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.

CHAP. IIII. Giving a Pleasant account of the Terrestial Paradice or Garden of Eden, in which Adam was first plac'd: together with th•• miraculous manner of Eves production with the supposed manner of Adams firs•• nuptiall addresses to her, and of their joy¦full Marriage. (Book 4)

Gen. 2.

In Edens Garden full of fruitfull Trees, Adam is placed, to tast all Fruits he sees; Except the Fruit of one Tree, which if he Do tast, the forfeit is that he must die,

Scarce was Adam created but he found himself a Paradice; and he even from the Morning his birth, was placed under the most happy and d••¦lightfull Clymate that Nature did afford.

Goe then Adam, it is God who both calls and c••••¦ducts thee. Enter happily this Garden of Eden 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Paradise into which he leads thee; put thy self 〈◊〉〈◊〉

the shelter of this Tree: For it is the Tree of Know∣ledge and immortality, which he hath Planted for thee: Divert thy Eyes upon these Tulips, upon these Gilli-flowers, upon these Roses, upon these Purple Velvet flowers, and upon these Lillys; walk thou over the Daffidill, over the Thyme, over the Camomyle, and over this green Tapestry, which is so odoriferous; be not af∣frighted at the sight of th••se Tygers, these Leopards, and of all these more furious Beasts: For God ••ath given thee power to Rule them, and there is no•• one in whom thy Innocence begets not respect. Take then the Rod in∣to thy hand, and Govern all these Flocks and Heards, im∣••ose Laws on them, and Give them wha•• Names thou pleasest,

Doubtless, when Adam Saw our Common Air, He did admire the mansion rich and fair Of his Successors, for Frosts keenly Cold The Shady Locks of Forrests, had not pol'd; Heav'n had not Thundred on our Heads as yet; Nor given the Earth her sad divorces Writ: But when he once had entred Paradise, The Remnant World he justly did despise: (Much like a Boor far in the Countrey Born, Who, never having seen but Kine and Corn:) Oxen, and Sheep, and homely Haml••ts Thatcht; (Which found, he counts as Kingdoms, hardly matcht) When afterwards he happens to behold Our wealthy Lon••on's wonders manifold: The silly peasant thinks himself to be, In a new World, and gazing greedily; One while he, Art-less, all the Arts admires; Then the fair Temples, and the Top-less Spires: Their firm Foundations, and the ma••••ed Pride Of all the sacred Ornaments be side. Anon he wonders at the differing Graces, Tongues, guests, Attires, the Fashions & the Faces; Of-••usie-buzzing Swar••s, which still he meets,

Ebbing and Flowing over all the Streets: Then at the Signs, the Shops, the Weights, th•• Measures, The Handy-crafts, the Rumors, Trades, and Treasures. But of all Sights none seems him yet more strange, Then the rare beauteous, sttately rich Exchange. Another while he marvels at the Thames, Which seems to bear huge Mountains on her Streams: Then at the fair built Bridge, which he doth judge More like a Dreadfull City then a Bridge; And glancing then along the Northern shore, That princely Prospect doth Amaze him more.) For in this Garden Man delighted so, That (rapt) he wish't not if he awak't or no: If he beheld a True thing or a Fable; Or Earth, or Hea••'n, all more ••hen admirabl••. For such Excess his extasie was small, Not having Spirit enough to muse withall, He wisht him hundred-fold redoubled Senses, The more to tast so rare sweet Exc••••l••ncies: Not knowing, whither Nos••, or Ears, or Eyes, Sm••ll, heard, or saw, more Savours, Sounds, or Dies.

Immediatly after God resolved to give him a Companion,* 1.1 for it was not conve∣nient that Man should be all alone: For this end he closed Adam's Eye-lids, and charmed his senses by a Heavenly Sleep, which th•• Major part of the Greek Fathers, according to th•• Translation of the Septuagint, call an extatick and ravishing repose. This man then thus rapt in his Extasy felt not Gods hand, which gently and with∣out pain plucked out a Rib, whereof he formed the first Woman, who was immediatly brought unto Adam to be his Companion and his dear Moity.

Scarce had Adam cast his Eyes on her but he cryed out, Ah, these are Bones of my Bones, and this Fles•• was drawn out of my Flesh; just as if he had said, Come O my Love, the dearest portion of my self, you shall be from henceforth my Wife, and I will be your Husband. We will be but one Heart in two Bodies; And though ••e have two Souls we will have at least but one Mind and Will.

Now after this profound and pleasing trance, No sooner Adams ravisht Eyes did glance, On the rare beauties of his New-come-half: But in his Heart he 'gan to leap and laugh, Kissing her kindly, calling her his Life, His Love, his Stay, his Rest, his Weal, his Wife, His other-self, his help (him to refresh) Bone of his Bone, Flesh of his very Flesh. Source of all joyes, sweet He-Shee coupled one.* 1.2 Thy Sacred Birth I never think upon, But (ravisht) admire how God did then, Make two of one, and one of two again. O Blessed Bone! O happy Marriage! Which dost the match 'twixt that and us presage: O chastest Friendship! Whose pure Flames impa••t, Two Souls in one, two Hearts into one Heart. Oh Holy knot in Eden insti••uted, Not in this Earth ••ith Blood and wrongs polluted; This done the Lord commands the happy pair, With chast embraces to replenish fair, Th' unpeopled World; that, while the World endures, Here might succeed their living Portraictures.

Wives and Husbands, learn then from hence a lesson which teacheth you the Laws of Conjugall Love,* 1.3 and what pow∣erfull Motives you have to live in Unity, and in a most perfect and holy Union. Let Man remember that he is the Mast∣er,

but not a Tyrant. Let Women also never for∣get their own extraction, and that they were not produced out of the Head as Queens, nor out of the Feet as Servants and Slaves; but out of the Side, and near the Heart, to the intent they may spend all the time of their Marriage in a most sweet Intelligence, and in a most inviolable society: To which Love ha∣ving given a beginning, nothing but Death alone is able, or at least ought, to Dissolve it.

But now, the Nuptials of Adam and Eve being past, nothing remains but the Banquet. The Tables are al∣ready furnished, and they need but choose amongst all the Dis••es of the World, that which shall appear to them the most Delicious. They are Masters of all that Flys in the Air, of all that Swims in the Water, of all that Creeps or Walks on the Earth; B••iefly of all Fruits that are in the Terrestiall Paradice they have the choice; and amongst all the Trees which God had Planted there, h•• only reserved the use of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, of which he Expresly and upon pain of Death forbids these two guests to gather any Fruit.

In this Conjuncture of time the Moon began to assemble her shadows, and God finding all his Works perfect entred into his repose with the Seventh Day.

Adam and Eve enjoy then at present, all that their Hearts can desire. They possess the Monarchy of the Universe for their Inheritance and Government: Their Empire extends over all out-bounds and limits, the Winds do not blow but at their pleasure, the Rivers and Streams do not Rowl along but at their Command; the Birds do not tune their Warblin•• Notes but to afford them delight.

In a word, they are as it were the Gods of the Terrestiall Paradise, and partake in a manner of all the delights which can be tasted in Heaven.

And now therefore we may suppose Eve thus to bespeke her Husband, or better self in the following manner. Wherein you have a brief account of what befell them after their Fall, viz.

1. Eves first addresses to Adam, and her Industry in making a Garment for her Husband.

Sweet-heart, quoth she (and then she Kissed him) My Love, my Life, my Bliss my Ioy, my Gem, My Souls dear Soul, take in good part (I prithee) This pretty Present that I gladly give thee. Thanks my dear all (quoth Adam then) for this, And with three Kisses he requites her Kiss. Then on he puts his painted Garment new, And Peacock-like himself doth often view; Looks on his Shadow, and in proud amaze, Admires the hand that had the art to cause, So many several parts to meet in one, To fashion thus the quaint Mandilion.

2. Adam and Eves Winter Sutes.

But, when the winters k••ener breath began To Cristalliz•• the baltick Ocean, Our Grand-sire, shrinking, gan, to shake and shiver, His Teeth to Chatter, and his Beard to quiver. Spying therefore a Flock of Muttons coming, (Whose Freze-clad bodies feel not Winters numing; He takes the fairest, and he nocks it down: Then by good hap, finding up••n the Down A sharp great Fish-bone (which long time before, The Roaring flood had cast upon the shore.) He Cuts the Throat, fleyes it, and spreads the fell, Then dries it, pares it, and he scrapes it well, Then Cloathes his Wife therewith; and of such Hides Slops, Hats, and Doublets, for himself provides.

3. Their Lodging and first Building.

A Vaulted Rock, a hollow Tree, a Cave, Were the first Buildings that them shelter gave; But, finding th' one to be too-moist a hold, Th' other too narrow, th' other over-cold,

Like Carpenters, within a Wood they choose, Sixteen fair Trees that never Leaves do loose; Whose equall front in quadran form prospected, As if of purpose Nature them erected, Their shady bows first bow they tenderly, Then enter braid, and bind them curiously; That one would think that had this Harbor seen, 'T had been true, Seeling painted-over green,

4. At length they get better Habitations.

Afther this triall, better yet to sence, Their tender flesh from th' Airy violence; Vpon the top of their sit-forked Stems, They lay across bare Oken boughs for Beams, Then these again with Leavie boughs they load, So covering close their sorry Cold abode. And then they ply from the Eaves unto the Ground▪ With Mud-mixt Reed to wall their Mansion round, All save a hole to the East-ward situate, Where strait they clapt a Hurdle for a Gate; (Instead of Hinges banged on a With) Which with a slight both Shuts and Openeth.

5. Their first Invention of Fire.

Yet Fire they lack••: But lo, the Woods that whistle▪ Amidst the Groves, so oft the Lawrel justle, Against that Mulberry, that their angry Claps Do kindle Fire, that burns the Heath bour Cops. When Adam saw a r••ddy vapor rise, In glowring Streams; as turnd with fear he slies, It follows him, untill a naked Plain, The greedy fury of the flame restrain: Then back he turns, and coming somewhat nigher The kindled Shrubs, p••rceiving that the fire Dri••s his dark Cloathes, his Colour doth refresh, An•• un-benums his Sin••ws and his Flesh: By th' unburnt end, a good big brand he takes, And hying home a fire he quickly makes.

And still maintains it, till the Starry Twins, Celestial breath another Fire begins.

But Winter being come again it grieved him, T' have lost so fondly what Relieved him; Trying a thousand wayes sit•• now no more, Th•• justling Trees his damage would restore.

While (else where musing) one day he sate down Vpon a steep Rock craggy-forked crown, A foaming Beast come towards him he spies; Within whose Head stood burning Coals for Eyes: Then suddenly with boisterous Arms he throws A knobby Flint, that hummeth as he goes; Hence flies the Beast, th' ill-aimed flint shaft grownd∣ing Against the Rock, and on it oft rebounding, Shivers to Cinders, whence there issued Small sparks of fire no sooner born then dead. This happy chance made Adam leap for Glee; And quickly calling his cold Company: In his left hand a s••ining Flint he l••cks, Which with another in his right he knocks. So up and down, that from the coldest stone, At every stroke small lively Sparkles Shone. Then with the dry Leaves of a withered Bay, The which together handsomely they lay▪ They ••ake the falling fire, which like a Sun Shines clear, and smok-less in the Leaf begun.

6. Eves Mouth at first serves in stead of a pair of Bellous.

Eve, Kneeling down, with hand her head sustain∣ing, And on the low ground with her Elbow leaning, Blows with her Mouth; and with her gentle blowing,

Stirs up the heat, that from the dry Leaves glow∣ing; Kindles the Read, and then that hollow Kex First fires the small, and they the greater Sticks.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The pro∣duction of Eve.
• * 1.2

  Adams Epithala∣mium, or Wedding Song.
• * 1.3

  An ex∣cellent les∣son for Husbands and Wives.