Mr. LODOWICK MUGGLETON, UPON His Interpretation of the Book of the REVELATIONS. I Much Honour'd, "I was my great good happiness to fee And in that part, methought I did defcry 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 . |