University of Virginia Library

How amiable are thy Tabernacles O god of Hosts.

Ancient of dayes, to whom, all things are Now,
Before whose Glory, Seraphims do bow
Their blushing Cheeks, and vale their blemisht faces:
That, uncontaind, at once, dost fill all places,
How glorious, O how farre beyond the height
Of puzzled Quils, or the obtuse conceit
Of flesh and Blood, or the too flat reports
Of mortall tongues, are thy expreslesse Courts!
Whose glory to paint forth with greater Art,
Ravisht my Fancy, and inspire my heart,
Excuse my bold attempt, and pardon me
For shewing Sense, what Faith alone should see.
Ten thousand Millions, and ten thousand more
Of Angell-measur'd leagues from th'Easterne shore
Of dungeon earth this glorious Palace stands,
Before whose pearly gates, ten thousand Bands
Of armed Angels wait, to entertaine
Those purged soules, for whom the Lamb was slaine,
Whose guiltlesse death, and voluntary yeelding
Of whose giv'n life gave this brave Court her building;
The lukewarme Blood of this deare Lamb being spilt,
To Rubies turn'd, whereof her posts were built;
And what dropte downe in cold and gelid gore,
Did turne rich Saphyrs, and impav'd her floore:
The brighter flames, that from his eye-balls ray'd,
Grew Chrysolites, whereof her wals were made:
The milder glaunces sparkled on the Ground.
And grunsild ev'ry doore with Diamond:
But, dying, darted upwards, and did fixe
A Battlement of puret Sardonix:
Her streets with burnisht Gold are paved round:
Starres lie like pebbles scattered on the ground:
Pearle, mixt with Onyx, and the Jasper stone,
Made gravil'd Causewayes to be trampled on:
There shines no Sun by day; no Moone, by night;
The Pallace glory is the Pallace light:
There is no time to measure motion by,
There, time is swallow'd with Eternity;
Wry-mouth'd disdaine, and corner-haunting lust,
And twy-fac'd Fraud; and beetle-brow'd Distrust;
Soule-boyling Rage; and trouble-state sedition;
And giddy doubt; and goggle-ey'd suspition;
And lumpish sorrow, and degen'rous feare
Are banisht thence, and death's a stranger there:
But simple love, and sempiternall joyes,
Whose sweetnesse neither gluts, nor fulnesse cloyes;
Where face to face, our ravisht eye shall see
Great ELOHIM, that glorious One in Three,
And Three in One; and, seeing Him, shall blesse Him,
And blessing, love Him; and, in love, possesse Him:
Here stay, my soule, and ravish in relation:
Thy words being spent; spend now, in Contemplation.

S. GREG. in Psal. 7 poenitent.

Sweet Jesus, the World of the Father, the brightnesse of paternall glory, whom Angels delight to view, teach me to do thy will; that, led by thy good Spirit, I may come to that blessed City, where day is eternall, where there is certaine security, and secure eternity, and eternall peace, and peacefull happinesse, and happy sweetnesse, and sweet pleasure; where thou O God with the Father and the holy Spirit livest and raignest world without end.

Ibid.

There is light without darknesse; Joy without griefe; desire without punishment; love without sadnesse; satiety without loathing; safety without feare; health without disease; and life without death.