My ravisht soul, a pious ardour fires,

To sing those mystick wonders it admires,

Contemplating the Rise of every thing

That, with Times birth, flow’d from th’ eternal
spring:

And the no less stupendious Providence

By which discording Natures ever since

Have kept up universal Harmonie;

While in one joynt obedience all agree,

Performing that to which they were design’d

With ready inclination; But Mankind

A3 Alone A3v 2

Open note 1Back to note ¹Alone rebels against his Makers will,

Which tho’ opposing he must yet fulfill.

And so that wise Power, who each crooked stream

Most rightly guides, becomes the glorious theam

Of endless admiration, while we see,

Whatever mortals vain endeavours be,

Open note 2Back to note ²They must be broken who with Power contend,

Open note 3Back to note ³And cannot frustrate their Creators End,

Open note 4Back to note ⁴Whose Wisdom, Goodness, Might and Glory shines

Open note 5Back to note ⁵In guiding mens unto his own designs.

Open note 6Back to note ⁶In these outgoings would I sing his praise,

But my weak sense with the too glorious rays

Is struck with such confusion, that I find

Only the worlds first Chaos in my mind,

Where Light and Beauty lie wrapt up in seed,

And cannot be from the dark prison freed,

Except that Power, by whom the world was made,

My soul in her imperfect strugglings aid,

Her rude conceptions into forms dispose,

And words impart, which may those forms disclose.

O thou eternal spring of glory, whence

Open note 7Back to note ⁷All other streams derive their excellence,

From whose Love issues every good desire,

Quicken my dull earth with celestial fire,

And let the sacred theam that is my choice,

Give utterance and musick to my voice,

Open note 8Back to note ⁸Singing the works by which thou art reveal’d.

What dark Eternity hath kept conceal’d

From mortals apprehensions, what hath been

Before the race of Time did first begin,

Open note 9Back to note ⁹It were presumptuous folly to enquire.

Let not my thoughts beyond their bound aspire,

Time limits mortals, and Time had its birth,

In whose “Beginning God made Heaven and Earth.”Open note 10Back to note ¹⁰

God, the great Elohim, to say no more,

Whose sacred Name we rather must adore

Than venture to explain; for He aloneOpen note 11Back to note ¹¹

Dwells in himself, and to himself is known.Open note 12Back to note ¹²

And so, even that by which we have our sight,

His covering is, “He clothes himself with light.”Open note 13Back to note ¹³

Easier we may the winds in prison shut,

The whole vast Ocean in a nut-shell put,

The Mountains in a little ballance weigh,Open note 14Back to note ¹⁴

And with a Bullrush plumm the deepest Sea,

Than stretch frail humane thought unto the height

Of the great God, Immense, and Infinite,

Containing all things in himself alone,Open note 15Back to note ¹⁵

Being at once in all, contain’d in none.

Yet as a hidden spring appears in streams,

The Sun is seen in its reflected beams,

Whose high embodied Glory is too bright,

Too strong an object for weak mortal sight;

So in Gods visible productions, weOpen note 16Back to note ¹⁶

What is invisible, in some sort see;Open note 17Back to note ¹⁷

While we considering each created thing,

Are led up to an uncreated spring,

And by gradations of successive Time,

At last unto Eternity do climb,Open note 18Back to note ¹⁸

As we in tracks of second causes tread

Unto the first uncaused cause are led;

And know, while we perpetual motion see

There must a first self-moving Power be,

To whom all the inferiour motions tend,Open note 19Back to note ¹⁹

In whom they are begun, and where they end.

The First eternal Cause, th’ OriginalOpen note 20Back to note ²⁰

Of Being, Life, and Motion, God we call;

In whom all Wisdome, Goodness, Glory, Might,

Whatever can himself or us delight

Unite, A4v 4

Unite, centring in his Perfection,

Open note 21Back to note ²¹Whose Nature can admit but only One:

Divided Soveraignty makes neither great,

Wanting what’s shar’d to make the summ compleat.

Open note 22Back to note ²²And yet this soveraign sacred Unitie

Open note 23Back to note ²³Is not alone, for in this one are three,

Open note 24Back to note ²⁴Distinguisht, not divided, so that what

Open note 25Back to note ²⁵One person is, the other is not that;

Yet all the three, are but one God most High,

One uncompounded, pure Divinity,

Wherein subsist so, the Mysterious three,

That they in Power and Glory equal be;

Open note 26Back to note ²⁶Each doth himself, and all the rest possess

Open note 27Back to note ²⁷In undisturbed joy and blessedness.

Open note 28Back to note ²⁸There’s no Inferiour, nor no Later there,

Open note 29Back to note ²⁹Open note 30Back to note ³⁰All Coeternal, all Coequal, are.

And yet this Parity Order admits.

The Father first, eternally begets,

Open note 31Back to note ³¹Within himself, his Son, substantial Word

Open note 32Back to note ³²And Wisdom, as his second, and their third

Open note 33Back to note ³³The ever blessed spirit is, which doth

Open note 34Back to note ³⁴Alike eternally proceed from both.

These three, distinctly thus, in one Divine,

Pure, Perfect, Self-supplying Essence shine:

Open note 35Back to note ³⁵And all cooperate in all works done

Exteriourly, yet so, as every one,

In a peculiar manner suited to

His Person, doth the common action do.

Open note 36Back to note ³⁶Herein the Father is the Principal,

Whose sacred counsels are th’ Original

Open note 37Back to note ³⁷Open note 38Back to note ³⁸Of every Act; produced by the Son,

Open note 39Back to note ³⁹By’ the Spirit wrought up to perfection.

Open note 40Back to note ⁴⁰Open note 41Back to note ⁴¹I’the Creation thus, by’the Fathers wise decree,

Open note 42Back to note ⁴²Such things should in such time, and order be,

The B1r 5

The first foundation of the world was laid.Open note 43Back to note ⁴³

The Fabrique, by th’ Eternal Word, was madeOpen note 44Back to note ⁴⁴

Not as th’ instrument, but joynt actor, whoOpen note 45Back to note ⁴⁵

Joy’d to fulfill the counsels which he knew.

By the concurrent Spirit all parts wereOpen note 46Back to note ⁴⁶

Fitly dispos’d, distinguisht, rendred fair,Open note 47Back to note ⁴⁷

In such harmonious and wise order set,

As universal Beauty did compleat.

This most mysterious Triple Unitie,

In Essence One, and in subsistence Three,

Was that great Elohim, who first design’d,

Then made the Worlds, that Angels and Mankind

Him in his rich out-goings might adore,Open note 48Back to note ⁴⁸

And celebrate his praise for evermore;Open note 49Back to note ⁴⁹

Who from Eternity himself supplied,Open note 50Back to note ⁵⁰

And had no need of any thing beside,

Nor any other cause that did him move

To make a World, but his extensive Love,

It self delighting to communicate;

Its Glory in the creatures to dilate;

While they are led by their own excellence

T’ admire the first, pure, high, Intelligence,Open note 51Back to note ⁵¹

By all the Powers and vertues which they have,Open note 52Back to note ⁵²

To that Omnipotence who those Powers gave;Open note 53Back to note ⁵³

By all their glories and their joys to his,

Who is the fountain of all joy and bliss;Open note 54Back to note ⁵⁴

By all their wants and imbecillities,Open note 55Back to note ⁵⁵

To the full magazine of rich supplies,

Where Power, Love, Justice, and Mercy shine

In their still fixed heights, and ne’re decline.

No streams can shrink the self-supplying spring,

No retributions can more fulness bringOpen note 56Back to note ⁵⁶

To the eternal fountain, which doth runOpen note 57Back to note ⁵⁷

In sacred circles, ends where it begun,Open note 58Back to note ⁵⁸

B And B1v 6

Open note 59Back to note ⁵⁹And thence with inexhausted life and force

Begins again a new, yet the same course

It instituted in Times infant birth,

When the Creator first made “Heaven and Earth.”Open note 60Back to note ⁶⁰

Open note 61Back to note ⁶¹Time though it all things into motion bring

IsnotIs not it self any substantial thing,

But only Motions measure; As a twin

Born with it; and they both at once begin

With the existence of the rolling sphere

Before which neither time not motion were.

Time being a still continued number, made

By the vicissitude of Light and Shade,

By the Moons growth, and her waxing old,

By the successive Reign of heat and cold,

Thus leading back all ages to the womb

Of vast Eternity from whence they come,

And bringing new successions forth, until

Heaven its last revolutions shall fulfil,

And all things unto their first state restore,

Open note 62Back to note ⁶²When Motion ceasing, Time shall be no more;

But with the visible Heavens shall expire

Open note 63Back to note ⁶³While they consume in the worlds funeral fire;

Open note 64Back to note ⁶⁴Th’ invisible Heavens being still the same,

Shall not be toucht by the devouring flame.

Treating of which, let’s wave Platonick dreams

Of Worlds made in Idea, fitter theams

For Poets fancies, than the reverent view

Of Contemplation, fixt on what is true

And only certain, kept upon record

In the Creators own revealed word,

Which when it taught us how our world was made,

Wrapt up th’ invisible in mystique shade.

Open note 65Back to note ⁶⁵Yet through those clouds we see, God did create

A place his presence doth irradiate.

Where B2r 7

Where he doth in his brightest lustre shine;Open note 66Back to note ⁶⁶

Yet doth not his own Heaven, him confine:Open note 67Back to note ⁶⁷

Although the Paradise of the fair world above,Open note 68Back to note ⁶⁸

Each where perfum’d with sweet respiring Love,Open note 69Back to note ⁶⁹

Refresht with Pleasures never shrinking streams,Open note 70Back to note ⁷⁰

Illustrated with Lights unclouded beams,

The happy land of peace and endless RestOpen note 71Back to note ⁷¹

Which doth both soul and sense with full joys feast,Open note 72Back to note ⁷²

Feasts that extinguish not the appetiteOpen note 73Back to note ⁷³

Which is renew’d to heighten the delight.Open note 74Back to note ⁷⁴

Here stands the Tree of life, deckt with fair fruit,Open note 75Back to note ⁷⁵

Whose leaves health to the nations contribute.Open note 76Back to note ⁷⁶

The spreading, true celestial VineOpen note 77Back to note ⁷⁷

Where fruitful grafts and noble clusters shine.Open note 78Back to note ⁷⁸

Here Majesty and Grace together meet;

The Grace is glorious, and the Glory sweet.

Here is Throne of th’ universal KingOpen note 79Back to note ⁷⁹

To which the suppliant world addresses bring.

Here next him doth his Son in triumph sit,

Waiting till all his foes lie at his feet.Open note 80Back to note ⁸⁰

Here is the Temple of his Holiness,Open note 81Back to note ⁸¹

The Sanctuary for all sad distress.Open note 82Back to note ⁸²

Here is the Saints most sure inheritanceOpen note 83Back to note ⁸³

To which they all their thoughts and hopes advance.Open note 84Back to note ⁸⁴

Here their rich recompence and safe rest lies,

For this they all th’ inferiour world despise;Open note 85Back to note ⁸⁵

Yet not for this alone, though this excel,

But for that Deity who here doth dwell;

For heaven it self to Saints no heaven wereOpen note 86Back to note ⁸⁶

Did not their God afford his presence there;

But now, as he inhabits it, it is

The treasure-house of everlasting bliss,Open note 87Back to note ⁸⁷

The Fathers house, the Pilgrims home, the PortOpen note 88Back to note ⁸⁸

of happiness, th’ illussrious Regal Court,Open note 89Back to note ⁸⁹

B2 The B2v 8

Open note 90Back to note ⁹⁰The City that on the worlds summit stands,

United in it self, not made with hands;

Open note 91Back to note ⁹¹Whose Citizens, Walls, Pavements are so bright

Open note 92Back to note ⁹²They need no Sun in Gods more radiant Light.

Open note 93Back to note ⁹³The pure air being not thickned with dark clouds,

No sable night the constant glory shrowds;

Nor needs there night, when no dull lassitude

Doth into the unwearied soul intrude;

New vigour flowing in with that dear joy

Whose contemplation doth their lives employ.

Open note 94Back to note ⁹⁴This heaven, the third to us within,

The first, if from the outside we begin,

Is incorruptible, and still the same,

Open note 95Back to note ⁹⁵Confirm’d by him who did its substance frame:

No time its strong foundations can decay,

Its renew’d glory fadeth not away.

Open note 96Back to note ⁹⁶The other heavens which it doth enfold,

Open note 97Back to note ⁹⁷Open note 98Back to note ⁹⁸In tract of time as garments shall wax old,

Open note 99Back to note ⁹⁹And all their outworn glory shall expire

In the worlds dreadful last devouring fire;

But this shall still unchangeable remain,

While all the rolling Spheres which it contains

Shall be again into their Chaos whirl’d

At the last dissolution of the world.

For God, who made this blessed place to be

The habitation of his Sanctitie,

Open note 100Back to note ¹⁰⁰Admitting nothing into it that’s vile,

Nothing that can corrupt, or can defile,

Never withdraws his gracious presence thence

Open note 101Back to note ¹⁰¹But is on all the Glory a defence.

Nor are his Gates ere shut by night or day,

His only dread keeps all foes far away.

Open note 102Back to note ¹⁰²He not for need, but for Majestick state,

Innumerable hosts of Angels did create

To B3r 9

To be his outguards, in respect of whom

He doth his name El-tzeboim assume.Open note 103Back to note ¹⁰³

These perfect, pure Intelligences be,Open note 104Back to note ¹⁰⁴

Excel in Might, and in Celeritie,Open note 105Back to note ¹⁰⁵

Whose sublime natures, and whose agile powers,

Are vastly so superiour unto ours,Open note 106Back to note ¹⁰⁶Open note 107Back to note ¹⁰⁷

Our narrow thoughts cannot to them extend,Open note 108Back to note ¹⁰⁸

And things so far above us comprehend,Open note 109Back to note ¹⁰⁹

As in themselves, although in part we know,

Some scantlings by appearances below,

And sacred Writ, wherein we find there be

Distinguisht Orders in their Hierarchie;Open note 110Back to note ¹¹⁰

Arch-Angels, Cherubims, and Seraphims,Open note 111Back to note ¹¹¹

Who celebrate their God with holy Hymns.

Ten thousand thousand vulgar Angels standOpen note 112Back to note ¹¹²

All in their ranks, waiting the Lords command,Open note 113Back to note ¹¹³Open note 114Back to note ¹¹⁴

Which with prompt inclination of their will,Open note 115Back to note ¹¹⁵

And chearful, swift obedience they fulfil;

Whether he them to save poor men employ,

Or send them arm’d, proud rebels to destroy;Open note 116Back to note ¹¹⁶

Whether he them to mighty Monarchs send,Open note 117Back to note ¹¹⁷

Or bid them on poor Pilgrim Saints attend,Open note 118Back to note ¹¹⁸

Whether they must in heavenly lustre go,Open note 119Back to note ¹¹⁹

Or walk in mortal mean disguise below:Open note 120Back to note ¹²⁰

So kind, so humble are they, though so high,

They do it with the same alacrity.Open note 121Back to note ¹²¹Open note 122Back to note ¹²²

Why blush we not at our vain pride, when weOpen note 123Back to note ¹²³

Such condescension in Heavens Courtiers see,

That they who sit on heavenly thrones above,

Scorn not to serve poor worms with fervent Love?

And joyful praises to th’ Almighty sing,

When they a mortal to their own home bring?Open note 124Back to note ¹²⁴

How gracious is the Lord of all, that He

Should thus consider poor mortalitie,

Such B3v 10

Such powers for us, into those powers diffuse,

Such glorious servants, in our service, use?

Who whether they, with Light, or Heaven, had

Creation, were within the fix days made.

But leave we looking through the vail, nor pry

Too long on things wrapt up in mystery,

Open note 125Back to note ¹²⁵Reserv’d to be our wonder at that time,

When we shall up to their high mountain climb.

Besides th’ Empyrean heaven we are told

Of divers other heavens which we behold

Only by Reasons eye, yet were not they

If made at least distinguisht the first day.

Then from the height we cannot comprehend,

Let us to our inferiour world descend.

Open note 126Back to note ¹²⁶The Earth at first was a vast empty place,

A rude congestion without form or grace,

Open note 127Back to note ¹²⁷A confus’d mass of undistinguisht seed,

Darkness the deep, the Deep the solid hid:

Where things did in unperfect Causes sleep

Until Gods Spirit mov’d the quiet deep,

Brooding the creatures under wings of Love,

As tender birds hatcht by a Turtle Dove.

Light first of all its radiant wings display’d,

Open note 128Back to note ¹²⁸God call’d forth Light: that word the creature made.

Whether it were the natures more divine,

Or the bright mansion where just souls must shine,

Or the first matter of those Tapers which

The since-made firmament do still enrich,

It is not yet agreed among the wise:

But thus the day did out of Chaos rise,

And casts its bright beams on the floating world,

O’re which soon envious night her black mists hurl’d,

Damping the new-born splendour for a space,

Till the next morning did her shadows chace:

With B4r 11

With restor’d beauty and triumphant force,

Returning to begin another course.

An emblem of that everlasting feud

’Twixt sons of light, and darkness still pursued;Open note 129Back to note ¹²⁹

And of that frail imperfect state whereinOpen note 130Back to note ¹³⁰

The wasting lights of moral men begin;

Whose comforts, honours, lives, soon as they shineOpen note 131Back to note ¹³¹

Must all to sorrows, changes, death resign;

Even their wisdomes and their vertues light

Are hid by envies interposing night.

But though these splendors all in graves are thrown,

Whereever the true seed of light is sown,Open note 132Back to note ¹³²

The Powers of Darkness may contend in vain,

It shall a conquerour rise and ever reign.

For when God the victorious morning view’d,

Approving his own work he said it ’twas good:

And of inanimate creatures sure the best,

As that which shews and beautifies the rest,

Those melancholy thoughts which night creates

And seeds in mortal bosomes, dissipates:

In its own nature subtile, swift and pure,

Which no polluted mirrour can endure.

By it th’ Almighty Maker doth dispence

To earthy creatures, heavenly influence;

By it with angels swiftness are our eyes,

Exalted to the glory of the skies.

In whose bright character the light divine,

Which flesh cannot behold, doth dimly shine.

Thus was the first Day made; God so call’d Light,

Sever’d from Darkness, Darkness was the Night.

Open note 133Back to note ¹³³AGain spoke God; the trembling waters move,

Part flie up in thick mists, made clouds above,

Open note 134Back to note ¹³⁴Part closer shrink about the earth below,

But did not yet the mountains dry heads show.

Th’ allforming Word stretcht out the Firmament,

Open note 135Back to note ¹³⁵Like azure curtains round his glorious Tent,

And in its hidden chambers did dispose

The magazines of Hail, and Rain, and Snows,

Open note 136Back to note ¹³⁶Amongst those thicker clouds, from whose dark womb

Th’ imprison’d winds, in flame and thunder come.

Those Clouds which over all the wondrous Arch

Like hosts of various formed creatures march,

And change the Scenes in our admiring eyes;

Who sometimes see them like vast mountains rise.

Sometimes like pleasant Seas with clear waves glide,

Sometimes like Ships on foaming billows ride,

Sometimes like mounted warriours they advance,

And seem to fire the smoaking Ordinance.

Sometimes like shady Forests they appear,

Here Monsters walking, Castles rising there.

Scorn Princes your embroider’d Canopies,

And painted roofs, the poor whom you despise

With far more ravishing delight are fed,

While various clouds sayl o’re th’ unhoused head,

And C1r 13

And their heav’d eyes with nobler scenes present

Than your Poetick Courtiers can invent.

Thus the exalted waters were dispos’d,Open note 137Back to note ¹³⁷

And liquid Skies the solid world enclos’d,

To magnifie the most almighty hand,

That makes thin floods like rocks of crystal stand,Open note 138Back to note ¹³⁸

Not quenching, nor drunk up by that bright wall

Of fire, which neighbouring them, encircles all.

The new built Firmament God Heaven nam’d,

And over all the Arch his windows fram’d.

From whence his liberal hand at due time pours;

Upon the thirsty earth refreshing showers;Open note 139Back to note ¹³⁹

And clothes her bosome with descending Snow

To cherish the young seeds when cold winds blow:Open note 140Back to note ¹⁴⁰

Hence every night his fatning dews he sheds,Open note 141Back to note ¹⁴¹

And scatters Pearls amidst th’ enamel’d beds.

But when presumptuous sins the bright arch scale,

He beats them back with terrifying hail:Open note 142Back to note ¹⁴²

Which like small shot amidst his foes he sends,

Till flaming Thunder, his great Ordnance, rends

The clouds, which, big with horror, ready stand

To pour their burthens forth at his command.Open note 143Back to note ¹⁴³

But th’ unpolluted air as yet had not

From mortals impious breath infection got,

Enlightned then by a superiour ray

A serene lustre deckt the second day.

Th’ inferiour Globe was fashion’d on the third,Open note 144Back to note ¹⁴⁴

When waters at the all-commanding word

Did hastily into their channels glide,Open note 145Back to note ¹⁴⁵

And the uncover’d hills as soon were dried.

In the same body thus, distinct, and joyn’d

Water and earth, as flesh and blood, we find.

The late collected waters God call’d Seas.

Springs, Lakes, streams, and broad Rivers are from these

C Brancht, C1v 14

Brancht, like life-feeding veins, in every land,

Yet wheresoe’re they seem to flow or stand,

Open note 146Back to note ¹⁴⁶As all in the vast Oceans bosome bred,

They daily reassemble in their head,

Which thorough secret conduits back conveys

To every Spring, the tribute it pays.

Open note 147Back to note ¹⁴⁷So ages from th’ Eternal bosome creep,

So lose them selves again in that vast deep.

With winding streams run to their native springs.

Open note 148Back to note ¹⁴⁸So all the goodness mortals exercise

Open note 149Back to note ¹⁴⁹Flows back to God out of his own supplies.

Now the great fabrick in all parts compleat,

Beauty was call’d forth to adorn the seat;

Open note 150Back to note ¹⁵⁰Where Earth, fixt in the Centre, was the ground,

Open note 151Back to note ¹⁵¹A mantle of light air compast it round;

Then first the watrie, then the fiery wall,

And glittering heaven last involving all.

Earth’s fair green robe vi’d with the azure skies,

Her proud Woods near the flaming Towers did rise.

The valleys Trees, though less in breadth and height,

Open note 152Back to note ¹⁵²Yet hung with various fruit, as much delight.

Beneath these little shrubs and bushes sprung

With fair flowers cloth’d, and with rich berries hung,

Whose more delightful fruits seem’d to upbraid

The tall trees yielding only barren shade.

Open note 153Back to note ¹⁵³Then sprouted Grass and Herbs and Plants

Prepar’d to feed the earth’s inhabitants,

To glad their nostrils, and delight their eyes,

Revive their spirits, cure their maladies.

Nor by these are the senses only fed,

But th’ understanding too, while we may read

In every leaf, lectures of Providence,

Eternal Wisdom, Love, Omnipotence.

Which C2r 15

Which th’ eye that sees not, with Hells mists is blind,

That which regards not, is of brutish kind.

The various colours, figures, powers of these

Are their Creators growing witnesses,

Their glories emblems are, wherein we seeOpen note 154Back to note ¹⁵⁴

How frail our humane lives and beauties be.

Even like those flowers which at the Sun-rise spreadOpen note 155Back to note ¹⁵⁵

Their gawdy leaves, and are at evening dead.Open note 156Back to note ¹⁵⁶

Yet while they in their native lustre shine,

The Eastern Monarchs are not half so fine.

In richer robes God clothes the dirty soylOpen note 157Back to note ¹⁵⁷

Than men can purchase by their sin and toyl.Open note 158Back to note ¹⁵⁸

Then rather Fields than painted Courts admire,

Yet seeing both, think both must feed the fire:

Only Gods works have roots and seeds, from whenceOpen note 159Back to note ¹⁵⁹

They spring again in grace and excellence,

But mens have none, like hasty lightning, they

flash out, and so for ever pass away.Open note 160Back to note ¹⁶⁰

This fair Creation finisht the third day,

In whose end, God did the whole work survey,

The Seas, the Skies, the Trees, and less plants view’d,

And by his approbation made them good;

In all the plants did living seeds enclose,Open note 161Back to note ¹⁶¹

Whence their successive generations rose;

Gave them those powers which in them still remain,

Whereby they man and beast with food sustain.

Thrice had the day to gloomy night resign’d,Open note 162Back to note ¹⁶²

And thrice victorious o’re the darkness shin’d,

Before the mediate cause of it, the Sun

Or any star had their creation,

For with th’ Omnipotent it is all one

To cause the day without, or by the Sun.

God in the world by second causes reigns,

But is not tied to those means he ordains.

C Let C2v 16

Open note 163Back to note ¹⁶³Let no heart faint then that on him depends,

When the means fail, that lead to their wisht ends.

For God the thing, if good, will bring about

With instruments we see not, or without.

The fourth Light having now expell’d the shade

God on that day the Luminaries made,

Open note 164Back to note ¹⁶⁴And plac’d them all in their peculiar sphears

To measure out our days, and months, and years,

Which by their various motions are renew’d,

And heat and cold have their vicissitude:

So Springs and Autumns still successive be,

Till ages lose them in Eternity.

Open note 165Back to note ¹⁶⁵The Sun whom th’ Hebrews Gods great servant call,

Plac’d in the middle Orb, as Lord of all,

Is in a radiant flaming chariot whirl’d,

Open note 166Back to note ¹⁶⁶And dayly carried round abut the world

By the first Movers force, who in that race

Scatters his light and heat in every place,

Yet not at once. Now in the East he shines,

And then again to’the Western deep declines,

Seeming to quench his blazing taper there

While it enlightens the other Hemisphere.

Thus he their share of day and night divides

Unto each world in their alternate tides.

But then its Orb by its own motion roll’d,

Varies the seasons, brings in heat and cold,

As it projects its rays in a straight line,

Or more obliquely on the Earth doth shine.

And thus doth he to the low world dispense

Life-feeding and engendring influence.

Open note 167Back to note ¹⁶⁷This Lord of Day with his reflected light

Guilds the pale Moon the Empress of the night,

Whose dim Orb monthly wastes and grows,

Doth at the first sharp pointed horns disclose,

Then C3r 17

Then half, then her full shining Globe reveals,

Which waining she by like degrees conceals.

The other glittering Planets now appearOpen note 168Back to note ¹⁶⁸

Each as a King enthron’d in his own Sphear;

Then the eighth heaven in fuller lustre shines

Thick set with stars. All these were made for signs

That mortals by observing them might know

Due times to cultivate the earth below,

To gather fruits, plant trees, and sow their seed,

To cure their herds, and let their fair flocks breed,

Into safe harbours to retire their ships,Open note 169Back to note ¹⁶⁹

Again to launch out into the calm deeps,

Their wandring vessels in broad seas to guide,

When the lost shores no longer are descried;

Physicians to direct in their great art,

And other useful knowledge to impart.

Nor were they only made for signs to shew

Fit opportunities for things we do,

But in their various aspects too we read

Various events which shall in time succeed,

Droughts, inundations, famines, plagues and wars,

By several conjunctions of the Stars,

At least shewn, if not caus’d, through the strong powers

And workings Astral bodies have on ours,

Which as above they variously are joyn’d,

So are their subjects here below, enclin’d

To sadness, mirth, dread, quiet, love or hate,

All that may calm, or trouble any state.

Yet are they but a second cause, which God

Shakes over sinners as a flaming rod,

And further manages in his own hands,

To scourge the pride of all rebellious lands;

Falsely and vainly do blind mortals then,

To them impute the fates and ills of men,

When C3v 18

When their sinister operations be

Only th’ effects of mens iniquitie,

Which makes the Lord his glittering hosts thus sen^d

Open note 170Back to note ¹⁷⁰T oexecuteTo execute the just threats they portend.

Nor are they characters of wrath alone,

They sometimes have Gods grace to mankind shown,

Open note 171Back to note ¹⁷¹Such was that new Star which did heaven adorn,

When the great King of the whole word was born.

Such were those stars that fought for Israel

When the Jabins vanquisht host, by Gods host fell.

Even those Stars which threaten misery and woe

To wicked men, to Saints deliverance show:

Open note 172Back to note ¹⁷²For when God cuts the bloody Tyrant down,

He will their lives with peace and blessings crown.

Thus the fourth evening did the fourth day close,

And where the Sun went down, the Stars arose.

New triumph now the fifth day celebrates,

The perfum’d morning opes her purple gates,

Open note 173Back to note ¹⁷³Through which the Suns Pavilion doth appear

And he array’d in all his lustre there,

Like a fresh Bridegroom with majestique grace,

And joy diffusing vigour in his face,

Comes gladly forth, to greet his virgin bride,

Trick’d up in all her ornaments and pride;

Her lovely maids at this approach unfold

Their gaudie vests, on which he scatters gold,

Both chearing and enriching every place,

Through which he passes in his glorious race.

But though he found a noble Theatre,

As yet in no living creatures were;

Though flowry carpets spread the whole Earths face,

And rich embroideries the upper Arch did grace,

And standards on the mountains stood between

Bearing festoones like pillars wreath’d with green,

The C4r 19

The velvet couches and the mossy seats,

The open walks and the more close retreats

Were all prepar’d; Yet no foot trod the woods,

Nor no mouth yet had toucht the pleasant floods;

No weary creature had repos’d its head

Among the sweet perfumes of the low bed;

The air was not respir’d in living breath,

Throughout a general stilness reign’d, like death.

The King of day came forth, but unadmir’d,

Like unprais’d gallants blushingly retir’d;

As an uncourted beauty, Nights pale Queen,

Grew sick to shine where she could not be seen.

When the Creator first for mute herds calls,

And bade the waters bring forth animals:

Then was all shell-fish and each Scaly raceOpen note 174Back to note ¹⁷⁴

At once produc’d, in their assigned place,

The crooked Dolphins, great Leviathan,

And all the Monsters of the Ocean,

Like wanton kids among the billows play’d,Open note 175Back to note ¹⁷⁵

Nor was there after on the dry land made

Any one beast of less or greater kind

Whose like we do not in the waters find;

Where every greater fish devours the less,

As mighty Lords poor Commoners oppress.

Next the Almighty by his forming Word

Made the whole plumie race, and every bird

Its proper place assign’d, while with light wings

All mounted heaven, some o’re the lakes and springs,

Some over the vast Fens and Seas did flie,

Some near the ground, some in the cloudy skie,

Some in high trees their proud nests built, some chose

The humble shrubs for their more safe repose,

Some did the marshes, some the rivers love,

Some the Corn-fields, and some the shady grove.

That C4v 20

That silence which reign’d every where before,

Its universal Empire held no more,

Even night and darkness its own dear retreat

Could not preserve it in their reign compleat:

The Nightingales with their complaining notes,

Ravens and Owls with their ill-boding throats,

And all the birds of night, shrill crowing Cocks

Whose due kept times, made them the worlds first clocks,

All interrupted it, even in the night,

But at the first appearance of the light

A thousand voyces, the green woods whole quire

With their loud musick do the day admire;

The Lark doth with her single carol rise,

To welcome the fair morning in the skies;

The amorous and still complaining Dove,

Courts not the day, but woes her own fair love;

The Jays and the Crows against each other rayl,

And chattering Pies begin their gossips tale:

Thus life was carri’d on, which first begun

In growth of plants, in fishes motion,

And next declar’d it self in living sound,

Whilst various noise the yielding air did wound.

Various instincts the Birds by nature have,

Which God to them in their creation gave,

That unto their observers do declare

The storms and calms approaching in the air,

That teach them how to build their nests at spring,

And hatch their young under their nursing wing,

And lead abroad and guard their tender brood,

To know their hurtful and their healing food,

To feed them till their strength be perfect grown,

And after teach them how to feed alone.

Could we the lessons they hold forth improve,

We might from some learn chaste and constant love,

Con- D1r 21

Conjugal kindness of the paired Swans,

Paternal Bounty of the Pelicans,

While they are prodigal of their own blood

To feed their chickens with that precious food.

Wisdome of those who when storms threat the Skie,

In thick assemblies to their shelter flie,

And those who seeing devourers in the air

To the safe covert of the wing repair.

The gall-less doves would teach us innocence,Open note 176Back to note ¹⁷⁶

And the whole race to hang on Providence;

Since not the least bird that divides the airOpen note 177Back to note ¹⁷⁷

Exempted is from the Almighties care,

Whose bounty in due seasons, feeds them all,

Prepares them berries when the thick snows fall,

Cloaths them in many colour’d plumes, which vain

Men borrow, yet the Peacocks gawdy train

More beautifully is by nature drest,

Than art can make it on the Gallants crest.

This priviledge these creatures had to raise

Their voices first in their great Makers praise,

Which when the morning opes her rosie gate

They with consenting musick celebrate;

Again with hunger pincht to God they cry,

And from his liberal hand receive supply,

Who them and all his watry creatures view’d,

And saw that they in all their kinds were good.

Then blest them that for due successions they

Might multiply. So clos’d he the fifth day.

And now the Sun the third time rais’d his head

And rose the sixth day from his watry bed,Open note 178Back to note ¹⁷⁸

When God commands the teeming earth to bring

Forth great and lesser beasts, each reptile thing

That on her bosome creeps, the word obey’d,

Immediately were all the creatures made.

D Like D1v 22

Like Hermits some made hollow rocks their Cell,

And did in their prepared mansions dwell.

The vermine, Weazils, Fulmots and blind Moles,

Lay hid in clefts of trees, in crannies and in holes.

The Serpents lodg’d in Marishes and fens,

The savage beasts sought thickets, caves and dens.

Tame herds and flocks in open pastures stay’d,

And wanton kids upon the mountains play’d.

Here life almost to its perfection grew

While God these various creatures did indue

With various properties, and various sense,

But little short of humane excellence,

Save what we in the Brutes dispersed find,

Is all collected in mans nobler mind,

Who to the high perfection of his sense,

Hath added a more high intelligence.

Yet several Brutes have noble faculties,

Some apprehensive are, some subtile, wise,

Some have invention and docility,

Some wonderful in imitation be,

Some with high generous courage are endued,

With kindness some, and some with gratitude,

With memory some, and some with providence,

With natural love, and with meek innocence:

Some watchful are, and some laborious be,

Some have obedience, some true loyalty.

Among them too we all the passions find,

Some more to love, some more to hate enclin’d.

The musing Hare and the lightfooted Deer

Are under the predominance of fear;

Goats and hot Monkeys are with lust possest,

Rage governs in the savage Tygres brest;

Jealousie doth the hearts of fierce Bulls move

Impatient of all rivals in their love.

Some D2r 23

Some sportive, and some melancholy be,

Some proner to revenge and crueltie.

The Kingly Lion in his bosome hath

The fiery seed of self-provoking wrath,

Joy is no stranger to the savage brest,

As oft with love, hate and desire possest,

Through the aversion and the appetite

Which all these passions in their hearts excite.

God cloth’d them all in several wools and hair,

Whereof some meaner, some more precious are,

Which men now into garments weave and spin,

Nor only weare their fleeces, but their skin;

Besides employ their teeth, bones, claws, and horn,

Some Medicines be, and some the house adorn.

A thousand other various ways we find,

Wherein alive and dead they serve mankind,

Who from th’ obedience they to him afford

Might learn his duty to his Soveraign Lord.Open note 179Back to note ¹⁷⁹

Now was the glorious Universe compleat

And every thing in beauteous order set,

When God, about to make the King of all,

Did in himself a sacred council call;

Not that he needed to deliberate,

But pleas’d t’ allow solemnity and state,

To wait upon the noble creatures birth

Open note 180Back to note ¹⁸⁰For whom he had design’d both heaven and earth:

Open note 181Back to note ¹⁸¹Let us, said God, with soveraign power indued

make man after our own similitude,

Open note 182Back to note ¹⁸²Let him our sacred imprest image bear

Open note 183Back to note ¹⁸³Ruling o’re all in earth, and sea, and air.

Then made the Lord a curious mold of clay,

Which lifeless on the earths cold bosome lay,

When God did it with living breath inspire,

A soul in all, and every part entire,

Where life ris’ above motion, sound and sense

To higher reason and intelligence;

And this is truly termed life alone,

Which makes lifes fountain to the living known.

This D3r 25

This life into it self doth gather all

The rest maintain’d by its original,

which gives it Being, Motion, Sense, Warmth, Breath,

And those chief Powers that are not lost in death.

Thus was the noblest creature last made,

As he in whom the rest perfection had,

In whom both parts of the great world were joyn’d,

Earth in his members, Heaven in his mind;

Whose vast reach the whole Universe compriz’d,

And saw it in himself epitomiz’d,Open note 184Back to note ¹⁸⁴

Yet not the Centre nor circumference can

Fill the comprehensive soul of Man,

Whose life is but a progress of desire,

Which still enjoy’d, doth something else require,

Unsatisfied with all it hath pursued

Until it rest in God, the Soveraign Good.Open note 185Back to note ¹⁸⁵

The earthly mansion of this heavenly guest

Peculiar priviledges too possest.

Whereas all other creatures clothed were

In Shells, Scales, gaudy Plumes, or Woolls, or Hair,

Only a fair smooth skin o’re man was drawn,

Like Damask roses blushing through pure Lawn.

The azure veins, where blood and spirits flow,

Like Violets in a field of Lillies show.

As others have a downbent countenance,

He only doth his head to heaven advance,

Resembling thus a Tree whose noble rootOpen note 186Back to note ¹⁸⁶

In heaven grows, whence all his graces shoot.

He only on two upright columns stands,

He only hath, and knows the use of hands,

Which Gods rich bounties for the rest receive,

And aid to all the other members give.

He only hath a voice articulate,

Varied by joy, grief, anger, love and hate,

And D3v 26

And every other motion of the mind

Which hereby doth an apt expression find.

Hereby glad mirth in laughter is alone

By man exprest; in a peculiar groan,

His grief comes forth, accompanied with tears,

Peculiar shrieks utter his suddain fears.

Herein is Musick too, which sweetly charms

Open note 187Back to note ¹⁸⁷The sense, and the most savage heart disarms.

The Gate of this God in the head did place.

The head which is the bodies chiefest grace,

The noble Palace of the Royal guest

Within by Fancy and Invention drest,

With many pleasant useful Ornaments

Which new Imagination still presents,

Adorn’d without, by Majesty and Grace,

O who can tell the wonders of a face!

In none of all his fabriques more than here

Doth the Creators glorious Power appear,

That so many thousands which we see

All humane creatures like, all different be;

If the Front be the glory of mans frame,

Those LampsOpen note Back to note which in its upper windows flame,

Illustrate it, and as days radiant Star,

In the clear heaven of a bright face are.

Open note 188Back to note ¹⁸⁸Here Love takes stand, and here ardent Desire

Open note 189Back to note ¹⁸⁹Enters the soul, as fire drawn in by fire,

Open note 190Back to note ¹⁹⁰At two ports, on each side, the Hearing sense

Still waits to take in fresh intelligence.

But the false spies both at the ears and eyes,

Conspire with strangers for the souls surprize,

Open note 191Back to note ¹⁹¹And let all life-perturbing passions in,

Which with tears, sighs and groans issue again.

Nor do those Labyrinths which like brest-works are,

About those secret Ports, serve for a Bar

To D4r 27

To the false Sorcerers conducted by

Mans own imprudent Curiosity.Open note 192Back to note ¹⁹²

There is an ArchOpen note Back to note i’the middle of the face

Of equal necessary use and grace,

For there men suck up the life-feeding air,

And panting bosomes are discharged there;

Beneath it is the chief and beauteous gate,Open note Back to note

About which various pleasant graces wait,

When smiles the Rubie doorsOpen note Back to note a little way

Unfold, or laughter doth them quite display,

And opening the Vermillion Curtains shows

The Ivory pilesOpen note Back to note set in two even rows,

Before the portal, as a double guard,

By which the busie tongue is helpt and barr’d;Open note 193Back to note ¹⁹³

Whose sweet sounds charm, when love doth it inspire,Open note 194Back to note ¹⁹⁴

And when hate moves it, set the world on fire.

Within this portals inner vault is plac’tOpen note 195Back to note ¹⁹⁵

The palate where sense meets in joys in tast;

On rising cheeks, beauty in white and red

Strives with it self, white on the forehead spread

Its undisputed glory there maintains,

And is illustrated with azure veins.

The Brows, Loves bow, and beauties shadow are,

A thick set grove of soft and shining hair

Adorns the head, and shews like crowning rays,

While th’airs soft breath among the loose curls plays.

Besides the colours and the features, we

Admire their just and perfect Symmetrie,

Whose ravishing resultance is that air

That graces all, and is not any where;

Whereof we cannot well say what it is,

Yet Beauties chiefest excellence lies in this;

Which mocks the Painters in their best designs,

And is not held by their exactest lines.

But D4v 28

But while we gaze upon our own fair frame

Let us remember too from whence it came,

And that by sin corrupted now, it must

Open note 196Back to note ¹⁹⁶Return to its originary dust.

How undecently doth pride then lift that head

On which the meanest feet must shortly tread?

Open note 197Back to note ¹⁹⁷Yet at the first it was with glory crown’d,

Till Satans fraud gave it the mortal wound.

This excellent creature God did Adam call

To mind him of his low Original,

Whom he had form’d out of the common ground

Which then with various pleasures did abound.

The whole Earth was one large delightful Field,

That till man sin’d no hurtful briars did yield,

Open note 198Back to note ¹⁹⁸But God enclosing one part from the rest,

A Paradise in the rich spicie East

Had stor’d with Natures wealthy Magazine,

Where every plant did in its lustre shine,

But did not grow promiscuously there,

They all dispos’d in such rich order were

As did augment their single native grace,

To such a height that th’ apelike art of man,

Licentious Pens, or Pencils never can

With all th’ essays of all presuming wit,

Or form or feign ought that approaches it.

Whether it were a fruitful Hill or Vale,

Whether high Rocks, or Trees did it impale,

Or Rivers with their clear and kind embrace

Into a pleasant Island form’d the place,

Whether its noble scituation were

On Earth, in the bright Moon, or in the Air,

In what forms stood the various trees and flowers,

The disposition of the walks and bowers,

Where- E1r 29

Whereof no certain word, nor sign remains,

We dare not take from mens inventive brains.

We know there was pleasant and noble shade

Which the tall growing Pines and Cedars made,

And thicker coverts, which the light and heatOpen note 199Back to note ¹⁹⁹

Ev’n at noon day could scarcely penetrateOpen note 200Back to note ²⁰⁰

A crystal River on whose verdant banks

The crowned fruit-trees stood in lovely ranks,

His gentle wave thorough the garden led,

And all the spreading roots with moysture fed.

But past th’ enclosure, thence the single stream

Parted in four, four noble floods became;

Pison whose large arms HavilahOpen note 201Back to note ²⁰¹

A wealthy land enricht with finest gold,

Where also many precious stones are found;

The second river Gihon, doth surroundOpen note 202Back to note ²⁰²

All that fair land where Chus inhabited,

Where Tyranny first rais’d up her proud head,

And led her blood-hounds all along the shore,

Polluting the pure stream with crimson gore.

Edens third river Hiddekell they call,

Whose waters Eastward in Assiria fall.

The fourth Euphrates whose swift stream did runOpen note 203Back to note ²⁰³

About the stately walls of Babylon;

And in the revolution of some years

Swell’d high, fed with the captiv’d Hebrews tears.

God in the midst of Paradise did place

Two trees, that stood up drest in all the graceOpen note 204Back to note ²⁰⁴

The verdure, beauty, sweetness, excellence,

With which all else could tempt or feast the sense:

On one apples of knowledge did abound,

And life-confirming fruit the other crown’d.

And now did God the new created King

Into the pleasures of his earthly palace bring:

E The E1v 30

The air, spice, balm, and amber did respire,

His ears were feasted by the Sylvan Quire,

Like country girls, grass flowers did dispute

Their humble beauties with the high born fruit;

Both high and low their gawdy colours vied,

As Courtiers do in their contentious pride,

Striving which of them should yield most delight,

And stand the finest in their Soveraigns sight.

The shrubs with berries crown’d like precious gems,

Offer’d their supreme Lord their Diadems

Which did no single sense alone invite,

Courting alike the eyes and appetite.

Among all these the eye-refreshing green,

Sometimes alone, sometimes in mixture seen,

O’re all the banks and all the flat ground spread,

Seem’d an embroider’d, or plain velvet bed.

And that each sense might its refreshment have,

The gentle air soft pleasant touches gave

Unto his panting limbs, whenever they

Upon the sweet and mossie couches lay.

A shady Eminence there was, whereon

Open note 205Back to note ²⁰⁵The noble creature sate, as on his throne,

When God brought every Fowl, and every Brute,

That he might Names unto their natures suit,

Whose comprehensive understanding knew

How to distinguish them, at their first view;

And they retaining those names ever since,

Are monuments of his first excellence,

And the Creators providential grace,

Who in those names, left us some prints to trace;

Nature, mysterious grown, since we grew blind,

Whose Labyrinths we should less easily find

If those first appellations, as a clue,

Did not in some sort serve to lead us through,

And E2r 31

And rectifie that frequent gross mistake,

Which our weak judgments and sick senses make,

Since man, ambitious to know more, that sin

Brought dulness, ignorance and error in.

Though God himself to man did condescend,Open note 206Back to note ²⁰⁶

Though his knowledge to all natures did extend;

Though heaven and earth thus centred in his mind,

Yet being the only one of his whole kind,

He found himself without an equal mate,

To whom he might his joys communicate,

And by communication multiply.

Too far out of his reach was God on high,

Too much below him bruitish creatures were,

God could at first have made a humane pair,

But that it was his will to let man see

The need and sweetness of societie;

Who, though he were his Makers Favourite,

Feasted in Paradise with all delight,

Though all the creatures paid him homage, yet

Was not his unimparted joy compleat,

While there was not a second of his kind,

Indued with such a form and such a mind,

As might alike his soul and senses feast:

He saw that every bird and every beast

Its own resemblance in its female viewed,

And only union with its like pursued.

Hence birds with birds, and fish with fish abide,

Nor those with beasts, nor beasts with these reside:

According to their several species too,

As several housholds in one City do,

So they with their own kinds associate:

The Kingly eagle hath no buzzard mate;

The ravens, more their own black feather love,

Than painted pheasants, or the fair-neck’d dove.

E2 So E2v 32

Open note Back to note So Bears to rough Bears rather do encline

Than to majestick Lions, or fair kine.

If it be thus with brutes, much less then can

The bruitish conversation suit with man.

’Tis only like desires like things unite:

In union likeness only feeds delight.

Where unlike natures in conjunction are,

There is no product but perpetual war,

Such as there was in Natures troubled womb,

Until the sever’d births from thence did come,

For the whole world nor order had, nor grace

Till sever’d elements each their own place

Assigned were, and while in them they keep,

Heaven still smiles above, th’ untroubled deep

With kind salutes embraces the dry land,

Firm doth the earth on its foundation stand;

A chearful light streams from th’ ætherial fire,

And all in universal joy conspire.

But if with their unlike they attempt to mix,

Their rude congressions every thing unfix;

Darkness again invades the troubled skies,

Earth trembling, under angry heaven lies;

The Sea, swoln high with rage, comes to the shore

And swallows that, which it but kist before;

Th’ unbounded fire breaks forth with dreadful light,

And horrid cracks which dying nature fright,

Till that high power, which all powers regulates,

The disagreeing natures separates,

The like to like rejoyning as before,

So the worlds peace, joy, safety doth restore.

Yet if man could not find in bird or brute

That conversation which might aptly suit

His higher nature, was it not sublime

Enough, above the lower world to climb,

And E3r 33

And in Angelick converse to delight,

Although it could not reach the supreme height?

No; for though make partake intelligence,

Yet that being joyn’d to an inferiour sense,

Dull’d by corporal vapours, cannot be

Refin’d enough for angels company:

As strings screw’d up too high, as bows still bent

Or break themselves, or crack the instrument;

So drops neglected flesh into the grave,

If it no share in the souls pleasures have.

Man like himself needs an associate,

Who doth both soul and sense participate.

Not the swift Horse, the eager Hawk, or Hound,

Dogs, Parrots, Monkies ’mongst whom Adam found

No meet companion, thinking them too base

For the society of humane race,

Though his degenerate offspring chuse that now

Which his sound reason could not then allow,

But found himself amongst them all alone.

Whether he beg’d a mate it is not known,

Likely his want might send him to the spring;

For God who freely gives us every thing,

Mercy endears by instilling the desire,

And granting that which humbly we require:Open note 207Back to note ²⁰⁷

Howe’re it was, God saw his solitude

And gave his sentence that it was not good.Open note 208Back to note ²⁰⁸

Yet not a natural, nor a moral ill,

Because his solitude was not his will

Opposing his Creators End, as they

Who into caves and desarts run away,

Seeking perfection in that state, wherein

A good was wanting when man had no sin.

For without help to propagate mankind

Gods glory had been to one brest confin’d,

Which E3v 34

Which multiplied Saints, do now conspire

Open note 209Back to note ²⁰⁹Throughout their generations to admire.

Mans nature had not been the sacred shrine,

Partner and bride of that which is divine;

The Church, fruit of this union, had not come

To light, but perisht, stifled in the womb.

Again ’tis not particularly good

For man to waste his life in solitude,

Whose nature for society design’d

Can no full joy without a second find,

Open note 210Back to note ²¹⁰To whom he may communicate his heart,

And pay back all the pleasures they impart;

For all the joys that we enjoy alone,

And all our unseen lustre, is as none.

If thus want of a partner did abate

Mans happiness in mans most perfect state,

Much more hath humane nature, now decay’d,

Need of a suitable and a kind aid:

It is not good, vertue should lie obscure,

That barren rocks, rich treasures should immure,

Open note 211Back to note ²¹¹Which our kind Lord to some, for all men gave,

That all might share of all his bounties have.

Open note 212Back to note ²¹²Not good, dark Lanthorns should shut up the light

Of fair example, made for the dark night.

Not good, experience should her candle hide,

When weak ones perish, wanting her bright guide.

Not good, to let unactive graces chill,

Not lively warmth receive, no good instil

By quickning converse. Thus nor are the great,

The wise, and firm, permitted to retreat,

Betraying so deserted innocence,

To which God made them conduct and defence.

Nor may the simple and the weak expose

Themselves alone, to strong and subtile foes;

Men E4r 35

Men for each others mutual help were made,

The meanest may afford the highest aid.

The highest to necessity must yield,

Even Princes are beholding to the field.Open note 213Back to note ²¹³

He that from mortal converse steals away

Injures himself, and others doth betray,

Whom Providence committed to his trust,

And in that act, nor prudent is nor just.

For sweet friends both in pleasure and distress,

Augment the joy, and make the torment less.

Equal delight it is to learn and teach,

To be held up to that we cannot reach,

And others from the abject earth to raise

To merit, and to give deserved praise.

Wisdom imparted like th’ encreasing bread,

Wherewith the Lord so many thousands fed,Open note 214Back to note ²¹⁴

By distribution adds to its own store,

And still the more it gives it hath the more.

Extended Power reaches it self a crown,

Gathering up those whom misery casts down.

Love raiseth us, it self to heaven doth rife,

By vertues varied mutual exercise.

Sweet love, the life of life, which cannot shine,Open note 215Back to note ²¹⁵

But lies like Gold concealed in the Mine,

Till it through much exchange a brightness takeOpen note 216Back to note ²¹⁶

And Conversation doth it current make.

God having shew’d his creature thus the need

Of humane helps, a help for man decreed:

“I will,” said he, “the mans meet aid provide.”

But that he from his waking view might hide

Such a mysterious work, the Lord did keep

All Adam’s senses fast lock’d up in sleep.Open note 217Back to note ²¹⁷

Then from his open’d side took without pain

A cloathed rib, and clos’d the flesh again,

And E4v 36

And of the bone did a fair virgin frame

Who, by her Maker brought, to Adam came

And was in matrimonial Union joyn’d,

By love and nature happily combin’d.

Adam’s clear understanding at first view

His wives original and nature knew;

His will, as pure, did thankfully embrace,

His fathers bounty, and admir’d his grace.

And as her sweet charms did his heart surprise

He spoke his joy in these glad ecstacies,

“Thou art my better self, my flesh, my bone,

Open note 218Back to note ²¹⁸We late of one made two, again in one

Shall reunite, and with the frequent birth

Of our joynt issue, people the vast earth.

To shew that thou wert taken out of me

Isha shall be thy name; As unto thee

Ravisht with love and joy my soul doth cleave,

So men hereafter shall their fathers leave,

Open note 219Back to note ²¹⁹And all relations else, which are most dear,

Open note 220Back to note ²²⁰That they may only to their wives adhere;

When marriage male and female doth combine

Children in one flesh shall two parents joyn.”

Lastly, God, who the sacred knot had tied,

With blessing his own Ordinance sanctified,

“Encrease,” said he, “and multiply your race,

Open note 221Back to note ²²¹Fill th’ Earth allotted for your dwelling place,

I give you right to all her fruits and plants,

Dominion over her inhabitants;

The fish that in the floods deep bosome lie,

All Fowls that in the airy region flie,

Whatever lives and feeds on the dry land,

Are all made subject under your command.

The grass and green herbs let your cattle eat,

And let the richer fruits be your own meat,

Except F1r 37

Except the Tree of knowing good and ill,

That by the precept of Soveraign will

You must not eat, for in the day you do,

Inevitable death shall seize on you.”