The Glorious Lover, Book 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Shewing how the Conſcience of the Sinner comes to be effectually awakened; together with the effects thereof.
THIS being ſaid with bowels of Affection,
Tho often mixt with gall of ſharp detection,
Her former ſtubbornneſs being all laid o'pe,
Yet this, nor that, nor nothing, gave much hope
He ſhould prevail, which put him in a maze,
And did his voice and ſpirits higher raiſe.
He ſtill went on with ſweet commiſeration,
Yet was his pity mixt with ſome ſmall paſſion,
And to this purpoſe did this good man ſpeak,
Not knowing how his laſt farewel to take.
Theologue.
Poor ſtupified Soul! Alas! alas!
What is the cauſe? whence doth it come to paſs
Thou art ſo ſenſleſs? why doſt thou deſpiſe
All thoſe Soul-melting tears, thoſe sighs and crys?
What, is thy heart more harder than the Rocks,
That thou canſt bear theſe oft repeated knocks,
And never break at all? O ſtrange! O ſtrange!
Thy heart, poor Soul, is…t harder than a ſtone,
That feeble drops of water fall upon,
And makes impreſſion. What, ſhall ſtones relent,
And yield themſelves, and as it were conſent
Theſe frequent droppings ſhould impreſſion make;
And ſhowers move thee not? Awake, awake,
Before the dreadful Meſſage I impart,
Shall rouſe thy hard and ſin-congealed heart.
Thy night comes on, thy Sun's a going down,
Thy ſeeming favourites begin to frown.
So all thy pleaſures with their wanton charms
Are flying from thee Death ſpreads forth his Arms,
To take thee hence unto another place:
Canſt thou, poor wretch, this ghaſtly King imbrace?
What will become of all thy wealth and pleaſure?
Behold (alas) Death's come to make a ſeiſure
Upon thy poor deceived Soul this night!
Then all thy joys, and empty vain delight
Will vaniſh like the ſmoke, and thou ſhalt be
Caſt iuto Priſon for Eternitie;
Where thou ſhalt evermore bewail thy loſs,
In changing Gold for that, that's worſe than droſs.
Shall Beauty▪ Wealth, or Honour make thee yield?
Much more that Wiſdom wherewith Chriſt is fill'd.
Shall Love and Patience be ſo ill rewarded
By thee, by whom he ſhould be moſt regarded?
And ſenſual Objects harbour'd in thy heart?
Then wilt thou hear what further I'le impart?
Soul, now thou muſt be anathematiz'd;
And when Chriſt comes, how wilt thou be ſurpriz'd?
For thoſe that love not Jeſus, are accurſt,
And when he doth appear, for ever muſt
That fearful doom and ſentence then receive.
O may the thoughts of this cauſe thee to cleave
To him with ſpeed, before this day is gone.
I;le now break off, adieu, this think upon:
Poor drouſy wretch, let ſin no more deceive thee,
Give me thine Anſwer now before I leave thee.
O may theſe Soul-confounding terrors break,
Thy ſtony-heart, and make thy Conſcience ſpeak!
Eternal God, do thou thy Spirit ſend,
'Tis he which muſt the Soul in pieces rend.
The work's too hard for weakneſs. Alas! I
Shall not prevail, if help thou doſt deny.
Speak to her heart, ſet home the Word with Pow'r.
Shall this be the good day, the happy hour?
Her Conſcience touch, O wound her, let her ſee
What 'tis to be a Captive unto thee.
Open her Eyes, blest Spirit, thou canſt do it.
Sad is her ſtate; O come, and let her know it.
Let not my pains nor labour quite be loſt:
For dear ſhe has my Maſter, Jeſus, coſt.
Thou canſt effectually change her bad mind,
Which unto ſenſual Objects is inclin'd.
O ſhed and ſcatter precious Love abroad,
And unto her ſome of that grace afford.
Moral perſuaſions barely ne're will bring
The Soul to love and like our Heav'nly King.
But I'le return and ſpeak yet one word more
Unto her Conſcience, e're I do give o're.
Speak Conſcience, if alive! thou us'd to keep
A faithful watch: what art thou now aſleep?
Hath ſhe not ſlighted Chriſt, like unto thoſe
That him reject, and cleave unto his Foes?
What doſt thou ſay? ſpeak, I adjure thee, rouſe!
Conſcience, I ſpeak to thee, ſhake off thy drouſe;
Gripe this deluded Soul, who puts her truſt
In thoſe that ſeek her Life, 'tis thou that muſt
Stop her vain courſe: what, ſhall the Sinner die
When Conſcience, God's Vicegerent, is ſo nigh,
And gives not one ſad ſigh, nor groan, nor cry?
Strange! what 's befallen thee? art loſt, o… fled,
Who ſhouldſt the tidings bring that all are dead?
Like Job's laſt Meſſenger, thou ſhouldſt declare,
How all the faculties corrupted are.
Wilt thou betray that truſt repos'd in thee,
And loſe thy regal Right and Soveraignty?
Wilt thou connive and wink at ſuch a crime,
Or fault which ſhe commits? O no, 'tis time
Now to awake, and fiercely her reprove.
What, hate that Prince whom ſhe pretends to love?
Immediately the Spirit ſweetly ſpake,
And touch'd her heart, and Conſcience did awake.
Conſcience.
What Soul-amazing voice is this I hear?
What Heav'n-rending Thunder fills mine Ear?
Awake, why do I ſleep? can Conſcience nod,
That keeps a watch betwixt the Soul and God?
If ſo, yet when Heav'ns voice cryes out amain,
That will awake and make me rouſe again.
I have moſt baſely (Sir) corrupted bin,
By Satan and that poiſonous Evil, SIN.
A Regiſter I kept, but then alas
It has ſo fallen out, ſo come to paſs,
That I unfaithful was: for always when
I ſhould have ſet down ſcores, I ſet down ten;
Nay, to their party ſo entic'd have bin,
That I have often winked at her ſin.
And when my Office was for to accuſe,
'Twas to wrong end…, her Light I did abuſe.
My faults I ſee, I'le watch that no offence
May paſs the Soul without intelligence.
Sir, Strange it is, it puts me in a muſe,
As one amaz'd to ſee the Soul refuſe
To hearken to your voice, which conſtantly,
Like pointed Darts, againſt her breaſt doth fly.
I'le take up Arms, and fight for Jeſus now,
And make her bend to him, if I know how.
I now declare my ſelf, though for a ſeaſon
I ſilence kept, to hear what Goodman Reaſon
Could find to ſay, whereby he might excuſe her,
But he's moſt blind, and ſurely doth abuſe her.
I know her byaſs'd Judgment will conjecture
She's not oblig'd to hearken to that Lecture
She lately heard, although it was Divine,
Her will and judgment doth with Hell combine
To work her ruin; do you what you can,
Till Judgments rectifi'd, and the Old man
Be put to death, ſhe'l be rebellious ſtill,
Yield to her luſts, and pleaſe her vicious will.
Theologue.
Doth Conſcience yield? Bleſt day! I'le try again,
With hope of a full Conqueſt to obtain.
Good ſervice may'ſt thou do, act well thy part:
Whilſt the great King doth thus beſiege the heart;
Keep thou a narrow watch, look well about,
Obſerve who doth come in, and who goes out.
In one thing am I glad, I know from hence
I ſhall by thee have true intelligence.
How things are manag'd in her houſe always;
Thou know'ſt her thoughts, h…ſt all the words ſhe ſays.
Apollyon Prince of Darkneſs.
Apollyon, that degraded Seraphim,
And Grand-fire of that Hell-bred Monſter, Sin,
No ſooner did of theſe late tidings hear,
How Conſcience was awakened, but in fear
Preſently calls a Council to adviſe
Which way they might the Soul by craft ſurprize,
And hinder her from being crowned Queen.
Which to prevent, ſucceſsful have we been,
Saith he, till now, but I am in great doubt
Much longer we ſhall hardly hold it out.
The Preacher doth his buſineſs follow ſo,
I am afraid of ſome great overthrow.
Satan.
Dread Prince! fear not, we yet poſſeſſion have,
And want no skill. Can't ſubtilty deceive?
Can't ſtrength ſubdue? beſides, ſhe's in our chain;
Though one links broke, we'l faſten it again.
And if grave Judgment will with us abide,
Conſcience will not be able to decide
The diff…rences, nor right diciſion make;
No matter then which ſide the fool doth take.
But ſince, my Lord, I ſee what grieves your mind,
No ſafety ſhall theſe Goſpel-Preachers find:
Our Vaſſals we'l prepare with Helliſh rage,
Them to extirpate, and drive off the ſtage.
Lucifer.
I do approve of that laſt Counſel given;
Let not a place nor corner under Heaven
Be found for thoſe our int'reſt dare oppoſe,
Or once attempt to move the Soul to cloſe
With him whom we account our mortal Foe,
Satan, for this I bleſs and thank thee too.
The brave deſign which we have now in hand,
Will soon effect this thing in every Land.
That Enterpriſe let us purſue with care,
But mind us w…ll how things more inward are.
To Judgment look, leſt he from us ſhould run;
If once his Eyes are ope, we're all undone.
Soul.
Lord, what ſad gripes and laſhes no I feel?
My courage fails, and reſolutions reel.
Strange thoughts diſturb my mind, no reſt, alas,
Can heart or eyes obtain; whole nights do paſs,
Whole weeks and months, and nought can I poſſeſs
But horror great, ſad grief, and wearineſs.
What's my condition now? who'le ſhew to me
My preſent ſtate and future miſery?
Hark, what's within, a very frightful noiſe,
It mars my hopes, imbitters all my joys.
My mo…n's ore-caſt, my fair day proveth foul,
My Conſcience terrifies, and makes me howl:
Laſh after laſh, and blows ſucceeding blows,
He's void of mercy, and no pity ſhows,
Here ends my joy, and here begins my woes.
O how my mind is hurried to and fro!
I know not where to fix, nor what to do.
My unreſolv'd reſolves do greatly vary,
This way one while, and then the quite contrary.
Who is't will counſel give? to whom muſt I
Go for ſome caſe in this perplexity?
My Conſcience ſays I wickedly have acted,
Not breaking, the vile contract I've contracted
With thoſe ſweet Lovers which my ſenſual heart
So long a time has lov'd, how ſhall we part?
Muſt I be forc'd, by Conſcience to imbrace
One whom I cannot love? 'tis a hard caſe.
Yet have I cauſe to love him dearly too;
But how ſhall I for him let others go?
Depraved Judgment.
Poor ſilly Soul! and is thy choice ſo hard?
In two extreams can thy weak thoughts reward
Two ſo unequal, with the like reſpect?
Know'ſt thou not which to ſlight, which to affect?
Submit to me, …tis Judgment muſt adviſe,
In this great caſe take heed and be thou wiſe.
Fix where thou wilt, thy doubt-depending cauſe
Can ne'r expect a Verdict 'twixt two Laws
Which differ, and are oppoſit in kind,
Yet a fit medium I'le attempt to find
To eaſe thy ſad, and ſore perplexed mind.
Divert thoſe thoughts by ſome rare Speculations,
And vanquiſh all theſe doleſome cogitations.
Look, look abroad, and view the world, pray mark
The Wiſe and Prudent, and the Courtly Spark.
Will they direct thee ſo, ſuch counſel give
That thou an Hermits life on Earth ſhouldſt live?
What, marry one that in poſſeſſion hath
Not one ſmall houſe, or foot of Land on Earth;
When Wealth, and Honour, Dignity and Power
Are offer'd to thee, as a preſent Dower?
Thou may'ſt be deckt with Bracelets rich and rare
And live on Earth free from perplexing care;
If thou doſt look about and take advice,
And ſuffer Men nor Conſcience to entice,
Or thee allure, ſuch a choice to make,
Thoſe joys to leave, and utterly forſake;
Which moſt men do, nay all accounted wiſe
Purſue amain, eſteem, and highly prize:
But if thou haſt a thought to change thy ſtate,
Be wise and ſtay, don't holy Writ relate,
He that believes, doth not make haſt: O why
Shouldſt thou have thoughts to mind it preſently?
Come, pauſe a while, be not ſo hot, alas
By inconſiderateneſs it comes to paſs,
So many Souls are ſpoil'd and ruined,
Be wary then, not raſhly be miſled.
Nay, furthermore, I'le ſpeak to thee again,
Thou mayſt love him, and yet mayſt thou retain
Reſpect and love to other Objects too.
Love thy God well, but why ſhouldſt thou let go
This world, with all the precious joys therein?
But don't miſtake, thou muſt leave off thy ſin;
For Holineſs I muſt tell thee is right,
And very pleaſant in Jehovah's ſight▪
But know, O Soul, yet over and above,
Thy Soveraign Lord and Prince hath ſet his love
So much upon thee, that his gracious Eye
Will overlook thy ſmaller vanitie.
Ne'r doubt but thou ſhalt have his favour ſtill,
Though in ſome things thou ſatisfie thy will.
Doſt think that he who came down from above,
And dy'd for thee, will ever quite remove
His dear affection from thee, or e're hate,
And leave the Soul he bought at ſuch a rate?
It is enough, and happy wilt thou be,
If thou eſcap'ſt all groſs impurity.
Thus the baſe heart be'ng inflam'd by the Devil,
Vndoes the Soul. No Enemy's more evil
Than that curſt Foe we harbour in our breaſt,
Which all enlighten'd ones have oft expreſt.
Corrupted Judgment blindly would inform her,
Chriſt having dy'd, her ſins can never harm her.
Alas, ſaith Reaſon, do not all men ſin?
Nay, more than this, the very beſt have bin
To blame in many things, and yet eſteem'd
As righteous ones, and as the Lord's redeem'd?
If famous Men of old offenders were,
What needſt thou be ſo nice, what needſt thou fear?
The glorious King is filled with compaſſion;
Beſides he ſees in thee great reformation:
Thy love to ſinful luſts is but in part
To what it was, and thou muſt know thou art
Plac'd in this world, and therefore muſt comply
In ſome reſpects with ſmaller vanity.
When Reaſon to the vicious Will gives ear,
How can the Vnderſtanding then be clear?
When vile Affection thus corrupteth Reaſon,
All works and thoughts are turn'd to perfect Treaſon.
O ſee how blind poor Souls by Nature are,
How vain their thoughts, how ready … inſnare
Themſelves are they with falſe Imaginations▪
With earthly toys and idle ſpeculations.
To learn and underſtand all humane Arts
Moſt apt they are, they'l magnifie their parts;
How very quick and dext'rous are they when
They talk of things that appertain to men?
But things of God are quite above their ſphere,
Can't them diſcern, nor do they love to hear
Of God, or Chriſt, they count that man a fool
That daily goes to learn at Jeſus's School.
VntoUnto the blindneſs of the natural mind
Add this beſides, moſt evident you'l find
It doth reſiſt the Truth, 'twill not receive it;
Nay 'tis incredulous, 'twill not believe it.
Apt to believe falſe tales, and ſtories vain;
Nay, like to Eve, 'twill quickly entertain
Suggeſtions of the curſed Prince o'th Night,
But what God ſays, ſeems evil in their ſight.
Nay, more than all, this treach'rous faculty
Is ſo deprav'd, St. Paul doth plain deſcry
Much enmity to God therein to lie.
VntoUnto God's Law it will not ſubject be;
For in the mind is great malignity.
But I muſt not the Reader here detain;
Becauſe that our old Friend is come again.