Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

When as the long expected time was come,
Wherin these lingring Lovers should consumme
The promis'd mariage, & observe the rites,
Pertaining to those festivall delights,
Samson went downe to Timnah; there, t'enjoy
The sweet possession of his dearest joy;
But as he past those fruitfull Vineyards, where
His hands of late, acquit him of that feare
(Wherewith the fierce assaulting Lyon quail'd
His yet unpractis'd courage) and prevail'd
Vpon his life; as by that place he past,
He turn'd aside, and borrowed of his hast
A little time, wherein his eyes might view
The Carkas of the Lyon which he slew;
But when his wandring footsteps had drawne neer
The unlamented herse, his wondring eare
Perceiv'd a murm'ring noise, discerning not
From whence that strange confusion was, or what;
He staies his steps, and hearkens; still the voyce
Presents his eare, with a continued noyse;
At length, his gently moving feet apply
Their paces to the Carkas, where his eye

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Discernes a Swarme of Bees, whose laden thighes
Repos'd their burthens, and the painfull prize
Of their sweet labour in the hollow Chest
Of the dead Lyon, whose unbowell'd brest
Became their plenteous storehouse, where, they laid
The blest encrease of their laborious Trade;
The fleshly Hive was fill'd with curious Combes,
Within whose dainty waxe-divided roomes,
Were shops of honey, whose delicious taste
Did sweetly recompence th'adjourned haste
Of lingring Samson, who does now repay
The time he borrow'd from his better way,
And with renewed speed, and pleasure, flies,
Where all his soule-delighting treasure lies;
He goes to Timnah, where his heart doth finde
A greater sweetnesse, than he left behinde;
His hasty hands invites her gladder eyes
To see, and lips to taste that obvious prize
His interrupted stay had lately tooke,
And as shee tasted, his fixt eyes would looke
Vpon her varnisht lips, and, there, discover
A sweeter sweetnesse to content a Lover:
And now the busie Virgins are preparing
Their costly Iewels, for the next dayes wearing;
Each lappe is fill'd with Flowers, to compose
The nuptiall Girland, for the Brides faire browes;
The cost-neglecting Cookes have now encreast
Their pastry dainties to adorne the feast;
Each willing hand is labring to provide
The needfull ornaments to deck the Bride.

But now, the crafty Philistins, for feare
Lest Samsons strength, (which startled every eare
With dread and wonder) under that pretence,
Should gaine the meanes, to offer violence;

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And, through the shew of nuptiall devotion,
Should take advantages to breed commotion,
Or lest his popular power, by coaction
Or faire entreats, may gather to his faction
Some loose and discontented men of theirs,
And so betray them to supected feares;
They therefore to prevent ensuing harmes,
Gave strict command, that thirty men of armes,
Vnder the maske of Bridemen, should attend
Vntill the nuptiall ceremonies end.

Meditat. 9.

How high, unutterable, how profound,
(Whose depth the line of knowledge cannot found)
Are the deerces of the Eternall God!
How secret are his wayes, and how untrod
By mans conceipt, so deeply charg'd with doubt!
How are his Counsels past our finding out!
O, how unscrutable are his designes!
How deepe, and how unsearchable are the Mines
Of his abundant Wisdome! how obscure
Are his eternall Iudgements! and how sure!
Lists he to strike? the very Stones shall flie
From their unmov'd Foundations, and destroy:
Lists he to punish? Things that have no sense,
Shall vindicate his Quarrell, on th'Offence:
Lists he to send a plague? The winters heate
And summers damp, shall make his will compleate:
Lists he to send the Sword? Occasion brings
New Iealousies betwixt the hearts of Kings:

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Wills he a famine? Heaven shall turne to brasse,
And earth to Iron, till it come to passe:
Both stocks, and stones, and plants, and beasts fulfil
The secret Counsell of his sacred will,
Man, onely wretched Man, is disagreeing
To doe that thing, for which he had his being:
Samson must downe to Timnah; in the way
Must meet a Lyon, whom his hands must slay;
The Lyons putrid Carkas must enclose
A swarme of Bees; and, from the Bees, arose
A Riddle; and that Riddle must be read,
And by the reading, Choller must be bred,
And that must bring to passe Gods just designes
Vpon the death of the false Philistines:
Behold the progresse, and the royall Gests
Of Heavens high vengeance; how it never rests,
Till, by appointed courses, it fulfill
The secret pleasure of his sacred will.

Great Savior of the world; Thou Lambe of Sion,
That hides our sinnes; That art the wounded Lyon:
O, in thy dying body, we have found
A world of hony; whence we may propound
Such sacred Riddles, as shall, underneath
Our feet, subdue the power of Hell and Death;
Such Mysteries; as none but he, that plough'd
With thy sweet Hayfer's able to uncloud;
Such sacred Mysteries, whose eternall praise
Shall make both Angels, and Archangels raise
Their louder voyces, and, in triumph, sing,
All Glory and Honour to our highest King,
And to the Lambe, that sits upon the throne;
Worthy of power and praise is he, alone,
Whose glory hath advanc'd our key of mirth;
Glory to God, on high; and peace, on Earth.