OF DIVINE LOVE. A POE M IN SIX CANTO S. "Floriferis ut apes in faltibus omnia libant; Sic nos Scripturæ depafcimur aurea dicta; Aurea! perpetuâ femper digniffima vitâ ! "Nam Divinus Amor cùm cæpit vociferari, Diffugiunt animi terrores.* 166 LUCRET. Lib. iii. "Exul eram, requiefque mihi, non fama, petita eft, "Mens intenta fuis ne foret ufque malis: ** "Namque ubi mota calent facrâ mea pectora Musâ, "Altior humano fpiritus ille malo eft." OVID. de Trift. Lib. iv. El. 1. THE ARGUMENTS. I. Afferting the authority of the Scripture, in which this Love is revealed. II. The preference and Love of God to man in the Creation. III. The fame Love more amply declared in our Redemption. IV. How neceffary this Love is to reform mankind, and how excellent in itself. V. Shewing how happy the world would be, if this Love were univerfally embraced. VI. Of preferving this Love in our memory; and how ufeful the contemplation thereof is. THE CANTO I. HE Grecian Mufe has all their Gods furviv'd, And rules, to guide us to that mansion, given: This light unknown, bold Epicurus taught, As fortune does, or human wisdom, guide. 3 Religion Religion thus remov'd, the facred yoke, Love there reveal'd (which never shall have end, CANTO HE fear of hell, or aiming to be bleft, THE Savours too much of private interest. This mov'd not Mofes, nor the zealous Paul; Who for their friends abandon'd foul and all: A greater yet from heaven to hell defcends, To fave, and make his enemies his friends. What line of praise can fathom fuch a love, Which reach'd the lowest bottom from above? The Royal Prophet, that extended grace From heaven to earth, measur'd but half that space. The Law was regnant, and confin'd his thought; Hell was not conquer'd when that Poet wrote: Heaven was fcarce heard of, until He came down To make the region where love triumphs known. That early love of creatures yet unmade, To frame the world th' Almighty did perfuade; For love it was that firft created light, Mov'd on the waters, chac'd away the night From the rude Chaos; and bestow'd new grace On things difpos'd of to their proper place; Some, to reft here; and fome, to shine above: Earth, fea, and heaven, were all th' effects of love. And love would be return'd. But there was none That to themselves or others yet were known a The world a palace was, without a guest, Till one appears, that must excel the reft: *David. One! |