty Pow'r in Heaven high,
Which you are ſubject to as well as I:
'Tis true, from him I cannot ſay at all
That I derive my ſtrange Original;
Yet by his pleaſure am circumſcrib'd,
And 'gainſt his Will cannot be forc'd nor brib'd.
Wherefore, if he this Prince of Light protect,
In vain at him ſhall I my ſhafts direct.
Beſides, in this Exploit methinks I find
Some ſtrange foreboding ills poſſeſs my mind,
As if engaging thus againſt your Foe,
I ſhould but haſten mine own overthrow.
Take mine Advice then, meddle not at all;
Better ſit ſtill, you know, than riſe to fall.
'Tis true indeed, as you have well obſerv'd,
Your threatned Judgment has been long deferr'd:
But if your Execution-Day be come,
You can't eſcape, but muſt abide your Doom.
Prince of Darkneſs.
Thou pale-fac'd Traytor! ſhan't we have thy Aid?
Then all our Helliſh Projects are betray'd.
How oft have we ſtood by thee; ſent thee forth
To do our will and pleaſure on the Earth?
The firſt that ever thou hadſt in thy hand,
Committed was by me, at my Command,
I cauſed Cain to ſlay his godly Brother;
And ſo taught thee how to bereave the Mother
Of her moſt dear, of her moſt hopeful Son;
And ſhall not now my will in this be done?
'Twas I which did thy being to thee give:
How many Subjects doſt each day receive
From me and mine? who do in every Land
Promote thy State, and lend their helping-Hand.
Therefore conſent, and ſhow thy angry Brow,
And make this Conqueror to thy Scepter bow,
Yielding himſelf to thee, ſtrike him with ſpeed,
And pierce his very Heart until it bleed.
Then ſome dark Cave near the Earths Centre find,
Where Light ne're pierc'd, nor Phoebus ever ſhin'd,
There, there, the vanquiſht Foe do thou retain
Cloſe Priſn'er with an Adamantine Chain.
When e're thou ſtrik'ſt, be ſure ſtrike home thy blow,
Leſt he revive and work our overthrow.
Be bold, attempt, and let thy pow'r be known,
Thy Glory of this Deed ſhall be thine own.
King of Terrors.
I muſt confeſs I have been often ſent
By Helliſh means unto the Innocent.
To ſatisfy your Envy, Pride, and Luſt,
Some thouſands I have turn'd into the Duſt.
Yet never did I ſtrike, but on Condition,
As Heaven did permit, in my Commiſſion.
And though by Thee, and by that Monſter, Sin,
The Child of Hell, I firſt of all came in;
Yet am I not ſubſervient ſtill to thee,
But bounded by Jehovah's own Decree:
For had I wholly been at thy Command,
Poor Job had fell before thy pow'rful hand.
Where my dread Sovereign Lord do's give me charge,
To ſtay my hand (though my Commiſſion's large)
I muſt forbear; But if he once permit,
The Juſt, and the Unjuſt, alike I hit.
Apollyon King of Darkneſs.
Wilt thou eclipſe my Glory and Renown?
Deſtroy my Pow'r, and tread my Kingdom down?
Fy Death! for ſhame forbear thy Inſolence,
And do'nt diſpute the Mandates of thy Prince.
Strike! I conjure thee; do not vainly think
'Twill be thy Int'reſt from this work to ſhrink.
That hand, that powerful hand that conquers me,
If he prevail, at laſt will vanquiſh thee.
Though now on Earth thou doſt in triumph dwell,
If he o'recome, he'l caſt thee down to Hell.
Thou fro'n thy Monarchy ſhalt then be driven,
And ſhalt abide in no place under Heaven.
Thou that haſt been a Conqueror heretofore,
Shalt conquer'd be, and never conquer more.
Ah! lend thy Hand, ſhew forth thy mighty pow'rs,
'Tis for thy Int'reſt, Death, as well as ours.
If Arguments and Reaſon may convince
Thee; try thy weapons on this dangerous Prince.
King of Terrors.
Say, ſay no more. If you find things agree
In order to his downfall, I will be
His Executioner, do you not fear,
I tremble at the thoughts of what I hear.
Damned Spirits.
Bravely reſolv'd! At laſt they all Reply'd,
Swelling in Wrath, in Malice, Envy, Pride,
Wee'l now proceed, and craftily prepare
All things in readineſs to end this War.
Apollyon.
Though Judas has a party for our turn,
Yet we have more to do e're we adjourn.
If we ſhould bring this Enterpriſe to paſs,
Yet when all's done, I ſhall be where I was.
We muſt ſeek out ſome perſons to defame
His ſo much honour'd and unblemiſh'd Name.
He's Juſt and Virtuous, and eſteem'd ſo high,
Who dares charge him with th' leaſt Impurity?
Satan.
At this an envious Devil ſtrait jumpt in;
I'le lead the people on, let me begin;
I'le ſtir them up to Envy more and more,
Such Envy that he ſhall not ſtand before.
Belial.
Theſe are but ſparkles from an haſty Fire,
Which will for want of fuel ſoon expire.
His Glory ſtill encreaſes, ours decays.
Words without Actions are but faint delays.
The rareſt Wit amongſt us muſt look out,
With warineſs to bring this thing about.
I'le tell you what I newly have contriv'd:
Let my Lord Lucifer, the King of Pride,
Make one amongſt their Rulers in the Seat
Of ſeeming Juſtice; Tell them they are Great
And Prudent men, yea Learned ones likewiſe,
And in their Breaſts alone true Wiſdom lies.
Yea, tell them that the Soveraign Lord of Heaven
To them the name of Gods on Earth hath given,
Tell them both God and men have though it fit,
That they like Gods ſhould in this Grandeur ſit;
And, anſwerable to this lofty ſtation,
The people have them in great veneration.
Thus, when h' has put their Honours in a Heat,
And ſwell'd them up with Pride and ſelf-conceit,
Tell them 'tis much below their high Degree,
That ſuch a low inferiour Man as he
Should be their Prince, or … them bear ſway,
Who rather ought their … to obey.
Then, when the uncontrouled …reath of Fame
Has ſpread abroad the Glory of his Name,
And fill'd each Eye and Ear with Admiration,
Giving to him Applauſe and Veneration,
Then let our envious Friend once more take's place,
And ſit as pale as Death in every Face;
And let him tell them, if they do not take
Some ſpeedy courſe, their Honours lie at ſtake;
He grows ſo famous in the peoples Eyes,
They ſhortly will their Soveraignty deſpiſe.
Satan.
Nay, I can tell them yet another thing;
The people ſeek by force to make him King.
Which if the Roman Pow'r ſhould underſtand,
They'd quickly come and take away their Land.
This ſure will work, or other ways I'le find;
Good Mariners can ſail with every wind.
Thus theſe Infernals ſeeking to prevent
Their future, but deſerved puniſhment,
Far ſwifter than the lofty Eagle flies,
Did ſet upon their Helliſh enterprize.
The King of Pride threw forth his poiſonous Darts,
Which did not miſs to pierce the yielding Hearts
Of thoſe that ſat at Stern, who ſhould delight
To do the thing that's equal, juſt, and right:
But diſregarding great Jehovah's Laws,
They ſought (poor Souls) for popular Applauſe,
Puft up with Pride, and ſwoln with vain Ambition
(That Tympany of th' Soul) They had ſuſpition
That if the Prince of Light were once affected,
They by the people ſoon ſhould be rejected.
For firſt they ſaw his Miracles were great,
His Vertues rendred him ſtill more compleat,
And made him ſo illuſtriouſly to ſhine,
He gain'd the Appellation of Divine.
Nay, furthermore, they heard now ſome did ſing,
Hoſanna in the Higheſt to the King
Of Iſrael! the fragrant Flower of Jeſs,
The Root of David; Oh! who can expreſs
The depth of Envy which in them did burn,
With-raging flames, almoſt at every turn?
Cloſe Conſultation in their Courts appears,
And i'th mean while ſtrange Rumors fill their Ears.
The Miracles which he before had wrought
Into the minds of people freſh are brought,
Thoſe wond'rous things did much encreaſe the ſtrife:
He raſs'd, ſaid ſome, the Dead again to Life:
Gave ſight unto the Blind, who from their Birth
Had never ſeen the Light that guilds the Earth:
The Dumb, the Deaf, the Lepers, and the Lame,
In all Diſtempers, whoſoever came,
Had perfect Cure in every Diſeaſe;
Nay, he could huſh the Winds, and calm the Seas;
Could diſpoſſeſs the black Infernal Rout,
And caſt whole Legions of fierce Devils out.
Of five mean Barly loavs, and two ſmall Fiſhes,
He made above five thouſand plenteous Diſhes.
Thus many talkt what he before had done,
Grieving to think what now was coming on.
His gracious words, and vertuous Life commended
Him to the Multitude, but much offended
Th' inraged Rulers; yet his Innocence
Was ſtill ſo ſure a Guard and ſtrong defence,
That they could not their wicked ends obtain.
Yet from their malice would they not refrain.
How often did they in clandeſtine way
Endeavour their blood-thirſty hands to lay
Upon this Sacred Prince? yet ſtill through fear
The people would riſe up, they did forbear.
Sometimes they thought to trap him in his words,
That Law & Juſtice then might draw their Swords
And cut him off. And then again deviſe
Another courſe, charg'd him with Blaſphemies
Againſt the God of Heaven, by which way
They ſurely thought they might his Life betray.
But never could they over him get pow'r
Untill his time were come: Now, now's their hour.
The work muſt needs be carried on with ſpeed,
When Heaven and Hell about it are agreed.
Though different ends in theſe great Agents are,
Yet in the thing they both conſenting were,
That Chriſt ſhould be of his dear Life depriv'd.
Though Hell alone the guilty Act contriv'd,
Yet God indeed from all Eternitie,
Knowing what rage and curs'd malignity
Would be in their baſe Hearts, reſolved then
He would permit and ſuffer theſe vile men,
To bring his Purpoſe and Decree to paſs,
Which for our Good, and his own Glory was.