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THe heauenly Dauid in the midst of the Hale of the hart, with nimble fingers, tickles the harp, to the musical numbers. Come hither Angels, then come you deare soules to IESVS, come you al: Cleare vp your voyces, and tune them to the pulse, and harmony of this harp.
This sound, beleeue me, wil banish Sathan, and throughly purge away melancholy, that grateful seat of the wicked Genius.
But why the harp (most sweet IESVS) rather then another? Yet should I thinke thou takest it not by chaunce: Vnles perhaps it be that the forme and sound of this Instrument. Ah! thou wouldst pre∣sent that figure which in mount Cal∣uary thou actedst so long a goe; play∣ing the Chorus of that sad Tragedy, in the publike Theater of Heauen & earth, in view of al? Ah, now I re∣member how thine armes and feet were then stretched forth on the ten∣tours, as in the harp the strings are wont. How stiff were then the ner∣ues and sinewes of the whole body: But here loue playes the harper, and yealds so forth a sound most like the harp, reaching farr and wide, as
farre I say, as the highest, midle, & nether orb extend heauen, earth, & hel. Sathan felt thee harper, and maugre al his power was constrey∣ned to compresse his foaming anger, and bridle his implicable fury. Death lurking at the gates of hel, felt the fatal point of his dart (being no lesse then sinne) to be sudenly reba∣ted. But with vs now at the sound of his harp, the rocks being riu'd & split, began to fly asunder, harts harder then adamants to soften, wicked men touched with the prick of conscience to confesse their cri∣mes, to knock their breast, the pro∣per seat of the penitent mind, and to giue forth these words, most ful of compunction, Truly the Sonne of God was here.a 1.1
Yea the sound went vp to Heauen also; and sudenly stayed so the hand of the diuine Nemesis, menacing
eternal ruine and calamity to men, and now ready stretched forth to make a ful reuenge of al, as that by and by the same being voluntarily vnarmed, and now as the case were altered quite hath giuen place to mercy, which hitherto had layne hid.
But why doe I cal these things to memory? who knowes my hony IESVS, whether, with this harp thou playest not some-what els? What? I know not Vnles perhaps with this sweet harmony of strings thou, wouldst signify the sweetest and sincerest pleasures, wherewith thou woest and courtst the harts of pious men. For who are able to ex∣presse with what deliciousnes of thy pleasing tunes thou recreatst now and then, and erectest minds afflicted with the irksomnes and tediousnes of a wretched and miserable life?
And for that we seely men, are alto∣gether vnable, goe on, o you Ange∣lical spirits, and here sing againe a new mottet of thanksgiuing in our behalfe.
But you get you hence and farr enough, you glosing dangers foule Sirens: Get you hence vncleane wi∣cked and deceiptful world: I hate your rimes, your idle sonnets; for your, musike lines are nets, your notes, snares, your voyce the foulers whistle. I curse and detest these cunnings tricks. Your bals and reuels are the Theaters of impudent & infamous scenes; I execrat and de∣test these Masks and mummeryes.
Therefore, o my hart, listen I pray, and when thou hearest the voice of thy God, anon being struck as it were and smil, giue a sound with al, and attemper and ply thy voyce to his, make his wil and mine
to iump and sympathize together: take heed thou yealdst not a rustike musike; and a harsh vngrateful tone; sing to the numbers right, and dance with al whether aduersity maane thee, or prosperity play with thee. But especially lend thine empty ea∣res to the most sweet ditty of the diuine Harper: who sweetly allures thee a farre of, and neerer hand puls thee vvith the sound of his harp. Come, for so he sings, come my freind come and thou shalt be crowned with the head of Amana, with the top of Sanir and Hermon; from the lions dens, from the hils of Libbards.b 1.2 Take here the crowne of flowers, which thou hast wouen for thy self, fetched from the highest and steepest mountaines tops not with out much labour and sweat receiue the reward of the trauels and combats, which thou hast fought: the prize of the victory vvhich vvith
taming and binding the lyons and beares, those vnruly beasts of thy passions thou hast most gloriously purchased. This harmony of IESVS singing to the hart, my soule, vvil procure there light, and gentle sleeps and imbue the vvhole breast vvith the nectar of diuine consolations, that thou maist not feele the acer∣bity of molestations, vvhich are necessary to be drunke by mortals. Strike out therefore thy harp most strongly, my beloued, there shal no murmure at al obstreperate and dul thine eares; the closet of my hart is vvholy vacant, that naught might hinder the svveetnes of this harmo∣ny. And you againe good Angels, tune your voyces to the sound of this harp, and I the vvhile from my im∣most bovvels vvil sing these verse of the Psalmes I wil blesse the Lord at al times, his praise be alwayes in my mouth.
Mat. 27
Cant. 4.
Psal. 33.
Psal. 50.
Psal. 55.
Psal. 102.