Heavenly pastime, or, Pleasant observations on all the most remarkable passages throughout the Holy Bible of the Old and New Testament newly allegoriz'd in several delightful dialogues, poems, similitudes, and divine fancies / by John Dunton, author of The sickmans passing-bell.

A Dialogue between Solomon and Pha∣roah's Daughter.

The Argument.

Old David dead, King Solomon inthron'd, Weds Egypts Princess in his ••wn abode; Rich are they both in all that men approve, But more than usual, are they rich in Love.

Sol.

THrice welcom to a Monarchs Arms, my lovely Queen; whose Eyes inlightened swarthy Egypts face, and whose inchanting Beauties charm the heart of Solomon.

Queen.

My Lord; you cannot love, nor yet admi•••• me more than (blushing I must own, though with •• feeling joy) my fancy feeds on you.

Sol.

Then are we happy far above ••he reach o•• Fate; and may look down as from some Towerin•• height, and pity those that toil and labour fo•• ought le••s than Love.

Qu.

'Tis that indeed my Lord, that can best contri••but•• to mans felicity; for where it is absent, nothi•••• but disorder and confus••••n rule.

Sol.

It is true, my solace and my dear delight nor has the great establisher of my exalted Thron•• ••een wanting to add this blessing to the rest; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with paternal care plac'd a Spring of Cordial•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Essential Love in either breast.

Qu.

A Spring indeed that flows with Nectar and Ambrosial Ioys, more than our hearts are capable, with∣out overflowing to receive.

Sol.

'Tis such a blessing Princes seldom meet with, since their Eyes make not their choice; but they are still forced to take their hopes of happiness on trust.

Qu.

Although they are; yet the great wise disposer of the worlds affairs so orders it, that at first sight their hearts do mostly move in a sweet har••ony, supplying the defect of tedious Courtship.

Sol.

Then since Heavens Architect the glorious maker of the Universe, has ordered all things equal to our wish; wha•• more remains, but that with unpolluted Souls ••nd Bodies, day ••y day we send up Tribute-praise••, and with all humility adore his goodness.

Qu.

You know m•• Lord, what G••ds the sons of Egypt worship; I doubt no•• but you have heard of Isis and Osiris, who are dreaded through the Memphian Coast of seven horn'd Nilus hundred pointed plain.

Sol.

With detestation I have heard them named, and tremble to think, that the Sons of Adam should still b•• so sensless as to Worship Monsters, or at most, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stooks i••spir'd b•• Hellish f••e••ds.

Qu,

A••e they no Gods then? Sure it is, I have heard th••m speak, and tell s••range things.

Sol.

Ye••▪ as the magick ••owers of darkness have inspired. G••ds they a••e n••t, but base deluding forms to blind the ea••••e ••ulgar; the advice of Egypts Magi.

Qu.

Who is it then that gu••rds, protects and guides us in our great affairs.

Sol.

The glorious trem••••dous Majesty of Heaven, whose name is known in Israel; who made the wonders that are every where beheld; at whose brightness Angels vall their Faces, and in whose hand is all the breath of Life: the God who made

the World of nothing, and whose power shall raise us after d••ath, and bring us (if we trust in him) to Mansions of eternal bliss, where with Ages num∣berless we shall rejoyce, and joyn in Chorus with the dazling Cherubims and Seraphims to sing hi•• praise.

Qu.

You tell me wonders, such as never entred at my Ears; but where does such transcendent excellency dwell? What place is capable to shrowd such Majesty.

Sol.

His dwelling is above all lights; nor is he circumscribed: for though Heav••n is his Throne and Earth his Footstool, yet the Heaven of Heavens cannot contain him; he fills all places, and com∣municates his bounty with a liberal hand to all his Creatures; riding (when he pleases) on the Winds spread Wings, and often makes the Deep his Cham∣ber. Clouds are his Pavilion; and thick darkness is his secret place: whilst his bright beaming Eyes behold the abstrusest things, and pierce our secret thoughts.

Q.

Wonderful and much amazing is what you relate, nor could I er'e beleive that this vast Fabrick could so so many thousand years continue in perpetual Harmony unguided, unsustained, nor sinks it into my weak Breast, ••hat Fate or chance rules all below, but that each stand to the Law of over ruling Providence.

S.

Your thoughts were not in vain, were it pos∣sible that power, that sacred essential Divinity would withdraw his care, and his conduct by crea∣••ion, so on would totter; and the warring Element•• ••onfound the glorious Fabrick; nay Heavens brigh•• Lamps would mix w••th Earths Impurity; natures ••oncord then would break, and all return to a con∣••used Chaos, if not quite vanish into nothing, when ••t was derived, —but let us at this time enquir•• no further into these stupendious secrets, but with ••oy and fear ador•• the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, Even Iacobs mighty God, by whom, through

whom, in whom all things were made, preserv••d, and have continuance.

Q.

My Lord shall be obeyed, i'll wade no fur••her, in these devious deeps, but at an awful distance revere that d••zling brigh••ness, that essential good who shines so glorious in his crea••ures.

S.

Observe what you have said, and then expect for ever to be blest; but now time calls away, we must this moment to the House of high magnifi∣cence, built to the honour of his Name, who shakes Earth, and rends the Clouds with Thunder, before whose face, when wrath, goes a consuming fire, to burn up Rebel Atheists that disown his power.

Q.

My Lord, I g••e, and from this day shall make it my chief Care to contemplate him and his mighty won∣ders, and next to admire the man I love.

Conclusion.

The promise holds not with the feeble Sex, For with strange Gods she soon does Iacob vex, Causing the Heart of Solomon to stray, Where Wisdom dwelt, and sometimes lose his way.