Christendom

When first mine Infant-Ear
Of Christendom did hear,
I much admir'd what kind of Place or Thing
It was of which the Folk did talk:
What Coast, what Region, what therin
Did mov, or might be seen to walk.
My great Desire
Like ardent fire
Did long to know what Things did ly behind
That Mystic Name, to which mine Ey was blind.

Som Depth it did conceal,
Which till it did reveal
Its self to me, no Quiet, Peace, or Rest,
Could I by any Means attain;
My earnest Thoughts did me molest
Till som one should the thing explain:
I thought it was
A Glorious Place,
Where Souls might dwell in all Delight & Bliss;
So thought, yet fear'd that I the Truth might miss:

Among ten thousand things,
Gold, Silver, Cherub's Wings,
Pearls, Rubies, Diamonds, a Church with Spires,
Masks, Stages, Games & Plays,
That then might suit my yong Desires,
Feathers, & Farthings, Holidays,
Cards, Musick, Dice,
So much in price;
A City did before mine Eys present
Its self, wherin there reigned sweet Content.

A Town beyond the Seas,
Whose Prospect much did pleas,
And to my Soul so sweetly raise Delight
As if a long expected Joy,
Shut up in that transforming Sight,
Would into me its Self convey;
And Blessedness
I there possess,
As if that City stood on my own Ground,
And all the Profit mine which there was found.

Whatever Force me led,
My Spirit sweetly fed
On these Conceits; 'That 'twas a City strange,
Wherin I saw no gallant Inns,
No Markets, New or Old Exchange,
No Childish Trifles, useless Things;
Nor any Bound
That Town surround;
But as if all its Streets ev'n endless were;
Without or Gate or Wall it did appear.

Things Native sweetly grew,
Which there mine Ey did view,
Plain, simple, cheap, on either side the Street,
Which was exceeding fair & wide;
Sweet Mansions there mine Eys did meet;
Green Trees the shaded Doors did hide:
My chiefest Joys
Were Girls & Boys
That in those Streets still up & down did play,
Which crown'd the Town with constant Holiday.

A sprightly pleasant Time,
(Ev'n Summer in its prime)
Did gild the Trees, the Houses, Children, Skies,
And made the City all divine;
It ravished my wondring Eys
To see the Sun so brightly shine:
The Heat & Light
Seem'd in my sight
With such a dazling Lustre shed on them,
As made me think 'twas th' New Jerusalem.

Beneath the lofty Trees
I saw, of all Degrees,
Folk calmly sitting in their doors; while som
Did standing with them kindly talk,
Som smile, som sing, or what was don
Observ, while others by did walk;
They view'd the Boys
And Girls, their Joys,
The Streets adorning with their Angel-faces,
Themselvs diverting in those pleasant Places.

The Streets like Lanes did seem,
Not pav'd with Stones, but green,
Which with red Clay did partly mixt appear;
'Twas Holy Ground of great Esteem;
The Springs choice Liveries did wear
Of verdant Grass that grew between
The purling Streams,
Which golden Beams
Of Light did varnish, coming from the Sun,
By which to distant Realms was Service don.

In fresh & cooler Rooms
Retir'd they dine: Perfumes,
They wanted not, having the pleasant Shade,
And Peace to bless their House within,
By sprinkled Waters cooler made,
For those incarnat Cherubin.
This happy Place,
With all the Grace
The Joy & Beauty which did it beseem,
Did ravish me & highten my Esteem.

That here to rais Desire
All Objects do conspire,
Peeple in Years, & Yong enough to play,
Their Streets of Houses, comon Peace,
In one continued Holy day
Whole gladsom Mirth shall never cease:
Since these becom
My Christendom,
What learn I more than that Jerusalem
Is mine, as 'tis my Maker's, choicest Gem.

Before I was aware
Truth did to me appear,
And represented to my Virgin-Eys
Th' unthought of Joys & Treasures
Wherin my Bliss & Glory lies;
My God's Delight, (which givs me Measure)
His Turtle Dov,
Is Peace & Lov
In Towns: for holy Children, Maids, & Men
Make up the King of Glory's Diadem.