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Mr. LODOWICK MUGGLETON,

UPON

His Interpretation of the Book of the REVELATIONS.

I

Much Honour'd,

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"I was my great good happiness to fee
Part of this your unvailed mystery,
'Ere to the cenfures of the world it went,
Or open lay upon the continent:

And in that part, methought I did defcry
A heav'nly language, and difcerning eye.
I faw thofe mysteries, which hidden were
Since their foundation, plainly now appear,
Alter'd in dress; for now they are no more
Kept for fucceeding ages as a fore;
But have for us been flor'd, and now shall we
Enjoy the feet reveals eternally:
For they to us are truly now made known
To let the world fee who calls us his own.
And when at first this part came to my view,
Like a perfpective-glass, it gently drew
The object near, and caus'd me for to fee
Th fereneness of this long hid mystery.
And though the object diftant from the glass
May be a mile, yet that's too small, alas,
To hinder the attraction of the fight,
Or not to draw the object to't aright.
So was th' foundation of this piece too fure,
To binder, or a little doubt procure
Of what proceeds; for the foundation try'd
There is no fear but th' building will abide.
And that which follow'd drew fo near my fight,
By what preceded, that I know 'tis right,
And will abide the forms of envy's blaft,
Or cenfures of the world, or flanders caft
Either on it, or those who do believe,
God did to you this heav'nly wisdom give.
Methinks they have been like a tender plant,
Who yields none of its precious fruit, for want
Of the affiftance of the gardner's hand,
And he yet waits for an exprefs command,
'Ere he transplant a thing which is fo rare,
(On which his lord hath an indulgent care,
And in't takes pleasure) fo the gardner will
Not medale with it to remove it, till
His lord gave order; which done, he then beflows
It in a place where pleasantly it grows;
And by the help of his industrious hand,
Proves to be the mirror of all plants i'th land,
And bears much fruit, and that proves cordial too,
And cures Juch griefs, as nothing else could do.
Like fuch a plant as this, these things have lain,
Till you tranfplanted them, and made it plain.

You are the gardner, and your work's the plant, The fruit's the experience of each precious faint, Which is an antidote for to expel

1

The pois nous and temptatious fnares of bell; And hath fuch peerless virtue, that it can Inflame fome fouls, and quench fome others then; For as the one taftes in a strong defire, To blow the coals, and not to quench the fire: So on the contrary, the other who Doth tafte but only for to make a few That be bath try'd fuch things, and finds indeed, They are but bufks on which we seem to feed. Then fecretly this liquid fruit it will Put out the warmness, and an ice congeal' In that prefumptuous foul who dares to fay, This is not the right path, or heav'nly way, If we for parallels would feek, we may Look o'er the Bible, and no other way; For there's explain'd by the apoftles there Such things as are not to be found elsewhere, Till you in your great works did fo excel, That only to themselves they're parallel; But if reflection back on them we make, "Twill not a tittle of the glory take From this your work, but it will rather add A luftre, in confirming what you've faid. I've heard there is a fountain, and fome fay 'Tis in the confines of Armenia, Which bath fuch ftrength in that clofe element, That whofoe'er's by angry fortune fent Into this fountain, or falls within its brink, It bears them up, and will not let them fink:... Even fuch is your commmiffion; for whoe'er Falls upon it, he shall not need to fear That feeming danger, which at first may show A threatning face, or knit an angry brow: And this clear fountain, if confider'd well, Would reprefent more than my pen can tell. But our all-feeing God is he on whom You daily wait for revelation. And your infpired foul is fo divine, That 'tis a theme fit for avits more fublime Than my weak genius, therefore I'll give way To those who more refined its do fway, And mine hall only be a foil to clear, Or make another's verfe more fair appear; And fo I wish you many fucceeding days, That you may write again to God's great praise, And the faints benefit.

THE

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