The Parable of the Pilgrim, Parable · Chapter 13
CAP. XIII.
A Deſcription of the City Jeruſalem: and of the happineſs be ſhould there meet withall.
I Have no faculty (it muſt be confeſſed) of making good deſcriptions of thoſe places which I have ſeen; and therefore it muſt not be expected that I paint you exactly a place which I know but by report. It is ſufficient that I tell you nothing but the truth, and do not imitate them who fill their Maps with Chimaera's of their own brain; though I do not compleatly delineate every part of it, but leave many ſpaces void to be filled up by your ſelf when you ſhall have the happineſs to arrive there. Know then, that as to the ſcituation of this City, it is agreed by all to be incomparably ſweet, beyond the faireſt place that this world of ours doth afford. For it is ſeated on a very high mountain, loftier then Olympus it ſelf; which yet is ſaid to lift its head above the clouds, and to be obnoxious to none of our ſtorms and tempeſts; and to be deprived of the Sun beams by nothing elſe, but only the night it ſelf. It is advanced I ſay far above the higheſt part of this heavy earth and foggy air, aſpiring into the purer ſky; where the Sun never withdraws its rayes, and where there is not the leaſt ſhaddow of miſt or vapour, either to obſcure its light, or to offend the moſt delicate ſenſe that can be conceived. There are nothing but pure and fragrant odors which perfume that happy climate; there is a perpetual calm and quiet which reigns in that noble region; there is no noiſe but that which infinitely delights and charms the ſoul into ſtill and quiet meditations. But that which is of greateſt remark and moſt to be remembred is, the glorious Proſpect which a place of this advantage yields. All the world here preſents it ſelf before ones eyes; and makes them the center in which, the beauty and glory of it conſpires to meet. I would not have you think I mean a world ſo ſmall as that, which we inhabit upon this Globe of Earth; but one which comprehends the Sun and Moon and all the other adjoyning orbs which are there beheld to move in comely meaſures about that Prince of lights. Thoſe balls of Fire alſo which you ſee fixed in the firmament ſo remote from you, will fall into your better view: who though they ſeem here but like blinking candles and ſickly flames; will there appear moſt noble lights, deſigned for ſome greater end, then to lend us a feeble comfort in the night. It will be infinitely contenting to ſee the beauty and fair proportions of every part of this vaſt frame; the fitneſs, uſefulneſs and correſpondence of it to all the reſt of its neighbouring parts; together with the exact and admirable order of the Whole. And can you imagine into what tranſports it will caſt your ſoul to hear the praiſes of the Creator ſung by all his Works of wonder? And yet that is another priviledge of this bleſſed place, by the advantage of whoſe holy ſilence, you will receive the chearful hymns wherewith every creature you behold, doth celebrate the wiſdom, power and goodneſs of him that made it. You have heard (no doubt) of the Muſick of the Sphaeres, which they ſay would raviſh ſouls from theſe mortal bodies, ſhould it but ſtrongly touch their ears; and therefore is almoſt drown'd by the noiſe and clatter of this lower world. This is it which I am now commending to you, that ſweet concent which all creatures make among themſelves, that rare harmony which there is in the motion of all the heavenly Orbs; which ſtrikes the mind ſo agreeably, that one cannot chuſe but dance for joy together with them. But it is the proper entertainment of thoſe who dwell in that ſtill Region, in which alone it can be diſtinctly heard; and where an everlaſting ſong to the Creator of all doth melt their hearts to joyn in conſort with that Univerſal harmony.
But yet the place is nothing ſo conſiderable as the Perſons that inhabit it; nor will it be ſo uſeful to draw their pictures curiouſly as to deſcribe their life and manners. Enquire not therefore of the vaſtneſs of this place, the ſtatelineſs of its buildings, the riches of their furniture, and ſuch like things; but know that it is the City of the Great King: the ſeat of the Imperial Majeſty of Heaven and Earth: the place where the Lord and Governour of the whole world, whoſe Dominion is an everlaſting Dominion, and who reigns through all Generations, keeps his Court. Do you not think it will be a pleaſingly amazing ſight to behold the Majeſty of his Glory? Or, What greater happineſs can you wiſh, if you were to be the diſpoſer of your own fortune, than alway to ſtand before the Soveraign of the World, as one of his Miniſters and Attendants; and to live in his bleſſed preſence, as one whom he highly favours? To behold the wiſdom of his Government, the righteouſneſs and goodneſs of his Laws, the admirable contrivance of all his Works, the univerſal care which he takes of all his Creatures, the infinite extent of his Providence, and the power of his Authority, whereby he doth whatſoever he pleaſes in Heaven and Earth, and Sea, and all deep places. To ſee how he brings thoſe things together which were removed far aſunder; and diſſolves the combinations and confederacies of thoſe things which were cloſely united. To contemplate how he hereby makes thoſe deſigns abortive, which were juſt bringing forth, how he diſappoints the deviſes of the crafty, and confounds all the ſubtilty of the world, and catches it in its own ſnares. It will ſtrangely tranſport you to ſee the beauty of his Holineſs, the ſplendor and brightneſs of his Underſtanding, the largeneſs of his Love, his uncorrupted Juſtice, his unexhauſted Goodneſs, his immoveable Truth, his uncontroulable Power, his vaſt Dominions, which yet he fills with his preſence, and adminiſters their affairs with eaſe, and is magnified and praiſed in them by the throng of all his creatures. Theſe things I will leave to your own private thoughts, that I may have time to ſpeak of the reſt of the caeleſtial Inhabitants, but eſpecially of the Kings Son, who is a principal ornament (if I may ſpeak in ſo low a phraſe) and a great glory to this place. And of him I ſhall need to tell you no more than this, that in his perſon there is to be ſeen at once the moſt illuſtrious Lover and Warriour that ever was. His Conqueſts have been innumerable. His Victories no Hiſtory but one of his own inſpiring is able to recount. He hath trodden down the moſt potent and giantly enemies. He hath triumphed over the Powers of Earth and Air. He hath trailed the greateſt Tyrant that ever was ſeen at his Chariot-wheels. And there is one univerſal triumph of his over all things ſtill behind, wherein there will be ſpecial marks of honour ſet on all the Citizens of Jeruſalem, who are to bear a part in it; which will aſtoniſh and raviſh all their hearts with Admiration, Love and Joy. This will be the moſt ſplendid ſhew, the moſt illuſtrious appearance that ever the Sun ſaw; for all Angels, and all Men; all that ever have been, are, or ſhall be, will there be ſummoned to attend in ſome ſort or other upon the Pomp of that great day. Then all the Citizens of Jeruſalem will be ſeen with Crowns of Gold on their heads which this great Prince will beſtow upon them; then they will appear on the Theatre of the world as ſo many Kings raigning together with him; and then all the Heavens will ring with ſhouts of joy and praiſe to him that redeemed them, as they march along in his train thorow the Air to Jeruſalem. For, as I told you, he is the moſt glorious Lover that ever was: and the greatneſs of his valour and courage, doth not at all extinguiſh his nobler flames. He is owner of the moſt tender heart that ever was in any breaſt; and hath rendred himſelf redoubtable to his greateſt enemies by nothing more than this, that he hath won ſo many hearts, and triumphed over ſo many brave ſouls, who were vanquiſhed by nothing elſe but the power of his mighty Love. Such a generous Lover he was, that though he was rich, he became poor, that they on whom he had ſet his heart might be made rich. He laid aſide the Robes of his Glory, that they might be inveſted with them. He took upon him the ſhape of a ſervant, that he might prefer them to be the Sons of God, and Heirs of a Kingdom. And at laſt he voluntarily, and without any compulſion but that of his Love, dyed upon a Croſs to ſave the lives of thoſe who were ſo far from having any reſentments of Love to him, that they had the hearts of moſt deſperate enemies againſt him. For you muſt know, that he is ſuch a Lord of Love, that the hatred and malignity of men could not extinguiſh the fervours of his paſſion. All the diſcourteſies they could do him, were not able to prevail with him to lay aſide his thoughts of kindneſs toward them. The innumerable affronts which he received could not make him go back to Heaven, and forſake this ill-natur'd world; till he had expreſſed all the Love conceiveable unto it. No, he dyed for thoſe who took away his life. His bowels earned toward thoſe who were ready to rake into them with their bloody hands. His heart burnt with affection to thoſe wretches, that cruelly pierced it, and thruſt it thorow with a ſpear. And therefore I cannot but think you would have a mind to take a journey to Jeruſalem, and judge your pains and travel well beſtowed, if it were for nothing elſe but to ſee this Illuſtrious Perſon; eſpecially to behold him in all his glory, and his higheſt exaltation, who is the Patron of all good ſouls, the great Protector of all Pilgrims, the Guide and Reſt too of all noble Travellers; and who bears a particular affection to your ſelf, who hath ſuffered ſo much for you; who hath ſent you ſo many meſſages of his Love, who hath endeared himſelf to you by a thouſand favours, and was never contented till he brought you to himſelf, that you might be there where he is, and behold the glory which his Father hath given to him. There he intends to entertain all pious men with an everlaſting Supper, to make them a never-ceaſing Jubilee; and treat them with ſuch ſumptuous magnificence, that there will not be tongues enough among them all to publiſh his praiſes, and their own thankfulneſs. Only you muſt remember that the entertainment he will give them, is himſelf, and that they will feaſt eternally upon his bleſſed face. Their happineſs will be to ſee God, to behold the glory which is given to our Lord; that is to know him, and to be filled with his Wiſdom, Love and Likeneſs.
And here, leſt I ſhould not be underſtood, and you ſhould imagine the happineſs of ſeeing God and his Son to be leſs than it is, let me ſtop a while to explain this part of my deſcription to you, before I paſs unto the reſt. You muſt not then conceive that the pleaſure of Jeruſalem, is to ſit whole Ages, and meerly to gaze upon the Divinity; or that they who enjoy the repoſe of that happy place, do nothing elſe but feed their eyes with the beauties of our Saviours face: No, theſe are the fancies of low and uninſtructed minds, who know no higher enjoyments than thoſe of ſenſe. To ſee God, will be to have ſuch a knowledge of him as gives our hearts a powerful touch, and ſtrikes them with ſuch a lively ſenſe of him, that he turns them perfectly into his nature, and transforms them into the likeneſs of his divine excellencies. This glorious object doth, as I may ſo ſpeak, diffuſe and ſpread it ſelf all over inamour'd ſouls, and by a living heat doth animate them into the ſame diſpoſition with it ſelf. The beauty on which they fix their eyes, doth imprint its own form upon their hearts, and makes them fair and beautiful with the ſame lovely qualities which they delight to behold. They do not buſie themſelves there, as men imagine, in gaping upon the ſplendor and the many ornaments of that place, but they themſelves become a part of its glory, and are changed into that on which they faſten their eyes. They do not ſpend their time only in looking upon God, and curiouſly prying into him; but they receive him into their hearts, and he enters into their ſouls. He doth not guild them with his beams, but they themſelves become Light in the Lord. There is not a glory only caſt about them, but they receive ſuch rayes of light from his face, as dart into their very hearts, and ſhine thorow their whole ſouls, ſo that they alſo become luminous and bright. They are ſo raviſhed with his Goodneſs, that they are made Good. They are ſo affected with his Wiſdom, that they become Wiſe. The ſenſe they have of his incomparable Purity, renders them more Holy; and his dear Love ſo over-maſters their ſouls, that they conform in all things to his hearts deſire, and it ſeems as if both their hearts had but one and the ſame motion. In ſhort, my meaning is, that they are not happy at Jeruſalem by any external injoyment of God (which is all the vulgar conceit doth reach, when we ſpeak of ſeeing his glory) but they are inwardly moved by a powerful efflux from him, which quickens them into the ſame thoughts, will and deſire with himſelf. Their ſouls are not outwardly painted with him, and ſome colours, as it were, of his Wiſdom living Images of God, and really changed into a true reſemblance of that which they behold. It is not ſome glory that appears before them which makes them bleſſed; but they are made all glorious within, and become themſelves God-like creatures. They do not behold the Divinity only without themſelves; but they ſee God within them, and looking into their own ſouls, there they find him, and are happy in him. And let me add this by the way, as I paſs to other things, that ſuch a knowledge and participation of God you muſt purſue in this world, if you mean to come to Jeruſalem. You muſt here be partakers of a Divine Nature, and now be transformed by the renewing of your mind, proving what is that good, and perfect, and acceptable will of God.
But I think it is time to lead you to other Spectacles which are worthy your ſight, and to tell you that in this City, all the glorious Miniſters of State to the King of Kings, have their Manſion-houſes, and Noble Palaces. All the Heroes of ancient daies do here make their abode. Nay all the ſpirits of juſt men that are made perfect, do here inhabit and have their conſtant reſidence. And all thoſe glittering Angels, and thoſe brave minds that ever flouriſh in this heavenly Court, I believe you will think ſufficient of themſelues, if there were nothing elſe to render this a very ſplendid place. The Laws indeed of which are ſuch, that none can be permitted to live there but Noble men, perſons of high birth, and illuſtrious deſcent; for they are all called the Sons of God. But that which gives them this Nobility, and ſtamps ſuch an honourable title upon them, is not ſuch poor things as ſwell the men of our world into an aiery and imaginary greatneſs; but the height of their minds, the purity of their hearts, and the excellent qualities wherewith they are endowed, which intitle them to the kindred of God. Inſomuch that the meaneſt Pilgrim on the earth that is found worthy by reaſon of his virtuous diſpoſition, and generous ſpirit, to be admitted a Citizen of Jeruſalem; inſtantly becomes Noble, and is inrolled among the Princes of heavenly Progeny. Into this bleſſed ſociety then when once you are received, How delightful do you think their company and acquaintance will prove? Are you not highly pleaſed now with a rare Hiſtory, and could you not lend your ears for a whole day to hear the adventures of ſome one famous perſon? And yet theſe are nothing to the pleaſures that they can entertain you withall. There were never ſuch things yet reported, as the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem will be ready to impart and communicate with you: Who can tell you a long ſtory of the Love of God, and make a never-ceaſing relation, an endleſs hiſtory of all the rare paſſages of his providence throughout the whole world. They can preſent you with a thouſand Abrahams, and as many Joſephs, whoſe adventures were ſo ſtrange, that fiction is not able to invent any thing ſo ſurpriſing. Nay out of thoſe Countries where you thought there was nothing but horrid deſerts, ſalvage ſouls, and barbarous cuſtoms; they may produce you many worthy minds, whoſe renowned acts it will give you an infinite joy to have rehearſed.
But there is nothing, I believe, will touch you with a greater inclination to their converſe, than the knowledge of the ſingular love and friendſhip that is between all the Inhabitants of that City: provided you be already touched with any ſenſe of the pleaſure of that noble paſſion. They are a people, I told you, of the moſt excellent nature, and the ſweeteſt diſpoſition in the world. They are void of all deceit and guile; of all hatred and envy, of all covetouſneſs and ſelf-love, of all anger and peeviſhneſs, with whatſoever other things there are that diſturb our peace, and ſpoil our converſe here below: So that they make the moſt agreeable ſociety that ever was, and interchange to each others ſuch pleaſures as my tongue hath not expreſſions powerful enough to paint them forth. There is no ſtrangeneſs at all among them. You can meet no body there, but they will entertain you with as much kindneſs and ſincerity, as if they had known you many years. And when many come together in one place, there is no danger of their jarring, by reaſon of their different ſentiments; but they bring a great addition of pleaſure, and make the moſt delicious harmony that ever moved the heart of man. There they entwine in the deareſt embraces. There they open to each other their very hearts. There they ſtudy to increaſe, not to diminiſh their mutual happineſs. There they think all that another injoyes, is as if they did injoy it themſelves. And what they have of their own, it is not for themſelves alone, but for every body elſe. There you ſhall meet with no pale fears, no anxious cares, no fruitleſs wiſhes, no tormenting jealouſies, and no amorous ſighs neither; for every one will love others as much as they deſire, and wiſh for no return again, but only Love. If there be any particular Friendſhips there; they do not at all ſpoil the univerſal kindneſs of the place. Others will not be loved the worſe for them, but rather loved better; becauſe they will teach thoſe united hearts the greateſt Love. They may be eſteemed alſo one of the beauteous ſpectacles of the place, and be reckoned among the grateful varieties which will entertain us: When after the pleaſures of a more general and large converſation, every one may retire to the company of thoſe he loveth moſt.
There you will be met with ſuch great and ſhining lights as St. Paul, who ſet all the world on fire with the flames of their love. You will fall into the company of thoſe burning hearts who were martyr'd firſt by their own Love, and then by their Perſecutors fury for the good of the world. And do you think they have put off their affections when they laid aſide their rags of fleſh? Did all their fire go out, when they ſuffered a diſſolution of their houſe of earth? Or ſhall we imagine that this generous paſſion is the off-ſpring of our body, and ows its being, birth and ſtrength to this corporeal nature? We may not ſo defame and aſperſe the Love of our Lord; who no doubt hath a more tender heart in the heavens, then he had upon the earth. We may expect to find there more Love in the breaſts of theſe holy Lovers who followed him, then here they were owners of; though they had then ſo much that it was large enough to embrace the whole world. They have not left their nature, but only its imperfections. They have not changed their affections, but only heightned and improv'd them. And therefore judge how happy you will be in the acquaintance of ſuch perſons, and how much more happy in their excellent friendſhip. Your Love will be raiſed to a ſtrange pitch, when you approach ſuch intenſe and vaſtly increaſed flames. Your heart will be all Fire when you come near to ſuch huge furnaces; the heat of whoſe Love in this cold region was ſo ſtrong, that it would have forced a ſenſible ſoul to expire with them. And is the joy think you conceivable which you will feel, when you find your ſelf in the arms of thoſe mighty Lovers? For my part I can imagine nothing but an Ecſtaſie, when we ſhall be placed in ſuch great Hearts; which are nothing elſe but Love and Joy to ſee us at Jeruſalem. I cannot propound to my deſires a pleaſure more charming then this, unleſs it be to joyn both heart and voice with the whole number of thoſe glorious friends, to chaunt the praiſes of our Creator and Redeemer. And indeed it is beyond the meaſure of my poor ſkill to invent any words that can tolerably deſcribe the Melodies which will then be made, when the glorious company of the Apoſtles, the goodly fellowſhip of the Prophets, the noble Army of the Martyrs, the glittering Troops of Confeſſors, and the innumerable Hoſts of triumphant Souls, ſhall compoſe but one Quire to ſing their Anthems and Hallelujahs to the God of Love. But yet I am apt to think that their Muſick will receive no ſmall part of its graces from hence, that there will be no diſcord in their hearts nor jarring in their affections, but that Love will exactly tune them to a perfect harmony. Nay, this ſeems to be the ſum of what we can ſay of the happineſs of that eſtate, that it conſiſts in a rapturous Love of God, and a moſt paſſionate Love of one another. And truly this is a thing ſo inviting, and I have ſuch a particular affection to this Ʋnity of Spirit among Brethren, that I ſhould be tempted here to ſpeak a little of that Charity which you ought to have to your neighbour (as I have already inſtructed you about that you owe to God) but that I have aſſigned another time and place for that diſcourſe.