The Glorious Lover, Book 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
The mutual and bleſſed Contract between Chriſt and the Sinner.
Jeſus.
GIVE me thy heart then, Soul, I do betroth
Thee unto me, that no approaching Wrath
May any ways be hurtful unto thee,
In Righteouſneſs I thee betroth to me.
In Judgment alſo thou betrothed art,
And all I have to thee I do impart
In faithfulneſs and tender mercy, ſo
That thou thy Lord, thy Friend, & God ſhalt know.
I do betroth thee unto me for ever,
And neither Death, Nor Earth, nor Hell ſhall ſ…ver
Thy Soul from me. If thou wilt pay thy vows,
I will be thine, and thou ſhalt be my Spouſe.
I take thee now for better, and for worſe:
Give me thy hand, let's jointly both of us
With mutual love tie the conjugal Knot,
Which, on my part ſhall never be forgot.
My Covenant with thee is ſeal'd by bloud,
… than the Oath at N…ah …s …lood.
… my folded … I now do take thee,
… that I never will forſake thee.
…spand… caſt behind my back, and I
Will … future in…mitie.
The Sinners cloſing with Chriſt. Soul.
Upon my bended knees I do this day
Accept of thee, my Lord, my Life, my Way▪
By whom alone poor Sinners have acceſs
Unto the Father; nay, and do confeſs,
Declare, pronounce i'th' ſight of God, that I
Do enter now with all ſimplicity
Into a Contract with thee, make my Vows
That I will be to thee a faithful Spouſe.
O bleſſed Jeſus, I'm as one undone.
A naked, vile, loathſom and guilty one,
Unworthy far to waſh the very feet
Of th' Servants of my Lord; O how is it
That thou, the glorious Prince, ſhouldſt ever chuſe
Such an unworthy Worm to be thy Spouſe:
O what's thy Love! O Grace, beyond expreſſion▪
Doth the great God on me place his affection?
But ſith 'tis ſo, this I engage to do,
I'le leave all for thy ſake, and with thee go.
And in all things own thee alone as Head,
And Husband dear, by whom I will be led,
And in all ſtates and times will thee obey,
What ever comes, unto my dying-day.
I take thee as my Prophet, Prieſt, and King:
And my own worthineſs in every thing
I do renounce, and further vow that I
Upon thy Bloud and Righteouſneſs will lie;
On that, and that alone, will I depend
By Faith always until my life ſhall end.
I covenant with thee, and ſo I take thee,
And whatſoe'r falls out, I'le ne'r forſake thee,
But run all hazards in this doleſom day,
And never from thy holy ways will ſtray.
All this and more I promiſe ſhall be done,
But in thy ſtrength, Lord, in thy ſtrength alone.
Th' Solemnity thus ended, preſently
The glorious Prince, the Bridegroom, caſts his Eye
Upon the Soul, and bound up all her ſores,
Nay healed them, and cancell…d all her ſcores:
But be'ng her ſelf defil'd, ſhe ſoon eſpy'd
A precious Fountain flowing from his ſide,
A Fountain for uncleanneſs to waſh in
In which ſhe bath'd, and waſh'd away her ſin.
Then gloriouſly by him ſhe was array'd
With Robes imbroid'red, very richly laid
With Gold and Diamonds, that ſhe did ſeem
Like an adorned Heav'nly Seraphim.
One V…ſture was eſpecially moſt rare,
Without a ſeam, much like what he did wear;
It is the Wedding Robe, both clean and white,
Whoſe luſtre far exceeds the Morning-light;
And other garments alſo, which ſhe wore,
Curiouſly wrought with Silk, and ſpangl do're
With ſtars of Gold, or Pearl, of precious Stone,
Enough to dazle all to look upon:
Which be'ng made up of every precious Grace,
Did cauſe a ſplendent Beauty in her Face,
That whilſt he did behold her, could diſcry
His Father's Image clearly in her Eye,
Which did ſo pleaſe him, that he now admires,
And after this her Beauty much deſires.
O ſee the change, ſhe which was once ſo foul,
Is now become a ſweet and lovely Soul.
Her beauty far … what it had been
In ancient days … Eye hath ſeen
So ſweet a … ▪ no ſuch Virgin Queen.
Yet all her Beauty …ow's but ſpots and ſtains,
To what it will be when her Saviour raigns.
O hear the melody! Angels rejoice,
Whilſt ſhe triumphs in th… moſt happy choice.
Who would not then all Earthly Glories ſlight,
To gain a minutes taſte of ſuch delight?
No ſooner did Apollyon caſt his Eyes
On what was done, but furiouſly did 'riſe
To damp her joy, or cauſe her mirth to ceaſe,
And by ſome ſtratagams to ſpoil her peace.
He firſt ſtirs up the Old-man's broken force
For to eſtrange her: if he can't divorce
Her from her Friend, yet raiſes inward strife,
How to deprive her of thoſe joys of life,
Which do abound in Lovers every way,
Betwixt th' eſpouſal and the Marriage-day.
A thouſand tricks contriv'd before had he
How to delay or ſpoil th' Affinitie.
But if he can't rob us of inward joy,
Our name, or goods, or life he will deſtroy.
For failing in the firſt, he ſtirs up Foes
To lay upon her perſecuting blows.
He that will follow Chriſt, muſt look each day
To have his worldly comforts took away.
Beſides, the Old-man being not yet ſlain,
Great troubles in her mind there roſe again.
But her dear Friend ſo faithful is, that he
Will never leave her in Adverſitie.
And to the end her joy may more abound,
A way by him immediately is found
To free her from the Old-man's helliſh ſpite,
He muſt be crucify'd; but firſt they cite
Him to the Bar to hear what he can ſay,
Why now his life ſhould not be took away.
But hear, before that's done, how the bleſt Lover
Doth his dread threats and awful frowns diſcover
Againſt the Fo…s of her he loves ſo well,
Who e're they be, Men, Luſts, or Fiends of Hell.
He reads his great Commiſſion, lets them know
He in a moment can them overthrow.
The dread Power and awful frowns of Jeſus Prince o… Peace over his Saints Enemies.
When Man tranſgreſs'd 'twas I, Eternal I,
Give forth the Sentence, Thou ſhalt ſurely die.
'Twas I that curs'd the Serpent, who remains
Unto this day, and ſhall in laſting Chains.
When Cain did ſhed his righteous Brother's bloud,
I ſentenc'd Cain; 'twas I that brought the …lood
Upon the Earth. By me the World was drowned
Proud Babels Language was by me confounded.
I am Jehovah's everlaſting Word,
Who in my hand do bear th' two-edg'd Sword.
'Twas I, and only I that did Command
The diſmal darkneſs in the Egyptians Land.
'Twas at my Word the Seas divide in twain,
And made an even paſſage through the Main.
At my Command Pharaoh and all his Hoſt
Were utterly within the Red-Sea loſt.
'Twas I that made Belſhazz…rs joints to quake,
And all his Nobles tremble when I ſpake.
'Twas I that made the Perſian Monarchs great,
And threw them with the Grecians from their Seat.
I ſay the Word, and Nations are diſtreſs'd;
I ſpake again, and the whole World's at reſt.
Let all Men ſtand in fear and dread of me;
I was the firſt, and I the laſt will be.
All knees ſhall bow to me when I reprove,
And at my Voice the Mountains ſhall remove.
The Earth ſhall be diſſolved at my Threat,
And Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat.
My Word confines the Earth, the Seas, the Wind,
I am the great Jehovah unconfin'd.
'Tis I divide between the joints and Marrow;
No place ſo cloſe, no cranny is ſo narrow,
But, like the Sun's bright beams, I enter in,
Diſcovering to each he…rt, the darling Sin
That lodges in the Soul. 'Tis I alone,
Who by my piercings make them ſigh and gro…n▪
If from true ſenſe and ſorrow they complain,
I graciouſly bind up thoſe wounds again.
'Tis I that ſave the humble and contrite,
And do condemn the formal Hypocrite.
My circuit's large, I coaſt the World about,
No place, nor ſecret, but I find it out.
All Nations of the World I rule at pleaſure,
To my Dominion's neither bound nor meaſure.
Therefore, dear Soul, chear up, and do not fear,
I'le confound all thy Foes both far and near.
And now I do command to bring to th' Bar
That inward Foe, Old-man, I wo'nt defer
His Tryal l…nger, his Indictments read,
And he had leave and liberty to plead,
And on his Trial he deny'd the Fact;
But Conſcience ſwears ſhe took him in the act,
And other witneſs too; but to be brief,
All prove him the Soul's Foe, nay and the chief
And only cauſe of all the horrid Treaſon
Acted againſt the Lord unto this ſeaſon.
He was deny'd to ſpeak, the Proofs being clear,
You ſhall therefore his fatal Sentence hear:
Come thou baſe Traytor, impure Maſs of Sin;
That, Villain-like, doſt ſeek revenge agin
Upon the Soul, and ſtriv'ſt to raiſe up ſtrife,
Nay thirſts again to take away her life;
Hear, hear thy Sentence, Old-man, thou muſt die,
I can no pity ſhew, nor mind thy cry:
Thy Age! away, 'tis pity thou haſt bin
Spared ſo long, when guilty of ſuch Sin.
Soul, thou muſt ſee to bring him in ſubjection,
With every evil luſt, and vile affection.
This heap of Sin thou muſt ſtrive to deſtroy,
That ſo thou maiſt all perfect peace enjoy:
Under the ſtricteſt bonds let him abide,
Till he is ſlain, or throughly crucify'd.
The Old-man being ſentenc'd, and confin'd,
The Soul is conſolated in her mind.
Affection, Judgment, Will, do all rejoyce,
And are united now: O happy choice!
Ah! ſhe admires the excellence and worth
Of her Beloved, that ſhe ſets him forth,
As one that's raviſh'd in the contemplation
Of his great Glory, and her exaltation,
In this her ſacred choice: and this ſo raiſes
Her raviſh'd ſenſes, that Angelick praiſes
She thinks too low; O now ſhe doth diſcover,
And not till now th' affections of a Lover.
There's nothing now ſo tedious as delay,
Betwixt the 'ſpouſal and the Marriage-day,
Her former joys in which ſhe much delighted,
She treads them under-foot, they are quite ſlighted,
Nay altogether loathſom in her Eye,
Compared with his ſacred Company.
Unto the place where he appoints to meet her,
Thither ſhe runs with ſpeed, there's nothing ſweeter;
Nay there is nothing ſweet, nothing is dear
Or pleaſant to her, if he be not there.
O! ſaith the Love-ſick Soul, in ſuch a caſe
May I but have one kiſs, one ſweet Imbrace,
O how would it rejoyce this heart of mine!
His Love is better than the choiſeſt Wine.
His Name is like an Ointment poured forth,
And no ſuch Odour e're enrich'd the Earth.
The Eaſtern Gums, Arabian Spices rare,
Do not perfume, no… ſo enrich the Air,
As the Eternal … renowned Fame
Of his moſt preci…s and moſt glorious Name▪
Perfumes my Soul, … elevates my voice,
Whilſt gladneſs fills my heart: O happy choice!
My ſacred Friend, my Life, my Lord, and King,
Doth me into his ſecret Chambers bring;
Although ten thouſand fall on either hand,
My Soul in ſa…ety evermore ſhall ſtand.
Tell me, my Lord, tell me, my deareſt Love,
Where thou doſt feed, whither the Flocks remove,
And where they reſt an Noon in ſoultry gleams,
Bring me into thoſe Shades, where ſilver ſtreams
Of living Waters flow, moſt calm and ſtill,
There, there I'le ſhelter, there I'le drink my fill.
The Fountains ope, O ſee it runs moſt clear,
Green Paſtures by; a …odg is alſo near,
To hide in …afety, and to ſa…e from fear
Of ſcotching heat: …der. this ſhade I'le reſt,
My Love ſhall be incloſed in my breaſt.
My heart ſha…l be … lodging-place for ever,
Nothing ſhal me from my Beloved …ever.
The terrors of the Night ſhall never harm me,
He ſaves from heat, in …roſts his love doth warm me
You Virgins who yet never felt the ſmart
Of Love's ſoul-piercing and heart-wounding Da…t.
If all theſe ſacred Raptures you admire,
Know, Virgins, know that this Celeſtial …
That's kindl…d in my breaſt, comes from … ▪
And ſets my Soul into this frame of Love
O he that has endured ſo much pain
To gain my Love, is worthy to obtain
Ten thouſand times more love than his poor Spouſe
Is able to beſtow▪ yet ſhall my Vows
Be daily paid to him, in whoſe ſweet breaſt
My love-ſick Soul ſhall find eternal reſt.
Know, know I ne'r obtain'd true peace, befor…
My ſoul caſt … on this ſacred ſhore.
All earth…y pleaſures are but ſeeming mi…th,
His preſence is a Heaven upon Earth.
How heavy, O how bitter was the Croſs
Once unto me? to think upon the loſs
Or temporal comf…rts, made me to complain
But no… I … my gain.
Terreſtrial joys, as droſs to me appear;
My joy's in Heaven, O my treaſure's there.
Had I all Riches of both th' India's ſhore
At my command, ten thouſand times told o're,
My ſoul would loath them, they ſhould be abhor'd
Being worſe than dung, compared to my Lord.
O may theſe Sun-beams never ceaſe to ſhine,
By which I ſee that my Beloved's mine.
He is my fleſh and bone, therefore will I
Rejoyce the more in this Affinity.
He is my All, my ſoul's to him united,
As Jonathaen's to David, who delighted
So much in him that in his greateſt trouble
Dear Jonathan did his affections double:
When David was in great diſtreſs and fear,
Then did his love and loyalty appear.
So when my dear Beloved is diſtreſt,
My love to him ſhall chiefly be expreſt.
But why, ſaid I, diſtreſt? What, can my Lord,
Who hath conſuming power in his Word,
Be touch'd by Mortals? what, can he be harm'd,
Who with all ſtrength of Heaven and Earth is arm'd?
No, no; I muſt recall that laviſh ſtrain:
No hand can touch him, he cannot ſuſtain
The ſmalleſt injury from th' greateſt Pow'r;
For in a breath he can his Foes devour.
But now, methinks, I preſently eſpy
Upon the Earth the Apple of his Eye;
Which are his ſervants, nay his members dear,
Which wicked men do oft oppreſs; O there
My Lord's diſtreſt: for if his Children ſmart,
O that doth pierce and wound his tender heart.
If cold or nakedneſs afflicts their ſouls,
He ſympathizes, and their ſtate condoles.
It ſick they be, or if by cruel hands
They are in Priſon caſt, and under bands,
And there with hunger and with thirſt oppreſt,
He feels their grief, he is in them diſtreſt.
What wrong ſoever they on Earth receive,
'Tis done to him, for which my ſoul doth grieve
To ſee th' afflictions of his ſervants here;
This is the fruit true loyal Love does bear.
Her ſorrows are his woes; for they alone,
Being his members, are my fleſh and bone.
And all make but one Body, he's the Head,
From whence all flows, 'tis he alone has ſhed
His love abroad, in this my love-ſick …eart,
Whereby I feel when any members ſmart.
My bowels move and tender heart does bleed,
VVhichWhich makes me for his ſake ſupply their …eed▪
Thus for my Chriſt, and for his Children's ſake
I'le ſuffer any thing; yea I do take
My life, and goods, and all into my hands,
To be diſpoſed of as he commands
But know for certain evermore that I
For aid and help on him alone rely.
Theſe pleaſant Fruits, O theſe delight the King
And hereby 'tis that we do honour bring
Unto his Name; all ſouls of the new birth,
VVho are ſincere, this precious fruit bring …orth▪
…et not theſe things ſeem ſtrange, becauſe to few
Do bear ſuch …ruit, believe the Maxim's true,
That as the Sun doth by its warm reflection
Upon the Earth, produce a reſurrection
Of all thoſe Seeds, which in the Earth do …
Hid for a time in dark obſcurity:
Ev'n ſo the Sun of Righteouſneſs doth ſhine
Into this cold and barren heart of mine;
The precious ſeeds that have been ſcattered there
Take root and bloſſom, nay their branches bear
Sweet fruit, being the product of thoſe Rays,
VVhichWhich that bright Sun into my ſoul diſplays.
'Tis precious and moſt lovely in his Eye,
Both … it▪ Beauty and Veracity▪
You Vi…g… all who are by Love invited
Into his … ▪ where he is delighted
With all his pleaſant Fruits▪ come, come and ſee,
…ow choice, f…ir, ſweet, and … they …e:
One cluſter …ere's preſented to thy view,
That thou mayſt ſ…e, and then believe 'tis true.
The…e be … which I … n…w …,
…ve, Joy, and Peace, …ong …, Holineſs,
…aith, Goodneſs, Tempera… a…d Charity,
…heſe are the products … th' A…inity
That's made between me and my deareſt Friend;
Nay, mo…e than theſe, Eternal … i'th' end.
But i… (through ſin) thou canſt not caſt thine Eye
On theſe … Fruits, then know aſſuredly
VVhen th' Vintage comes, and thou beginſt to crave
For one ſmall taſte, one taſte thou canſt not have.
The …ruitful Soul it is the King will …own
VVith th' Diad…m of Glory and Renown.
O let the…e things the Soul's affections raiſe,
In grateful Songs to celebrate the Praiſe
Of great Jehovah, who is King of Kings,
VVh…ſe glorious Praiſe the heav'nly Quire ſings▪
…hen let us ſing on Earth a Song like this,
…, and I am his.
An Hy… of Praiſe to the Sacred Bridegroom.
PRaiſe in the Higheſt, Joy betide
The ſacred Bridegroom, and his Bride,
Who doth in ſpendor ſhine:
Let Heaven above be fill'd with Songs,
In Earth beneath let all Mens Tongues
ſing forth his Praiſe Divine.
… ſullen Man refuſe to ſpeak,
… Rocks and Stones their ſilence break;
for Heaven and Earth combin…
To tie that ſacred Bridal Knot,
O let it never be forgot,
the Contract is Divine.
You holy Seraphims above,
Who do admire Jeſus's Love,
O haſt away and come,
With Men on Earth your joys divide;
Earth ne'r produc'd ſo fair a Bride,
nor Heaven a Bridegroom.
Another.
'Tis not the gracious lofty ſtrain;
Nor record of great Hector's glory,
Nor all the conquering mighty Train,
Whoſe Acts have left the World a ſtory;
Nor yet great Ceſar's ſwelling fame,
Who only look'd, and overcame.
Nor one, nor all thoſe Worthy Nin…,
Nor Alexander's great Renown,
Whoſe deeds were thought almoſt Divine,
When Vic'tries did his Temples crown▪
But 'tis the Lord, that Holy One,
Whoſe Praiſes I will ſing alone.
My Heart and Tongue ſhall both rejoyce,
W…il…t A…g…ls all in Conſort ſing
Alo…d with a melodious voice
The praiſes of ſweet …ion's King▪
O 'tis his praiſe, that Holy One,
I am reſolv'd to ſing alone.
My Heart indites whilſt I proclaim
The Praiſes of the God of Wonder,
My lips ſtill magnifie his Name,
Whoſe Voice is like a mighty Thunder:
I'le praiſe his Name, and him alone,
Who is the glorious Three in One.
Whoſe feet are like to burning Braſs,
Whoſe Eyes like to a flaming Fire,
Who bringeth mighty things to paſs,
'Tis him I dread, and do admire:
I…le magnifie his Name alone,
Who is the glorious Three in One.
My Heart and Pen ſhall both expreſs,
The Praiſes of great Juda's …ion,
The ſweet and fragrant Flower of Jeſs,
The holy I …, the King of Zion.
To him that ſitteth on the Throne,
Be everlaſting praiſe alone.
Whoſe Head is whiter than the Snow
That's driven by the Eaſtern Wind,
Whoſe Viſage like a flame doth ſhow,
… all, yet unconfin'd:
For ever prais'd be Him …one,
Who is the glorious Three in One.
I'le praiſe his Name, who hath reveal…d
To me his everlaſting Love,
Who with his ſtripes my Soul hath heal'd,
Whoſe Foot-ſtool's here, his Throne above,
Let Trumps of Praiſe be loudly blown,
To magnifie his Name alone.
This ſacred Subject of my Verſe,
Though I poor ſilly Mortal ſhould
Neglect his Praiſes to rehearſe,
The ragged Rocks and Mountains would
Make his deser…ed Praiſes known,
Who is the glorious Three in One.
You twinkling Stars that Day and Night
Do your appointed Circuit run,
Sweet Cynthia in her monthly flight,
Alſo the bright and flaming Sun,
Throughout the Vniverſe make known
The Praiſes of the Holy One.
Let every Saint on Earth rejoyce
Whom Chriſt hath choſen, let him ſing,
Whilſt I to him lift up my Voice
To ſound the Praiſes of my King▪
For He it is, and He alone,
Hath made me his Beloved one.
FINIS.
There will be ſuddenly Publiſh'd another Treatiſe of this Author's, intituled Zion in Diſtreſs; or The Groans of the true Proteſtant Church.
End of the text · Benjamin Keach, The Glorious Lover (1679)