Theophila Or Loves Sacrifice. A Divine Poem. Written by E. B. Esq; Several Parts thereof set to fit Aires by Mr J. Jenkins |
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Theophila | ||
I
Those happy Mansions, glorious Saint, discover,Where the bright Host of Spirits hover!
Bring down all Heav'n before the Eyes o'th' Heav'nly Lover.
II
Frail Man, with Zeal, and Wonder here beholdClay cast into a Heav'nly Mold:
Faith did, now Vision does Beatitude unfold.
III
The Tenants in This splendid Frame are TheyWhose grosser and unpolish Clay,
Calcin'd in Graves, now Robes of Glory do array.
82
IV
Here Martyrs sit enthron'd, who late did bleedSap from their fertil Wounds, to feed
With Oyl the Churches Lamps, and with red Dew her Seed.
V
These ovant Souls, Knights of Saint Vincent are,For high Atchievements gain'd; each Scar,
To make a golden Constellation, seems a Star.
VI
Not by inflicting, but receiving Blowes,By suff'ring, They ore came their Foes:
How long, Lord, ere Thou do'st avenge their Blood on Those?
VII
These own their Bliss, sprung from the Word & WillO'th' Lamb, by Whom They conquer'd still.
Themselves, and that revolted Band that Hell do's fill.
VIII
Therefore, Each prostrate casts, with th' Elders, downAt the LAMBS Feet their Palm and Crown,
Beholding round all Eminencies, but their own.
IX
Th' Apostles here, with Him, in whose sweet TongueThe Lute of high-tun'd Love was strung,
When through so many Regions He the Gospel sung.
X
The loving, lov'd Evangelist here livesOn Loves pure Influence, and gives
No Bounds to's flaming Love, but how to heighten't strives.
XI
Love was his only Theme. She, here is crown'd,Who, neer Deaths Tomb, Life risen found;
Whose Eye-bowl was Tear-brimm'd, whose Towel Hair unbound.
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XII
Parcht Africks Glory, born in's Mothers Eyes,(An happier Off-spring of her Cries,
Than of her Womb) here to ecstatick Love does rise.
XIII
The Bounds are boundless of divine Amour;Love hopes, and yet hath all Things, for,
In Heav'ns eternal Heraldry, true Love is Or.
XIV
Fruition Love enfires, thence Zeal's renu'd;Love hath the SPIRITS Plenitude,
Burning with Flames in Splendor of Beatitude!
XV
Love caus'd the SON of GOD from's Throne dismount,And make Himself of no Account,
Become a Man of Sorrows, Who of Joy's the Fount!
XVI
This Love, by Quire of Heav'n scarce understood!Could so much Ill cause so much Good,
For Mans Redemption that GODS SON should shed His Blood?
XVII
Thou, Love, when as my guilty Soul did dwellIn Nest of Ruine, did'st unshell
My Spirit (fledg'd with Grace) from that disord'red Cell,
XVIII
And, having crusht the outward Film of Earth,Gav'st Her, new form'd with Glory, Birth
That She might stye to th' Seat of Beatifick Mirth!
XIX
And praise Thee, with those Virgin-Souls, who inThe Cloysters of their Flesh have bin
Washt in their Saviours Bath of Blood from Spots of Sin.
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XX
Flow'rs on our Heads, as on their Stems, do grow,Which into fadeless Colours flow,
Nor Cold to blast, nor Heat to scorch, nor Age they know.
XXI
Scenting 'bove thousand precious Ointments, shedOn consecrated Aarons Head;
Above pearl'd Dew on Hermons ever-fragrant Bed.
XXII
How far, immaculate Flames, do You excellAll that in Thoughts high Turret dwell!
What then can Opticks see? What then can Volumes tell?
XXIII
If Beauties Self we could incarnate see,Teeming with Youth and Joy, yet She
Would not so beauteous as the Virgin-Mother be.
XXIV
Who, like a full-orb'd Moon, our Stars out-shin'dIn glorious Fulgurance of Minde!
For whose surpassing Splendour I this Ode desig'nd.
XXV
Hail, blessed Virgin-Spouse, who did'st bequeathBreath unto Him, Who made Thee breathe!
And gav'st a Life to Him, Who gave the Life from Death!
XXVI
Who bor'st Him in thy Womb, Whose Hands did stackThe studded Orbs with Stars, and tack
The glowing Constellations to the Zodiack!
XXVII
And, what improves the Mystery begun,New Mysteries from Thee were spun,
He did, at once, become thy Father, Spouse, and Son!
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XXVIII
Conceiving HIM, as by the Womb, so th' Ear!By th' Angels Tongue Heav'n cast Seed there!
Thou heard'st, believ'dst, & thence didst breed, & thence didst bear!
XXIX
Thou only may'st (so it be humbly) boastTo have brought forth the Eternal Host
By mystick Obumbration of the HOLY GHOST!
XXX
By Thee did GOD and Man embrace Each other!Thus, Heav'n to Earth became a Brother!
Thus, Thou, a Virgin, to thy MAKER wast a Mother!
XXXI
Thy Fleece was wet, when all the Ground lay drie!Drie, when all moist about did lie!
As Aarons rootless Rod, so didst Thou fructifie!
XXXII
Thou art, from whence Faiths Burgeon sprang, the Ground!Before, in, after Birth was found
Purenesse untoucht, with Virgin-Mothers Honour crown'd!
XXXIII
Thou, Shrine of Glory, Ark of Blisse, Thou, highFair Temple of Divinity,
In Thee, the Master-peece of Nature I descry!
XXXIV
My ravisht Soul (said She) extols His Name,Who rules the Heav'ns expansed Frame,
Whose Mercie rais'd me up to magnifie the Same.
XXXV
Who can anatomize the glorious ListOf Heirs to GOD, Coheirs with CHRIST,
Who Royalize it There by Graces high Acquist?
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XXXVI
Whose several Glories admirable are!And yet as Infinite, as Fair!
Where Alls's enjoy'd at Full; where every Thing is rare!
XXXVII
The Joy of Each One is the Joy of All!Beatitude's reciprocall!
They drink Christs Cup of flowing Wine, who pled'gd his Gall!
XXXVIII
Silence most Rhet'rick hath, and Glories bestDo pourtray forth that Royal Feast,
At which each blessed Saint is an Eternal Guest!
XXXIX
Nor can a Thought of earthly Friends AnnoyesExtenuate one Grain of Joyes,
While Mercy saves the Wise, while Justice Fools destroyes!
XL
Strangely their Intellects enlightned be!Natures Compendium did not see
One half; yea, ere He tasted the forbidden Tree!
XLI
If, that Sea-parting Prince, from cleft Rocks SpaceViewing GODS Back-parts, thought it Grace,
What Honour is it then to see HIM Face to Face!
XLII
Who doth inspirit the indeficient Ray,Not dimm'd with a minute Allay;
Where, though no Sun ere rose, yet 'tis Eternal Day!
XLIII
Where, All are fill'd, yet All from Food abstain!Where All are Subjects, yet All reign!
All rich, yet have no Bags that stifled Wealth contain!
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XLIV
Where each Saint do's a glorious Kingdom own;Where each King hath a starry Crown;
Each Crown a Kingdom, free from the rude Peoples Frown.
XLV
Where Each hath All, yet, more than All, They owe;All Subjects, yet no Kings They know,
Save King of Kings, & Lord of Lords, who quel'd their Foe.
XLVI
Where highest Joy is their perpetual Fare;Their Exercise Hosannas are;
Spirits the Choristers, the Subject Praise and Prayer.
XLVII
The Laureate King his Psalming Voice doth raise,And sings to's solemn Harp high Layes,
Being Himself the Organ to His MAKERS Praise.
XLVIII
Enflam'd with holy Zeal, and high Desire,Encircled with the Enthean Quire,
Warbles This Epinician Canzon to his Lyre.
XLIX
Thou, Crown of Blisse, whose Footstool's Earth, whose ThroneOutshines ten thousand Suns in One,
Who art the Radical Life of all true Joy alone!
L
Royal PROTECTOR! when in THEE, Light's Sun,Mortals wou'd deem the last Hour run,
We finde no Wane of Day, but a Solstitial Noon!
LI
When, We Times Volumes of past Thousands scan,Thy Origen with Time to span,
We finde no Track in Infant Age when It began!
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LII
Ancient of Dayes! to Whom all Times are Now;Before Whom, Seraphims do bow,
Though highest Creatures, yet to their CREATOR, low!
LIII
Who art by Light-surrounded Powers obey'd,(Heav'ns Host Thy ministring Spirits made)
Cloath'd with UBIQUITY, to Whom all Light is Shade!
LIV
Whose Thunder-clasping Hand do's grasp the SholeOf total Nature, and unroul
The spangled Canopy of Heav'n from Pole to Pole!
LV
Who, on the Clouds and Windes, thy Chariot, rid'st;And, brideling wildest Storms, them guid'st;
Who, moveless, All dost move; Who, changing All, abid'st!
LVI
The Ocean Thou begirt'st with misty Shrouds;That Monster wrapt'st in swathing Clouds,
And, with thy mighty Word controul'st tempestuous Flouds!
LVII
Earth-circling Oceans Thy Displeasure flee;Mountains dismounted are by Thee;
Those airy Giants smoak if Thou incensed be!
LVIII
Innumerable Troops of Joyes do standBefore thy boundless Presence, and
Uncessantly attend Thy ever-blissefull Hand!
LIX
Thou, LORD; Good, without Quality, dost sendBlisse to All Thine; Great, without End;
Whose Magnitude no Quantity can comprehend!
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LX
What's worthlesse Man? what his earth-crawling Race?That Thou shouldst such a shadow grace,
And in unspeakable triumphant Glory place!
LXI
Who may thy Mercies Height, Depth, Breadth extend?In Height It do's to Heav'n ascend,
Confirms the Angels, and in Depth doth low descend,
LXII
Lessening the Pains o'th' damned ev'n in Hell;In Breadth, from East to West do's swell,
And over all the World, and all thy Works excell!
LXIII
Immense EXISTENCE! Heav'n's amaz'd at thyINCOMPREHENSIBILITIE!
Intelligencies dread Thine All commanding-Eye!
LXIV
Ye winged Hero's, whom all Blisse embow'rs,To HIM in Anthems strain your pow'rs,
Whose Sea of Goodness has no Shoar, whose Age, no How'rs!
LXV
Then, ore the trembling Cords his swift Hand strayes,And clos'd All with full Diapaze;
As, in a sounding Quire the well-strook Consort playes.
LXVI
Victorious Jubilies, when Eccho'd clearFrom the Church-Militant, are dear
To Heav'ns triumphing Quire; Such no gross Ear can hear.
LXVII
Musicks first Martyr, Stradas Nightingale,Might ever wish (poor Bird) to fall
On that excelling Harp, and joy i'th Funeral!
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LXVIII
Had it but heard Those Ayrs, where Musick meetsWith Raptures of Voice-warbled Sweets,
Flowing with ravishing Exces in Sions Streets.
LXIX
All, what Symphonious Breaths inspire, All, whatQuick Fingers touch, compar'd, sound flat:
Could I but coyn a Word beyond all Sweets! 'Twere That
LXX
What Orders in New-Salems Hierarchie,In what Degrees They enstated be,
Are Wings that mount my Thoughts to high Discovery.
LXXI
Blest Sight, to see Heav'ns order'd Host to moveIn Legions glist'ring All Above,
Whose Armour is true Zeal, whose Banner is pure Love!
LXXII
Bright-harnessed Intelligencies! WhoEnucleate can your Essence so,
As Men may both your mighty Pow'r, & Nature know!
LXXIII
Invisible, impassive, happy, fair,High, incorporeal, active, rare,
Pure, scientifick and illustrious Spirits You are.
LXXIV
Guesse at their Strength, by One; Was not almostTwo hundred thousand of an Host
By an Angel slain, when Assurs Chief 'gainst Heav'n did boast?
LXXV
In Brightness They the Morning Star out-vie;In Nimbleness the Windes out-flie;
And far surpasse the Sun-beams in Subtilitie.
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LXXVI
Archangels, Those superiour Spirits, areGODS Legats, when he will declare
His Minde to's Chosen; Gabriel did thus prepare
LXXVII
GODS Embassie, when his Belov'd did tieOur Flesh to his DIVINITIE;
Grace was the Kisse, the Union was the Ring from High;
LXXVIII
Angels the Posie sung: This, made our ClayO're Empyræan Courtiers sway,
When as the SPOUSE his mystick Nuptials did display.
LXXIX
No sooner shall That great Archangel soundHis wakefull Trump of Doom to th' Ground,
And Eccho shall, as banded Ball, make quick Rebound;
LXXX
But, pamper'd Graves, with all their Jawes, shall yawn;And Seas, Flouds Nurse, strange Shoals shall spawn
Of Men, to wait o'th' dreadfull Judge at's Judgements Dawn.
LXXXI
To Incorruption then Corruptions NightShall turned be; for That strange Sight
Inebriates Souls with deepest Woes, or high'st Delight!
LXXXII
Then shall my Ear, my Nose, my Hand, Tongue, Eye,Alwayes hear, smell, feel, taste, espye,
Hosanna's, Incense, Off'rings, Feasts, Felicitie!
LXXXIII
To act GODS Will, ore sublunary Things,The Dominations sway, as Kings;
He curbs Aerian Potentates, by th' Pow'rs He wings;
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LXXXIV
The Principates, of Princes take the Care,T' enlarge their Realms, or to empair;
Virtues in acting of his Will have their full Share;
LXXXV
Thrones HIM contemplate, nor from's Presence move;To Cherubs HE reveals Above
Hid Things; He Seraphins enflames with ardent Love.
LXXXVI
Præcelling Seraphs shew GODS Ardor still;Wise Cherubs his Abysse of Skill
In Governing of All; beatious Thrones instill
LXXXVII
To us his Steddines in's blessed Throne,Ever unalterably ONE;
Powr's, Virtues, Principates to his Commands are prone;
LXXXVIII
Dominions own his Regal Sway; and soArchangels, Angels swiftly show
Agilitie that from the DEITIE do's flow.
LXXXIX
Their Number's numberlesse, not half so fewAs orient Pearls of early Dew;
Like Aromatick Lamps They in Heav'ns Temple shew:
XC
And yet of Them though vast the Number be,The Thing that most do's glorifie
Their MAKER's This, They differ specifically.
XCI
Of the first Machine They the Parcels are;Yet, if we Them with GOD compare,
Then wth their Wings they skreen Themselves, though else most fair.
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XCII
Lawlesse Desire do's never pierce their Breast;Th' Almighties Face is still their Feast;
Their Blisse in Service lies, in Messages their Rest:
XCIII
They speak with Thought, atchieve without a Fee;Silence They hear, Idæas see;
Still magnifying HIM, who cannot Greater be!
XCIV
Thus, They, with one fleet Glance intuitive,Into Each others Knowledge dive;
And, by Consent, Thoughts, else inscrutable, unrive.
XCV
Each One in Psalms Eternity employes;Where Use nor tires, nor Fulness cloyes;
Enjoying GOD, their End, without an end of Joyes!
XCVI
Each ravishing Voice, each Instrument, each FaceCompos'd such Musick, that I was
In Doubt, Each so in Tune, which did precede in Grace:
XCVII
The spritely Instruments did sweetly smile;The Faces play'd their Parts; mean while
The Voices, with both Graces, did them Both beguile.
XCVIII
The Nine-fold Quire such Heav'nly Accents thereIn Sweets Extension still do rear,
As over-pow'r the Windings of a mortal Ear.
XCIX
Who Musick hate, in barb'rous Discord rowle;In Heav'n there is not such a Soul;
For, there's All-Harmony. Saints sing, the damned howl.
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C
Cœlestial Sweets did this Discourse excite;Firm Joy, fast Love, fixt Life, fair Sight!
But may a Creature, its CREATORS Glory write?
Theophila | ||