The Glorious Lover, Book 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
Shewing Chriſt's Heavenly and admirable Beauty, Riches, Bounty, Power, and Wiſdom.
Theologue.
WILT thou be cruel to ſo dear a Friend?
Upon thy ſelf 'twill fall, poor Soul, ith' end.
Did not Rebeck… yiel'd, and chuſe to go
With Abram's ſervant? and wilt thou ſay no?
What was an Iſaac unto him, whom I
Deſire thee to fix thy tender Eye
Upon? was Iſaac fair and wealthy too?
Or was he great? Ah Soul! will ſuch things do?
If beauty, wealth, or honour thou doſt prize,
I do preſent one now before thine Eys,
That is the Object, this alone is he;
None, none like him did ever mortals ſee.
He is all fair, in him 's not one ill feature,
Ten thouſand times more fair than any Creature
That lives, or ever lived on the Earth,
His Beauty ſo amazingly ſhines forth;
Angelick Nature is enamor'd ſo,
They love him dearly, and admire him too.
His Head is like unto the pureſt Gold,
His curled Treſſes lovely to behold,
And ſuch a brightneſs ſparkles from his Eys,
As when Aurora gilds the Morning skies.
And though ſo bright, yet lovely like the Doves,
Charming all hearts, where r…is diviner Loves,
Look on his beauteous Cheeks, and thou'lt eſpy
The Roſe of Sharon deckt in Royaltie.
His ſmiling Lips, his ſpeech, and words ſo ſweet,
That all delights and joy in them do meet;
Which tends at once to raviſh ear and ſight,
And to a kiſs all heavenly Souls invite.
The Image of his Father's in his face;
His inward parts excel, he's full of grace.
If Heaven and Earth can make a rare Complexion,
Without a ſpot, or the leaſt imperfection,
Here, here it is, it in this Prince doth ſhine,
He's altogether lovely, all Divine.
1. His Beauty is ſo much deſirable,
No Souls that ſee it any ways are able
For to withſtand the influ'nce of the ſame;
They'r ſo enamour'd with it, they proclaim
There's none like him in Earth, nor Heav'n above;
It draws their hearts, and makes them fall in love
Immediately, ſo that they cannot ſtay
From following him one minute of a day.
The Flock is left, the Herd, and fiſhing Net,
As ſoon as e're the Soul its Eye doth ſet
Upon his face, or of it takes a view,
They'l cleave to him, whatever doth inſue.
2. Chriſt is the Spring, or the Original
Of earthly beauty, and Celeſtial.
That Beauty which in glorious Angels ſhine,
Or is in Creatures natural, or Divine,
It flows from him: O it is he doth grace
The mind with glorious Beauty, as the face.
3. Chriſt's Beauty's chaſt, moſt pure, and without ſnares,
Not like to other's, which oft unawares,
Like Joſephs, moſt treacherouſly betrays
Poor wanton Souls, and leads them to the pit,
Before they are aware, or think of it!
Here may'ſt thou look, and love, and take thy …
(Yea every one who hath a heart, a will)
Whoſe ſweetneſs ne'r will glut, furfeit, or …
4. His Beauty's real, 'tis no glistering …
That ſuits vain Sinners, this affects the Saint.
The painted face pleaſes the carnal …y…,
But none but Saints through faith can this eſpy
That's a vain ſhow, but this a precious thing,
In ſight of which Celeſtial joy doth ſpring
5. This Beauty fills, and fully ſatisfies.
The hearts of all who have enlightned Eyes
He that ſees Chriſt, doth ſay, Lord, now I have
What e're I long…d to ſee, no more I crave,
I have enough, my heart and I are fill'd,
Which was not ſo before, whilſt I behold
Things with a ſenſual heart and outward eye.
There's nothing here, ſave Chriſt, can ſatiſfie
That precious Soul, which lieth in thy breaſt;
Reject him, and ne'r look for peace nor reſt.
6. Chriſt's Beauty…s hidden, 'tis ſo …;
No glimmerings of it can appear at all
To carnal Souls. This is the cauſe why he
Is thus deny'd and ſlighted ſtill by thee
7. There's one thing more which I'l… to thee impart,
Touching Chriſt's Beauty, by diviner. …,
He doth tranſmit his beauty unto thoſe
Who are deform'd, as ſoon as e're they cloſe
With him in truth, in a contract of love,
He all their homely features doth remove.
Oh! he can make thoſe lovely, very fair,
Who ne'r ſo filthy, ne'r ſo ugly are.
8. This Beauty fadeth not, 'twill not decay.
'Twill be as rare to morrow as to day.
Not like to that, which as a fading flower,
Ev'n now ſhines bright, but wither'd in an hour.
Riches of Chriſt.
Or, is thy heart on Riches ſet? know then,
Chriſt is more rich than all the ſons of Men.
The Father hath to him all fulneſs given
In Earth beneath, and all that is in Heaven.
All Kingdoms of the world they are his own,
Whether inhabited, or yet unknown.
He's heir of all things, and the time is near
When he will make his Right moſt plain appear.
All Potentates his Tenants are at will;
And ſuch who waſt his goods, or govern ill,
Account muſt give to him, and then will find
What 'tis to bear to him a treach'rous mind.
Chriſt's glorious Riches are diſcovered
Yet further unto thee; for all are fed
By him alone that on the Earth …'reliv'd,
Both food and clothes they all from him receiv'd,
And ſtill receive; 'tis at his proper charge
They are maintain'd, as might be ſhew'n at large.
I'le only give a hint or two at things,
His Treaſures far ſurmount all Earthly Kings.
He has paid all the debts of every one
That clos'd with him. O do but think upon
This very thing, and wiſely then account
To what a ſum this payment will amount:
Suppoſe each Soul ten thouſand Talents were
In debt to God: ſome little time we'l ſpare
To caſt it up. 'Tis done, and lo 'tis found
Eighteen hundred ſev'nty five thouſand pound.
And leſs than that what ſinners ow'd that's clear'd,
As often-times, I doubt not, you have hear'd.
What did they altogether, think you, owe?
Who's able to account it? who can ſhow
The quantity of that great debt, which he
Paid at one ſingle payment on the Tree?
The quality too of his Riches are
So great in worth, O ſo tranſcendent rare,
Their Nature Men nor Angels can declare.
No other Coin would with God's Juſtice go,
To ſatisfie for debts which Sinners owe.
Nay the whole World, nor yet ten thouſand more,
Could not diſcount one farthing of that ſcore,
But had Chriſt's worth and Riches only bin
Sufficient to diſcharge from debts of Sin,
And had he not more Treaſure to beſtow
On ſuch who do believe, or truly do
Cleave unto him, it might be thought to be
A leſſening of his vaſt Treaſurie.
But 'tis not ſo; for he enriches all,
Who are diſcharged from ſin's bitter thral.
None comes to him, nor ever came, but they
Receive, beſides ſuch ſums that very day
They are eſpous'd, that holy Truth relates,
They…r made more rich than earthly Potentates.
A golden Chain about their necks he places,
And them with Rings, and precious Jewels, graces.
And clothes them alſo in rich Robes of ſtate,
Whoſe ſparkling glory far exceeds the plate
Of beaten Gold; nay Ophir's Treaſury,
And all the Wealth which in both Indies lie,
Muſt not compared be; alas, they can't
Equal in worth the Robes of one poor Saint.
He Heirs alſo doth make them every one
Of a moſt glorious Kingdom, and a Crown
He doth aſſure them that they ſhall obtain,
And when they come to age, for ever raign
With him triumphantly, and tread down thoſe
Who were their Enemies, or did oppoſe
Their riſing up to ſuch great Dignity.
Or treated them on Earth with cruelty.
He's rich in every thing, no good is found,
No wealth nor worth, but all in Chriſt abound.
Few in all kind of Riches do exceed:
But there's in him whatever Sinners need.
Ca…t but a look, O view this Treaſury,
Riches of Life, Love, Pardon, all dos lie,
Laid up in Chriſt, in him tis hid, for thoſe
Who do with him in true affection cloſe.
Theſe Riches do enrich the Soul of Man,
Which earthly Riches never did, nor can.
Nay prethee hark to me, I'le tell thee more,
Although Chriſt has paid off our former ſcore,
He han…t conſum'd one farthing of his ſtore.
Though he has made ſome millions rich and high,
He hath with him ſuch a redundancy
Of glorious Riches, that let come who will,
Their Treaſuries with ſubſtance he can fill.
The Sun is not more full of precious Light,
Whoſe ſparkling rays do dazle mortals ſight;
Nor is the great, the vaſt and mighty Sea
More fill'd with water than (in truth) is he
With Grace and Riches, yea of every kind:
Which if thou cloſe with him, and doſt not find
To be a truth (Soul) then let me obtain
Reproach from all, yea an eternal ſhame.
Chriſt's Riches are ſo great, St. Paul knew well
No tongue could ſet them forth, no Angels tell
Th' nature of them, they unſearchable be;
Men may find out the bottom of the Sea,
As ſoon as they can learn or comprehend
How rich Chriſt is, who is thy deareſt Friend.
Nay, more than this, his Riches are ſo ſtable,
Moths can't corrupt them, nor can Thieves be able
To rob us of them. Nay, yet further-more,
He that hath them, what e're comes, can't be poor.
His Riches can't be ſpent, his Treaſury
Cannot exhauſted be, nor yet drawn dry.
Theſe Riches will rejoyce thee, make thee glad,
Revive thy heart; and God will never add
Sorrow with them whilſt thou doſt live on earth;
They'l quiet thee, and fill thy Soul with mirth;
They'l be a breaſt of ſuch ſweet Conſolation,
That when all other dwellers in the Nation
Shall be perplext through loſs of earthly gain,
Thou ſhalt be ſatisfied, and remain
In perfect peace; nought ſhall diſtreſs thy mind,
When they ſhall nought, ſave horrid anguiſh find.
Though Gold and Silver will not ſatisfie
The Soul of Man, yet this I do eſpy,
The loſs of them, and other earthly things,
It grief and ſorrow to the Spirit brings.
And ſo uncertain are things of the world,
Though here to night, e're morning all are hurl…d
Away from him who now poſſeſſion hath;
Like to a bubble are all things on Earth.
He that on wordly Riches ſets his mind,
Strives to take hold on ſhadows, and the wind.
But if Chriſt's Riches once thou doſt obtain,
The loſs of them thou never ſhalt ſuſtain,
Nor will they leave thee when thou com'ſt to die,
But cleave unto, and thee accompanie
Beyond the Grave, ev'n to Eternitie.
What doſt thou ſay? canſt make a better choice
Than cloſe with Chriſt? O hearken to his voice,
And don't with fraud the proffer made to thee,
If any good thou doſt in Riches ſee.
Chriſt's Bounty.
What ſayeſt thou? what haſt thou in thine eye?
Will not Chriſt's Riches move thee? then I'le try
To gain thee by ſome other property.
He's bountiful, and of a generous heart,
Moſt free and noble, ready to impart
What e're he hath unto the Soul he loves.
O ſee how his Heroick Spirit moves
In him, whoſe generous, whoſe bounteous hand,
Holds forth to thee what e're thou canſt demand.
'Tis thine for asking; do but ſpeak the word,
Thou haſt it done. O! none like this dear Lord,
Some mens great Riches ſeem to overflow,
Who do a baſe ignoble Spirit ſhow.
They treaſure up their bags, lay heap on heap,
Yet with a narrow covetous ſpir't keep
All from the poor: Nay their own Wives can get.
But now and then a little in a fit;
In a good mood ſometimes perchance they'l be
Kind unto them, though but unfreely free.
But Chriſt's rich Bounty does to all extend,
He ſtretches forth his hand to Foe and Friend.
Refined Gold, Eye-ſalve, and Rayments white,
Ev'n all choice things for profit and delight;
Sweet Frankincenſe, Spicknard, Calamas fine,
Myrrh, Saffron, with all choice of ſpiced Wine,
He freely gives to all: O come who will,
He'l bid you welcome, and your Treaſures fill.
O what doth he then to his Friends impart,
Unto his Spouſe, the Soul who has his heart?
Come, eat, O Friends, and drink abundantly,
Beloved ones, 'twas for your ſakes that I
This Banquet made. There's nought (ſays he) too good
For thoſe that I have purchas'd with my blood.
Take Grace and Glory; all I have I give you,
And to my ſelf I will e're long receive you.
Ask, that your joy may now be full: for I
Can't any thing that's good your ſouls deny.
The Soveraign Power and Dignity of Chriſt.
What can I now do more, if ſtill thou art
Reſolved to deny Jeſus thy heart?
If Beauty will not move thee to incline
To cloſe with him, who longs till he is thine:
Strange! Beauty oft prevails great Conqueſts gains,
Like to a mighty Victor, binds in chains
Thoſe wch would not by other means e're yield.
Such is the nature of his pow'rful Shield,
Triumphantly it has obtain'd the Field.
No ſtanding out againſt its piercing Darts,
It hath a ſecret way to wound thoſe hearts,
Whoſe conſtitution leads them naturally
To ſteer that courſe, and on it caſt an Eye
To ſearch the ſweet, which Fancy ſays doth lye
Hid in the ſame. For human Beauty's vain,
Which ſome have ſacrific'd their lives, to gain.
But Chriſt's ſweet Beauty is a real thing,
And doth ſubſtantial joys and pleaſures bring;
Such pleaſures alſo which will ſtill abide
For evermore, like Rivers by thy ſide.
Shall Beauty which is ſpotleſs, without ſlain,
Nor Riches neither, ſweet Imbraces gain;
Nor generous Bounty, win thy purer love?
Then let Ambition thy affections move.
Is Greatneſs barren quite of ſolid joys?
Are all her Merchandize but empty toys?
If it be earthly, 'tis an Airy thing,
Though 'twere to be a Spouſe unto a King.
But let it not be ſo look…d on by thee
To be eſpous'd to that great Majeſtie,
From whom alone true Honour dos deſcend,
This Greatneſs laſting perfect, ne'r will end.
Come, Soul, let us moſt ſeriouſly now pry
Into Chriſt's Pow'r and regal Soveraignty,
And next let me his glorious Pow'r ſhow
By which he works, and all great things can do.
Some have a Pow'r whereby they can command,
But to accompliſh things do want a hand:
But Chriſt in both excels, 'tis he alone
Hath regal Pow'r; and what he will have done
He can effect i'th twinkling of an eye,
Though all combine againſt him far and nigh.
He's over Angels, (as thou heardſt before)
They gladly him do rev'rence, and adore.
The Head o'th Church makes Laws, and governs it,
According as he ſees 'tis beſt and fit.
His regal Pow'r alſo doth deſcend,
And over all the Devils doth extend.
The Keys of Hell and Death to him are given;
'Tis he alone can ſhut and open Heaven.
Power to Rule, to command, to forbid,
To puniſh, or deliver, they'r all hid
In him alone; 'tis he can bind or looſe;
To damn or ſave, 'tis all as he doth chuſe.
He's King of Kings, all mighty men below
To him their Princely Crowns & Kingdoms owe.
Yea ſuch an univerſal Monarch's he,
Commands the mighty Winds, and ſtils the Sea.
'Twas by his hand the glorious Heav'ns were made,
And wondrous Earth's foundations firſt were laid.
The Sun, the Moon, and Stars receiv…d their light
From him at firſt, to rule both Day and Night.
His Power's abſolute without controle,
He governs all the World from Pole to Pole.
His Soveraign Pow'r was not gain'd by fight,
Or Uſurpation, but a lawful Right;
As he is God, 'tis his eſſentially,
Born Heir of it from all Eternity.
And as he's Mediator, th' God of Heaven
This glorious Power unto him has given.
His Pow'rs Infinite, it hath no bound,
No ends, or limits of it can be found.
He made the World, which by him doth ſubſiſt,
Nay he can make ten thouſand if he liſt.
He can do more than we can think or know,
Can kill, and make alive, ſave, or o'rethrow.
The Conqueſts he has gain'd, demonſtrate
The matchleſs Pow'r of this dread Potentate.
Sin is ore-come, the Devil's forc'd to fly,
Nay, … hath obtain'd a perfect Victory
O're Death, o're Hell, o're Wrath, & o're the Grave,
And from them all he able is to ſave.
If thou wilt but conſent, grant his requeſt,
Thou never more by Foes ſhalt be diſtreſt.
Ah Soul! is't not a very glorious thing,
Daily to be thus courted by a King,
And ſuch a King? ſhall Jeſus woo in vain?
Shall ſuch a Prince not thy ſweet love obtain?
The Wiſdome of Chriſt.
What ſay'ſt to Wiſdom, from whoſe Odour ſprings
That wch makes glorious inferiour Men, as Kings:
This ſpreads the ſweet perfume of Solomon's fame;
'Twas this that rais'd his moſt illuſtrious Name.
The noiſe of Wiſdome made ſo great report,
'Twas heard as far as Sheba's Princely Court.
It made the Lady's Charriot-wheels to run
Moſt ſwift, like to the new-rais'd Eaſtern Sun,
M…unting aloft, and vanquiſhing black Clouds:
She haſts away, and through obſtructions crouds;
Defying danger, ſhe's reſolv'd to ſee
What Fame reports touching this Prodigie.
The emulous Queen's arriv'd, ſhe ſtands amaz'd,
She leſſens, wonders, and be'ng over-daz'd
With this great Beam, ſhe breaks forth, could not hold
But muſt expreſs, that what to her was told
In her own Country, was in no wiſ… nigh
Half what ſhe found did in his Wiſdom lie.
What's Riches, Bounty, Honour, Beauty rare,
Unleſs true Wiſdom alſo do dwell there?
If Wiſdom may a perſon recommend,
Chriſt is all Wiſdom. Shall I now deſcend
Into particulars? wilt lend an Ear
Whilſt I endeavour to make it more clear?
Alas, I ſtand amaz'd! Can Infinite
Perfections be expreſt? what ſhall I write?
He's wiſe, all-wiſe, only wiſe; ſhall I ſpeak?
Wiſdom it ſelf i'th' abſtract. Can I take
Upon me then to ope this Myſtery,
When in him doth all depths of Wiſdom lie.
The Wiſemans wiſdome, if't compar'd might be,
Was like a drop of Water to the Sea;
Nay, far a greater diſproportion's there,
Should we Chriſt's wiſdom once with his compare.
'Twas he which did to Solomon impart
That wiſdom, and that underſtanding heart.
'Tis he which makes all good men grave and wiſe,
To hate all evil, and true Vertue prize.
He to our Fathers doth right knowledg give,
And 'tis by him all pious Judges live.
Th' infinite wiſdome of th' Eternal One
Shines forth in him; nay, 'tis in him alone
All is laid up; he is God's Treaſury,
Where Wiſdom and true Knowledg both do lie.
He knows all things and perſons here below;
Nay, perfectly does he the Father know,
And all Decrees and Counſels, which of old
Have been, and their events he can unfold.
He knows each glorious purpoſe, and deſign,
In him alone do all Perfections ſhine.
The frames the thoughts, the ways, the fears, the wants,
Temptations, burdens & the grief of Saints
Moſt perfectly he knows, and quickly can
Save and de…end from th' greateſt rage of Man.
For Counſel and wiſe conduct he exceeds,
And in the midſt of paths of Judgment leads.
The crafty Counſel of Achitophel
He can defeat, though laid as deep as Hell.
He over-turns the wiſdome of the wiſe,
Confounds their plots, and ſhews what folly lies
In their grand Councils, making them to know
Their purpoſes can't ſtand, if he ſays no.
He orders things, that no deſign ſhall take
Further than 'twill for his own Glory make.
None like to Chriſt, he is without compare,
He's wiſe as well as wealthy, great and fair.
What's thy opinion, Soul▪ canſt not eſpy
All Glory hid in his bleſt Majeſty?
What hinders then but that without delay
Triumph may celebrate th' eſpouſal day?