The Glorious Lover, Book 2 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
Chriſt's Love Epitomiz'd, the Old-man wounded, Will made willing: ſhewing alſo the nature of the Soul's Eſpo…ſal to Chriſt.
IF all that hath been ſaid yet will not move thee
To cloſe with Chriſt, I once again will prove thee,
By making of a brief or ſhort collection
Of his ſweet Love and wonderful Affection;
And then I truſt thou wilt with ſacred Vows
Contract thy ſelf to him, become his Spouſe,
Whoſe left hand's full of Treaſure, in his right
Are Honours great, and Pleaſures infinite.
A Prince (you know) diſpos'd to make Election
Of a Conſort, before he'l place Affection,
Will firſt enquire if the Virgin be
In Perſon, Parts, Eſtate, or Pedigree
Equal unto himſelf: but if in caſe
She be of low deſcent, of Parents baſe,
Compar'd with his; or not ſo noble born,
Or has debas'd her ſelf, or is forlorn;
He thinks it is below him once to place,
Or fix his love on her, he fears diſgrace:
But if the Lady chance to equalize him,
She's not ſo much oblig'd to love or prize him
'Yond common bounds, becauſe, ſaith ſhe, I am
No whit inferiour unto him; my name
Records the noble ſtock from whence I came.
But if a Prince ſhould chance to ſet his love
Upon a perſon that has nought to move
So great a Lord to make that choice, then ſhe
Amazed, yields with all humilitie;
Can do no leſs than humbly give conſent,
Yield up her ſelf with great aſtoniſhment;
But ſhe who doth reject ſuch love, is acted
Like one bereav'd of ſenſe, nay quite diſtracted.
Miſguided Soul! and is not this the caſe?
What worth's in thee to him? O! vile, and baſe!
Inſtead of love, deſerveſt to be hated,
Since from thy God thou haſt degenerated,
And yet the bleſſed Jeſus don't deſpiſe thee,
But from thy loathſom dunghil fain would raiſe thee.
But to proceed, I now will give to thee
Of Chriſt's ſweet Love a ſhort Epitome.
1.
'Tis a firſt-love, as ſoon as he paſt-by,
And ſaw thee in thy blood, he caſt his Eye
Whilſt thou in that ſad gore didſt weltring lie.
Nay, unto thee moſt precious love he had
Before the fabrick of this World mas made.
2.
It is attracting Love, its nature's ſuch,
'Tis like the Loadſtone; hadſt thou once a touch,
'Twould make thy Iron-heart with ſpeed to move,
Nay, cleave to him in bonds of pureſt Love.
3.
'Tis a free Love, there's nought at all in thee
Which can deſerve his favour, yet does he
Not grutch thee his dear Love, although ſo great,
The glorious King of Kings does oft intreat
Thoſe Souls to his imbraces, who contemn
His proffer'd grace, and ſtill love ſhews to them.
4.
'Tis 'bounding Love, like Nilus, overflows
All banks and bounds, his Grace no limit knows.
5.
'Tis a delighting Love, there's nought more ſweet,
She found it ſo who waſht his precious feet.
He takes delight and ſweet complacency
In thoſe he loves, his heart affects his Eye.
He reſteth in his love; and who can turn
His heart away, or damp thoſe flames that burn
In his dear breaſt? none ever lov'd as he,
Who for his Spouſe was nailed to the Tree.
6.
It is a Victor's Love; he'l wound and kill
All Enemies who do oppoſe his Will;
Where he lays Siege, he'l make the Soul to yield,
By love he overcomes and wins the Field;
His Captive (Soul) thou certainly muſt be:
His love is ſuch, 'twill have the Victorie.
7.
It is abiding and Eternal Love,
'Twill laſt as long as he, nought can remove
His love from ſuch on whom he caſts his Eye,
And for whoſe ſake alone he choſe to die.
The love which did appear to Saints of old,
Did graciouſly this glorious Truth unfold.
I with an everlaſting Love, ſaith he,
Have ſet my heart upon (or loved) thee,
And therefore I have drawn thee unto me.
Know he who thus doth his ſweet love commend
To his dear Saints, loves them unto the end.
8.
'Tis a great Love, moſt powerful and ſtrong;
Hence 'tis he thinks each hour and minute long,
Till he imbrace thee in his Sacred Arms,
Where he'l ſecure thee from all the harms
And dangers great, by Men or helliſh charms.
Fathers, although they love their Children dear,
Yet never did from them ſuch love appear.
David lov'd Abſolom, yet gives conſent,
Nay he himſelf decrees his baniſhment.
A Mother may forget her ſucking Child,
As ſome have done, although of nature mild,
Yet forc'd by famine, cruelly have ſhed
Their Childrens bloud, and of their fleſh have fed:
But Ah! his Love's ſo free, ſo ſtrong, ſo great,
He gives his bloud to drink, his fleſh for meat
Unto the Soul; and thoſe who it receive,
Shall never die, and none but ſuch can live.
9.
His Love is matchleſs, 'tis without compare,
Who neither fleſh, now bloud, nor life did ſpare.
The love of Women, which the World eſteems
Moſt ſtrong in ſweet affection; their love ſeems
An empty ſhadow, and not worth regard,
When with his Sacred Love it is compar'd.
The Husbands, Wives, and Fathers may abound,
Yet no ſuch love as Chriſt's was ever found.
Abraham and Iſaac both lov'd their Wives,
Yet neither of them ſacrific'd their lives.
Jonathan's love to David did exceed
The love of Women; 'twas a Love indeed!
But what was Jonathan …s great love to this?
Ah! leſs than nothing, when compar'd to his.
Chriſt's love exceeds all natural Love as far
As bright Aurora doth the ſmalleſt Star.
But Oh! in vain do we compare his Love
With any thing below▪ no, 'tis above
Compariſon, 'tis ſo immenſe, ſo great,
We cannot find it out: though Man's concert
Is larger than expreſſion, though profound,
Yet Man's conception never yet could ſound
The depth of Love's unfathomable bliſs,
So great, ſo deep, ſo bottomleſs it is.
Betwixt his Love and ours, the diſproportion
Is like one drop of Water to the Ocean.
Or as the ſmalleſt duſt that's fiercely driven,
To the whole Globe; or like as Earth's to Heaven
The Sun for clearneſs with his ſplendent face,
The Moon for ſwiftneſs in her Zodiack Race;
The Sa…ds for nomber, and the Heaven for height
The Seas for depth, the ponderous earth for weight
Yet with more certainty▪ and with leſs doubt
Be weigh'd and meaſur'd▪ than Chriſt's love foun… out
O depth! O heigth! O breadth! O wonderous length
Of this great Love! O uncompared ſtrength
Of true affections! Love that is Divine!
What's natural love; Lord, when compar'd to thine?
Such a redundancy of Love is found,
Whoever dives into theſe depths is drown'd.
Ten thouſand Sea, ten thouſand times told o're,
Add to theſe Seas, ten times as many more,
Let all theſe Seas become one deep Abyſs,
They'd all come ſhort in depth compar'd to this.
The Moral, Natural, nor the Spiritual Man,
With all their Underſtanding, never can
Find out the Nature of Chriſt's Love! alas,
It doth all Knowledg 'nfinitely ſurpaſs.
O may theſe Depths & Heigths have pow'r to move
On thee, till thou art ſwallowed up in Love.
That, that which cannot comprehended be
By Men nor Angels, may comprehend thee;
And thou being fill'd with it, may'ſt ſweetly lie
In depths of Love unto Eternitie.
The Spir't with this let fly a piercing Dart,
Which wounded dreadfully her ſtubborn heart,
It pierc'd to th' very quick and made her ſmart.
Now, now ſhe mourns, Ah! how ſhe weeps, ſhe crys,
And water runs like fountains from her …ys.
Now her whole Souls diſſolved into tears
By Love-ſick paſſions; yet ſhe's fill'd with fears,
Leſt Chriſt ſhould now with angry frown deny
To give her one ſweet aſpect of his Eye:
Becauſe his love ſhe had ſo long refus'd,
And wondrous patience ſhamefully abus'd.
Oh! now ſhe ſpends whole days & nights in prayer,
She ſighs and grieves, but can…t ſee Chriſt appear.
The panting Hart ne'r long'd for Water-brooks
More than does ſhe for ſome reviving looks
From the great Prince, the God of Love & Grace;
But he at preſent ſeems to hide his face.
But ſtop, my Muſ…, hark how the Winds do roar,
All ſtorms i'th Soul alas… are not yet o're.
No ſooner did the Old-man caſt his Eyes,
And view'd this change▪ but in great wrath did riſe
For to renew the War▪ he joins afreſh
With ſcatter'd force of Will and Luſts of th' fleſh,
To make what ſtrength they can, with helliſh ſpite.
The Devil's with theſe conquer'd pow'rs unite,
Arm'd with deſpair, and like to Lamps, wch make
The greateſt blaze at going out, they take
Their blunt and broken Weapons in their hand,
Reſolving Chriſt in her ſhall not command;
Nor ſhe deſert their cauſe, nor break her Vows
With Sin and Self, and ſo become Chriſt's Spouſe.
But now, I find in vain they do reſiſt:
True Grace is come, the Spirit doth aſſiſt.
Sin, World, the Fleſh, nor Devil, can long ſtand
Before the Spirits ſtrong and pow'rful hand.
See how the Spirit now doth ſearch about
To find each Sin, and curſed Darling out.
Did you never behold in what dread ſor…
The wide-mouth'd Canon plays upon the Fort,
And how by whole-ſail it doth batter down
The ſhattered walls of a beſieged Town?
Even ſo the Spirit with his powerful Sword
Makes glorious ſlaughter, will no Truce afford,
Kills all before him, will no Quarter give,
Nor will he ſuffer any Luſt to live.
The Strong-man, (Satan) quakes; good reaſon why▪
A ſtronger's come, a ſtronger he doth ſpy
Is enter'd in—O therefore he's much pain'd;
All, all is gone, and he himſelf is chain'd.
The Old-man trembling, likewiſe thinks to fly
Into ſome lurking-corner, ſecretly
To hide himſelf: but th' Spirit's piercing Sight
Diſcovers him, and now with heavenly might
Laid on ſuch ſtrokes, and gave him ſuch a wound,
Wch with dire vengance brought him to the ground▪
Now the Affections's chang'd, and Will doth yield,
Being willing made, ſays Grace ſhall have the Field.
O happy ſeaſon! and thrice long'd-for hour!
This is the day of God's moſt mighty Power
Upon the Soul. But hark, methinks I hear
Moſt bitter ſighs and groans ſound in mine Ear.
The Soul's afflicted! it is ſhe doth mourn,
To think what ſorrows for her Chriſt hath born.
She hates, nay loaths her ſelf to th' very duſt,
And ſeeks to mortifie each former Luſt.
And ſomething more doth ſtill perplex her mind,
Him whom ſhe dearly loves, ſhe cannot find.
Her heart I fear will quickly burſt aſunder,
If any long time ſhe ſhould be preſt under
This heavy weight: no grief like hers, is there:
Who can (alas) a wounded Spirit bear?
She's almoſt ſwallow'd… up in deep deſpair.
You next ſhall hear (if you attention lend)
How ſhe bewails the abſence of her Friend.
Soul.
Ah me! I faint, my Spirits quite decay,
And yet I cannot die: O who can ſtay
My ſinking Soul, whilſt I theſe ſorrows feel?
My feeble knees under their burden reel.
Inf…rnal deeps, black gulphs, where horror lies,
Open their ghaſtly mouths before mine Eys.
O wretched Soul! curs'd Sin! I might have been
The Lamb's fair Bride, and a Celeſtial Queen,
Had I imbrac'd my Lord, my King, my Love,
(Who was more faithful than the Turtle Dove.)
O had I then receiv,d him in mine Arms,
He would have ſav'd me from eternal harms.
But now I fear thoſe happy days are paſt,
And I poor wretch ſhall into Hell be caſt,
Bound up in fetters, and eternal chains
Of burning Wrath, and everlaſting pains.
O ſinful Soul! I who have lightly ſet
By the bleſt Prince, who would have paid my debt
O he that would have freely quit my ſcore,
Ah! Now I fear I ſhall ne're ſee him more.
Could I but once more hear his Sacred Voice,
I would make him my joy, and only choice.
But's Wooing-time I fear is out of date▪
… ▪ but dread it is too late.
I m…lt, Lord, into tears, whilſt thou the Sun
Of precious Light, art hid, where ſhall I run
For Light and comfort in this doleſom hour,
Whilſt I lie drenched in this briniſh ſhower?
More would ſhe ſpeak, but her great paſſion ſtops
Her mournful ſpeech, whilſt her eys ſtood-gates ope…,
Smote with deſpair; ſo faint, ſhe ſcarce appears
To breath or live, but by her ſighs and tears.
A Friend amidſt this paſſion ſtraight arriv'd,
Whoſe ſhining beams and luſtre much reviv'd
The troubl'd Soul on every ſide, that ſhe
Cry'd out, O heavenly Spirit, it is thee,
Who with Diviner and myſterious Art
Did ſuch illuſtrious beams of Glory dart,
Which did not only tend to joy and peace,
But much inflam'd her heart, made love increaſe,
And lo, before her Eys ſhe doth behold
The Prince to ſtand, whoſe Glory to unfold
Is 'bove the reach of Man, or Seraphim;
And thus had ſhe a bleſſed ſight of him.
Like as the Sun breaks forth beneath a Cloud,
Whoſe conqu'ring light caſt off each envious ſhroud,
And round about his beauteous beams diſplays,
Making, her Earth like Heav'n with his bright rays.
This glorious Aſpect of his lovely Eye,
Which ſhe through Faith beheld, did by and by
With ſuch tranſports, or Raptures, on her ſeize,
And from her former ſorrows gave her …aſe:
Yet could ſhe not be fully ſatisfy'd,
Until the Marriage-knot was firmly ty'd▪
A Promiſe ſhe endeavours to procure,
To make Chriſt's Love and Pardon to her ſure.
She to this purpoſe does her ſelf addreſs
To him ſhe loves, with ſweet compoſedneſs
Of heart and mind; tho thinking what ſhe'd bin,
She's under fears, and oft diſtreſt again;
Much queſtioning (for want of Faith) how he
Could e're forget paſt wrongs and injurie.
Soul.
Life of my life! alas, Lord, what am I?
A wretched Creature; who deſerves to die
A thouſand deaths, nay, and a thouſand more,
For wounding thee within, without, all o're,
In every part: O this doth make me mourn,
It melts my heart to think what thou haſt born
For a vile worm. But wilt thou view the wound
That's made in me? Lord, I am drench'd & drown'd
In bloud, and briniſh tears, my waſting breath,
And ſighing Soul, will period ſoon in Death,
Unleſs thou ſeal, and doſt confirm to me
Thy Love by promiſes; O! ſhall I ſee
Thy hand ſtretch'd out? or ſhall I hear thee ſay,
Come, come to me, poor Soul, O come away?
'Tis thou that wilt not bruiſe the broken reed,
Hurt not my ſores, nor cruſh the wounds that bleed.
O let my chilled Soul feel the warm fires
Of thy ſweet Voice, that my diſſolv'd deſires
May turn a ſoveraign Balſam, to make whole
Thoſe wounds my ſins have made in thy dear Soul.
Ah! wilt thou let me ſwoun'd away and die,
Whilſt thou ſtandſt looking on? Lord, caſt an eye
On me, for whom thou on the Croſs didſt bleed;
Some comfort, Lord, now in my greateſt need:
No Corroſives, ſome Cordial Spir'ts, or I
For ever periſh muſt; Lord, hear my cry.
Jeſus.
Afflicted Soul! the purchaſe of my Bloud,
Come, hear, come hear a conſolating Word.
Shall I who have through ſore Afflictions paſt
For love of thee, refuſe thee now at laſt?
No, no! I cannot, Soul, I cannot bear
Such piercing moans that wounds my tender Ear▪
Now will I magnifie my Pow'r and riſe
To ſcatter thy malicious Enemies;
I'le thee enlighten with my glorious Rays,
And make thee happy, happy all thy days.
Who will betroth, or give this Soul to me?
Let's Celebrate with great'ſt Solemnity,
And glorious Triump, the eſpouſal Day:
Come, come, my Dear, let us no longer ſtay.
The Father.
'Tis in my Pow'r, 'tis I, I give her thee,
As th' fruit of my own Choice, Love and Decree.