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.

Nicodemus his Considerations, form'd int•• a Dialogue between him and the World.

The Argument.

By night the Ruler comes, resolv'd to hear The sacred Doctrine, 'c••use the Pani••k fear He had of misbelei••ing Juda ••w'd, Mor•• than the wrath of an inc••nsed God.

W.

STrange it is you should neglect my moti•••• at this rate, and pin•• away with Imagin••••tions of you know not what.

N.

Be s••ill l••ud 〈◊〉〈◊〉 F••lly, s••mething wit•• command•• me to obey i••s di••tates, and fly wit•• speed the Physitian.

W.

To the phy••itian, why? are you dis••ase then if so, it is su••e I have a thousand Cordials give you ease, made up of rich ingredient••, such seldom fail man-kind.

N.

Al••ss, t•••• oft they do, and a••e at b••st but luscious P••is••n, w••ich ma•• be antidoted f••r a time, but in the e••d de••tr••••s the Patient.

W.

How—why sure the Man on whom I have ••••stowed so many Favours, c••nnot be so much in∣••r••••••ful to reject my kind advice.

N.

Forbea•• t•• trouble m••, s••••••e it is no•• in your ••ow∣••r t•• ••ive me ease, a wounded So••l you cannot c••re, but 〈◊〉〈◊〉 make it w••rse.

••.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••hat the thing that thu•• distur••s my darling, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 i•• that be al••, it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••ing ••o••al f••r a day ••r ••••o, but f••asting ••our dull Sen••••s wi••h d••light, and all your cares ••ill vanish.

N.

In v••in you ••rge i••, therefore u••ge no m••re, fr••m ••his da•• I ren••unce you and yo•••• guil••••d v••niti••s; my 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Tre••sures, or wh••te•••••• you 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a soli•• 〈…〉〈…〉 hencefo••th be no 〈◊〉〈◊〉 t••e s••ll••ce of m•• mind, b••t Vi••tue, that essential ha••••••n••ss, shall b•• my de••r com∣••ani••n.

W.

And will you then cast off ••our Grandure, Gai∣••y, lay by your awful Robes, an•• leave your sump∣••uous Fare, to pine and languish, to be fed with ••ears and sighs, as those that do forsake me are; will you, I say, fall under sad reproach, contempt, ••nd scorn.

N.

This and much more I`le do for everlasting Life. ••••r will I argue longer, least the happy motion tha•• dis∣••••ses me to happiness, should fail; but with s••ift feet, ••hilst ••ark••ess ••antles in the World, fly ••o the Fo••ntain ••f all ••o••s.

W.

But thither I will ••ollw th••e, and pull th••e ••ick, if possi••le.

〈…〉〈…〉 ••our belei••▪ and st••ive to blind your Sence, That you shall dimly see true Excellence.