1 1 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
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 # 
 

 V 
 
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T H E 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Sir Charles Grandison 
 
 SPIRITUALIZED in Part. 
 
 A 
 
 VI SION. 
 
 With Reflections thereon. 
 
 By THEOPHIL A. 
 
 - Sic parvis componere Magna folebam % Virgil. 
 
 -What furmounts the reach 
 
 Of human Senfe, I fhall delineate fo 
 By lik’ning fpiritual to corporeal Forms, 
 
 As may exprefs them bell; tho’ what if Earth 
 Be but the Shadow of Heav’n j and Things therein 
 Each t’other like, more than on Earth is thought ? 
 
 Milton, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for George Keith, at the Bible and Crown 
 in Grace- Cburch-Jireet* 
 
 MDCCLX, 
 

 
■s.k.h* 
 
 T O T H E 
 
 PUBLISHER. 
 
 S 1 R, 
 
 A S you h ave been recommended to 
 me as an honeft Man in your Pro- 
 feflion, I here put into your Hands 
 a Vision, with Reflections on Reading 
 the History of Sir Charles Grandison, 
 which has lain by me in Manufcript feveral 
 Years, as not being intended for Publica¬ 
 tion. 
 
 All that I lhall fay for its Appearance at 
 
 prefent is, that moll who have feen it allow 
 
 it to be well-dejigned j and I am willing to 
 A 2 
 
 com- 
 
iv ‘To the Publisher. 
 
 communicate my Plan or Defign , whereby 
 whatever is grand or extraordinary in this 
 World may be fpiritualized: Leaving it to 
 wifer Artifts or Architects to build fome- 
 thing better upon it; only taking care that 
 whatever they build (hall quadrate with the 
 Standard in the Word and in the ‘ Tejlimony. 
 All enthufiaftic Notions I utterly difclaim. 
 If any afk,whatl callEnthufiafm? I anfwer. 
 The impofmg the Sallies of a warm Imagi¬ 
 nation either on themfelves or others, for 
 Realities or Articles of Faith. If this be not 
 a true Definition of it, lam not certain what 
 is. 
 
 It is reported of QuzenEUzabelh, that dur¬ 
 ing her Sifter’s Reign, when fhe was urged 
 to give her Opinion concerning the Change 
 of the Bread andWine in the Lord’s Supper, 
 fne anfwered; 
 
 ’Twas 
 
To the Publisher. 
 
 v 
 
 ’Twas Christ the Word that fpake it: 
 
 He took the Bread and brake it, 
 
 And what that Word did make it, 
 
 That I believe, and take it. 
 
 I, in like manner, take what is faid in the 
 Gofpels of the Kingdom of Heaven being like 
 unto a Marriage-Feajl, for juft what was de¬ 
 fined to be meant by that Similitude, and 
 no more. 
 
 I leave it to your Difcretion to conduft it 
 to thePrefs, and am, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Tour very humble Servant., 
 
 THEOPHILA. 
 

T H E 
 
 P R E F A C E. 
 
 I F the following Pages Jlmld fall into the 
 Hands of any, who may chance to think 
 the Writer prejumptuous tn indulging 
 thefe imaginary Scenes, they may pleafe to 
 confder , 
 
 Firft, That the Divine Perfon here fpoken 
 of is reprefented in Scripture , and many Trea- 
 tifes of our holy Religion , as the Bride¬ 
 grooms not only op the whole Church in ge~ 
 neral , but of every ftngle Member of it ; 
 therefore no Preeminence is here fuppofed or 
 A 4 intended 
 
via PREFACE. 
 
 intended above the meanejl on weakejt fnee re 
 Believer, 
 
 Secondly) That we are told, there is joy 
 in Heaven over one Sinner that repenteth : 
 
 Therefore we may reafonably fuppofe, that there 
 are feme additional Rejoicings and Gratulatiom 
 among the Blejfed, at the Arrival of every 
 new Inhabitant, 
 
 Thirdly, The joys of Heaven are called, 
 Rev. ii. 17. the hidden Manna j now the 
 Jewijh Rabbins, as I have heard, did believe 
 that Manna that the Children of Ifrael eat in 
 the Wildernefs, was That to every Mans tajle 
 which he was mof fond of. 
 
 Let thofe then whofe darling Rafjion is Am¬ 
 bition (though otherwife they may be good Men) 
 pleafe themfelves with the Thoughts of ruling 
 the Nations with a Rod of Iron, Rev.i1.2y. 
 
 The 
 
IX 
 
 qp e Lovers of Money with rolling in 
 Wealth, Bags that wax not old, and unfad¬ 
 ing Treafures ; while thofe whofe Jofter Pajjions 
 incline them to look upon Love and Friendjhip 
 as the mofi dejirable Good, may place all their 
 HappineJ's in the pleajing Foretap of loving and 
 being beloved by the mojl noble and mof amtabie 
 Object. 
 
 It is certain, that by all thefe Similitudes 
 our future HappineJ's is Jhadowed out j but 
 by none fo frequently as by that of a Royal 
 Marriages a Marriage-Feaft; the Joys of a 
 Bride, prepared and adorned for her Hufband ; 
 Children of the Bride-chamber, &c. Infiances 
 of which it were needlej's to quote. 
 
 And though at the fame time we are told, that 
 Eye hath not feen, nor Ear heard, neither 
 can our Minds conceive any adequate Idea of 
 that IFappinefs, while we are imprifoned in 
 
 thefe 
 
X 
 
 P R E F A C E. 
 
 thefe Houjes of Clay, yet ftnce the Holy Spirit, 
 in condefcending to our Weaknefs, is pleafed to 
 make ufe of fuch metaphorical Exprefions, We 
 may 'certainly clothe our 'Thoughts in the fame 
 Language, without offence to Religion. 
 
 As to thofe Ideas which take their Rife imme¬ 
 diately from the Circumjlanm of Lady Gu an- 
 dison ’s Story, they crended upon me fo fajl 
 while I was reading it ; that I could not help 
 fometimes thinking the ingenious Author had 
 concealed fome fuch myftical Meaning under the 
 Appearance of a perfeBly happy Marriage, and 
 left it to the Sagacity of his Readers to find it 
 out. 
 
 However that be, 1 am perfwaded it 
 would be no hard Matter to give the fame 
 allegorical Turn to many other Raffages in 
 that very entertaining History : But thefe 
 may fuffice to anfwer the Defign of the Writer , 
 
 namely, 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 namely, to take off the Minds of Toung People 
 from expending any thing like fuch a fuperla- 
 tive Degree of Happinefs in this Life, inhere 
 all Happinefs is (as the wife Mrs Shirley 
 jufily obferves) but Comparative} and alfo 
 to afififi them to rafe fpiritual Ideas from car¬ 
 nal Objects: It being my fixed Opinion, that 
 heavenly fhingi are portrayed and delineated 
 upon earthly, as a foreign Country on a Map; 
 by which an intelligent Perufer may acquire 
 fuch a Knowledge and Acquaintance with the 
 invifible World, as not only to excite their De¬ 
 fires after it, but in a great Meafure enable 
 them to form right Conceptions of the Nature 
 of that Duty they owe to God , and of the Be¬ 
 nefits they may expect from Him, as might be 
 illufirated in a variety of Infiances. 
 
 After all, a Dream is but a Dream, a kind 
 of vifionary Parable } as fuch the Writer en¬ 
 tertained herfelf with it } as fuch perhaps She 
 ► may 
 
f xii PREFACE. 
 
 may communicate it to fame choice Friends ; 
 nothing here being propofed as an Article of 
 Faith , nothing when wrote defgnedfor the Pe- 
 rufal of the Public , nor indeed nothing any way 
 offered which She is not ready to retraCl, upon 
 proper Conviction that her Refections are either 
 erroneous or ahfurd. 
 
 T H E 
 
T H E 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 T HEOPHILA and TENERISSA 
 having contrasted an intimate 
 Friendlhip in their younger Years, 
 which was cemented as they advanced in 
 Life, by Religion and a Love of the fame 
 Studies and Employments, being both 
 Lovers of Writing, and poetically inclined, 
 tolerably well verfed in molt of the modern 
 Languages, and not unacquainted with the 
 Ancient j had by various Turns of Provi¬ 
 dence been long feparated, and had even 
 difcontinued, for fome Years, their Epijio - 
 lary Correspondence j until meeting accident¬ 
 ally 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ally in London, they foon renewed their Ac¬ 
 quaintance, and after a fhort Account how 
 each had paifed her Time, they fell upon the 
 old Topic of Books, which ledthemtoconfi- 
 der theTafte of the prefent Age for Romance, 
 a kind of Writing fo much fHgmatized by 
 the grave People of the laft Age j but, as it 
 is now managed, acknowledged to be a 
 proper means to convey Inftrudtion to 
 Thofe who would never look for it any 
 where elfe. The Preference given the 
 modern Compofitions of that kind, to thole 
 of former Times, naturally introduced the 
 mention of thofe Two famous Hiftorie* 
 or Romances, of Sir Charles Grandison 
 and Clarissa. I have read Sir Charles, 
 lays Theophila, after much Solicitation, 
 but I think fhould never have ventured 
 upon fo voluminous a Work of that Na¬ 
 ture, had it not been put into my Hands 
 by a Lady whofe Perfuafions have always 
 with me the Effedt of Commands s together 
 with the profound Solitude I then lived in, 
 
 in 
 
INTRODUCTION, xv 
 in a remote Country Village, where I could 
 find no fuitable Company, and very little 
 Amufement befides my Pen and my Needle: 
 But I mud own lam very well pleafed with 
 having read it, as it occafioned in me many 
 ufeful Speculations, and gave rife to a 
 very pleafant Vifion or Dream,which I fhall 
 never forget. I have the fame thing to fay 
 in favour of Clarissa, fays her Friend; 
 ^nly that I do not remember to have dream¬ 
 ed any thing about her. But, pray, what 
 could you find to dream about SirCharles ? 
 You fay you fhall never forget it, therefore 
 I am fure it mud be fomething worth re¬ 
 membering : Come, you know 1 mud have 
 it. 
 
 The. A long Dream ; a prefumptuous 
 Dream , I fear you will think it. 
 
 Ten. You furprize me: But now you 
 have excited my Curiofity, I know you will 
 not refufe to gratify it. 
 
 The. 
 
The. I have it wrote down fomewhere 
 at home, and will fend it you, with my 
 waking Reflexions upon it. 
 
 After fome more Difcourfe to the fame 
 purpofe they parted; and the next Morning 
 Tenerissa received from Theophila the 
 following Sheets. 
 
 PART 
 
PART OF THE 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 O F 
 
 Sir Charles Grandison 
 
 SPIRITUALIZED. 
 
 USING laft Night the Be- 
 ginning of the Seventh Volume 
 ^ ^ ^ of Sir Charles Grandison, 
 
 where he intr °duces his happy 
 M Bride to his Paternal Seat, fur- 
 rounded by all her congratulating Friends; I 
 could not help thinking it a proper Reprefenta- 
 tion of the Happinefs of a pious Soul,- who, 
 
 B after 
 
2 'The History of 
 
 after many Years of Conflict with the Infirmities 
 and Uncertainties of this prefent State, finds 
 herfelf at once releafed by Death, and put in 
 immediate and full Pofleflion of the Joy of her 
 Lord. 
 
 Thefe Thoughts made fo ftrong an Impref- 
 fion upon my Imagination that they produced 
 the following Vifion or Dream. 
 
 But as'the Profpeft: of Death muft naturally 
 intervene, that firft prefented itfelf to my Mind. 
 
 Methought I was Handing upon the Brink 
 of a Black River on which I was to embark 
 though the Profped looked difmal, I was told 
 it was very fafe •, fo, after much Lingering and 
 Hefitation, I took leave of my Friends, and 
 ftepping into a Boat, was carried by a flow, 
 muddy, but tolerably fmooth Current, into a 
 fubterraneous Paflage •, which however was not 
 long, nor fo uncomfortable as I at firft appre¬ 
 hended, for I had no fooner loft all Sight of 
 the Place I fet out from, but I perceived a 
 
 glimmering 
 
Sir Charles Grandilon fpiritualized. g 
 
 glimmering Light at the other End, which 
 went on increafing till I was got quite through. 
 
 The very darkeft Moments were not attended 
 with that Horror fo natural to People in fuch 
 Circumftances; being fully perfuaded I was 
 not alone, though I could fee no-body, I endea¬ 
 voured ftill to ftrengthen my Faith in Him, 
 who, when he had overcome the Sharpnefs of Death , 
 fet open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers. 
 
 Though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow 
 of Death , I will fear no Evil , for Thou art with 
 me. 
 
 As oft in perfe£t Health and Strength, 
 
 So now thefe Words I’ll pray. 
 
 In Death’s dark Hour fave us, Lord, 
 
 And Judgment’s dreadful Day. 
 
 With Thoughts like thefe I fupported myfelf, 
 till I was fafe landed upon the oppofice Shore. 
 
 And here, methought, I flipt off my Body 
 with as much Eafe as one would throw afide a 
 loofe cumberfome Garment wrapped about one 
 B i for 
 
4 The History of 
 
 for the fake of Travelling, and was immedi¬ 
 ately enveloped with a kind of lucid, tranfparent 
 Covering, which, without cramping the Powers 
 -of my Soul, ferved to keep it from a total Dif- 
 fipation. 
 
 No fooner was I divefted of my thick Veil 
 of Flelh; but I perceived two Angelic Forms, 
 who in a moft friendly manner congratulated 
 my Arrival ; told me they had been waiting 
 for me on the other Side of the River; had 
 •attended me all the Way, and were to conduct 
 me to my new Habitation. 
 
 Several ugly Creatures of the Serpent-kind 
 begun to gather about me, lome creeping on 
 the Ground, and fame flying in the Air, and 
 thrufting out their forked Tongues, would fain 
 have laid hold on me, but feeing me in fo 
 good Company dared not attack me ; but 
 turned their Tails and went away making a 
 horrible Hilling; and my Guides carried me 
 off in Triumph. 
 
 I was borne up by them, and carried with 
 incredible Rapidity through immenfe Spaces of 
 
 Ether, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 5 
 
 Ether, till we came within Sight of a magnifi¬ 
 cent Palace, which I will give a fhort Sketch of 
 as well as l am able. 
 
 The * Situation was delightful, it was built 
 in Form of a Cube, the Four Fronts pretty 
 much alike, and the Heighth equal to the 
 Breadth. As we drew near, methought, a large 
 Pair of Folding Gates opened to us, which 
 feemed to be made each of one entire Pearl, 
 and let me into a Scene of Glories altogether 
 inexpreffible : And now I begun to be fenfible 
 of my happy Change of Condition, and faid 
 foftly to myfelf. How awful ! how delightful is 
 this Place ! This is fure none other hut the Houfe 
 of God , and this is the Gate of Heaven ! 
 
 Plowever, being alked my Name, I gave 
 in that of Theophila upon which a Book 
 was opened wherein was enrolled the Names of 
 thofe who were to be admitted, and I was 
 found among the Number of the weak Believers. 
 
 B 3 “ The- 
 
 * Here begins the Allufion to Sir Charles 
 Grandison,°Vq1. VII. pag. 21. Ed. 1754, iz°. 
 
6 The History of 
 
 “ Theophila, faid a grave venerable Perfon- 
 age that opened the Book, “ I find you are 
 “ entitled to an Entrance into thefe happy Re- 
 “ gions; Blejfed are all they that have not feen, 
 “ and yet have believed. Henceforward take 
 “ the Name of Ecclesia;” which I under- 
 ftood to be the common Name of that Body 
 into which I was to be incorporated. I told 
 him I had the Honour to belong to the Family 
 of the Ecclesias of my own Country. So do 
 a great many, fays he, that never enter in at 
 thefe Gates. I fhuddered at the Thought : 
 Alas for them ! faid I to myfelf: And who made 
 thee to differ , poor Theophila ? And what 
 haft thou that thou didft not not receive ? There¬ 
 fore, not to me , Lord, not to me , hut to thy Name 
 be the Praife. 
 
 But while I yet fcarcely believed for Joy and 
 Wonder, my Guides, who had left me for a 
 Moment, returned, and told me they were to 
 conduct me into the Presence. But firfl: I 
 mull be drelled after the Fafhion of the Place ; 
 and opening a Wardrobe, where were a great, 
 many white Robes, they put one on me, then 
 
 led 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 7 
 
 led me through a great Number of glorious 
 Spirits, ’till I came to the Door of a Banquet¬ 
 ing Houfe, where the Prince Immanuel (for 
 fo I heard him called) was giving a grand En¬ 
 tertainment. 
 
 I would have drawn back, confcious of my 
 Unworthinefs •, but the Prince ( had no foonei 
 caft his Eye upon me, than he came towaid 
 me •, and I immediately knew him to be the 
 fame to whom I had been betrothed from my 
 Infancy, and who had refcued me from a 
 potent Enemy. The Dignity and Amiablenels 
 of his Perfon were beyond all Description. And 
 though he had given me the ftrongeft Affur- 
 ances of his Favour and Affe&ion, yet me- 
 thought the Diftance was fo great between us, 
 and I found fo many Obftacles in the way of 
 my Happinefs, that fometimes my diffident 
 Heart was ready to give up all for loft. 
 
 How great then was my Surprize, when 
 clafping me in his Arms in the moft tender, and 
 affectionate manner, he accofted me in thefe 
 Words: — 
 
 B 4 
 
 «* Welcome, 
 
8 
 
 ‘The History of 
 
 “ Welcome, thrice welcome, my Sifter, my 
 “ Spoufe *, to your own Inheritance : Come 
 “ fhare with me the Glories of a Kingdom pre- 
 “ paredfor you from the Foundation of the World.” 
 I fell down at his Feet, and wanting Words to 
 exprefs my Gratitude and Aftonifhment, I re- 
 colle&ed the Speech that his own blefled Mo¬ 
 ther made on a like unexpected Salutation, and 
 uttered, as well as I could, 
 
 Behold the Handmaid of the Lord ; 
 
 Beit unto me according to thy Word . 
 
 He gently raifed me, and prefented me to v 
 the Company as his Bride, newly arrived out 
 of her own Country: There were feveral of 
 my own Friends among them, to whom and to 
 me he faid the kindeft and moft condefcending 
 Things that ever proceeded out of the Mouth 
 of Man. I comprehended that they had all 
 pafied through the fame Ceremonies at their 
 firft Acceffion •, every Eye feemed to congra¬ 
 tulate me: I wept for Joy; I would have fpoke, 
 but could not. 
 
 Indeed 
 
 * See Grandison, Vol. VII. pag. 17. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon Spiritualized. 9 
 
 Indeed I did not know very well what to fay, 
 I was in fo much Confufion to find myfelf in 
 fuch a brilliant Afiembly, that had it not been 
 for the kind encouraging Looks I received at 
 times from the Prince Himfejf, and others of 
 the Company, I could never have fupported it. 
 I ftole a Thought to reflect what would have 
 been my Fate, if I had prefumed to make my 
 Appearance there without my Robe. — My 
 Robe, thinks I, which is the only Thing that 
 can give me a Right to fit at this Table.— 
 Sure, thought I, I fliould never have ftaid to 
 be thruft out, I fliould of myfelf have fled from 
 Company fo much above me. This Thought 
 endeared my Lord to me more than ever ; for 
 had he not freely beftowed it upon me, I could 
 not have procured one of the fame Sort by any 
 other Means. 
 
 Over our Heads, in the Middle of the Room, 
 hung a Black Streamer or Banner of Love,. 
 whereon was portrayed the Prince’s Atchieve- 
 ment: — A Red Crofs ere ft, a Serpent lying at 
 the Foot of it, with a large Contufion in his 
 
 B 5 Plead, 
 
io The History of 
 
 Head, ftretched out at length as if expiring.—- 
 On the Reverfe, the Picture of Juftice with the 
 Bandage taken off her Eyes ; a fheathed Sword 
 lying by her, and her Balances in -equilibrio. 
 She was in a refting Pofture, with manifeft Sa¬ 
 tisfaction in her Looks. 
 
 % % 
 
 After the Repaft, which was fumptuous 
 and elegant, methought the Prince, taking me 
 by the Hand, led me through feveral richly 
 adorned Rooms to a little kind of Drawing- 
 Room * : — “ My Spoufe, fays he, as I have 
 “ often told you, all that I have is yours-, and 
 « though the bleffed Inhabitants of this Place 
 « fcarce know what fingle Property means, yet 
 “ you will look upon this as more peculiarly 
 “ your own. ” I could only anfwer by a 
 half-timid thankful Glance at his lovely Face, 
 and an obfequious Acceptance. 
 
 This Room was elegantly furnilhed ; I muff 
 exprefs heavenly Things by earthly, and fo I 
 will call it wainfcoted with a light green Eme¬ 
 rald the Windows of tranfparent Agate, and 
 the Door of Carbuncle. 
 
 Here 
 
 * See Grandisok/VoJ. VII. rag. 18,19. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpirilualized. it 
 
 Here was a noble Cabinet of exquifite Work- 
 manlhip in Form of a Heart*; “ My Mother’s 
 “ faid he: + She was a great Collector of valu- 
 « able Curiofities, and kept them fafe in this 
 « Cabinet: And here, perhaps, you willchoofe 
 “ to lay up your Letters, and little Correfpon- 
 “ dencies, and Soliloquies, which you ufed to 
 “ hold with yourfelf and Friends in the Country 
 “ you have left; which I lhall fometimes pe- 
 “ rule with Pleafure.” 
 
 “ My dear Lord, faid I, your Will ihall be 
 « mine in every thing; but you will find a 
 « ftrange, ftrange Heart laid open to you : If 
 “ you command from me a Sight of all that 
 «« will be repofited there.” Lie foiled; “ I 
 “ am not fo unacquainted with it as you may 
 “ imagine ; and can make Allowances for the 
 “ Weaknefs of a Heart when it is fincere.” 
 
 The Prince then (hewed me a little Clolet 
 adjoining, with aSort of Book-Cafe unfurnifhed; 
 
 “ Your 
 
 * Mary kept all thefe Sayings, and pandered them 
 in her Heart . 
 
 t See Grandison, Voli VII. pag- 
 
1 2 The History of 
 
 “ Your Oratory, your Library, my Love; when 
 “ you have furniihed it (as he was pleafed to fay 
 I knew how to do) “ with your Obfervations 
 “ and Refledions on your former and prefent 
 “ State 
 
 Every other Part of this fweet Apartment 
 was completely furniihed and ornamented : Oh 
 how he had taken Care to prepare a Place for 
 me ; while my poor Heart was torn great part 
 of the Time with Fears and Uncertainties! 
 
 n n 
 
 Methought I was led on by my illuftrious 
 Bridegroom through more and more rich Apart¬ 
 ments, which took their Denominations from 
 the precious Stones of which they were com- 
 pofed, till I came to the Mufic Parlour, the 
 Orcheftra , as I may call it, of this delightful 
 Palace ; all which for Beauty and Largenefs fo 
 much exceeded my little emerald Drawing- 
 Room, that it feemed but a plain Clofet in 
 Comparifen ; yet that gave me no manner of 
 Difguft: I eafily comprehended they were inha¬ 
 bited by Spirits of fuperior Rank and Merit, 
 
 and 
 
 * See Ga AtmisoN, Vcl, II. pag» 19.. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 13 
 and looking upon myfelf as unworthy the 
 meaneft Place in the 1 lou le , X beheld thole 
 above me in various Gradations not only with¬ 
 out any Mixture of Envy, but even with Com¬ 
 placency. I alfo confidered my own as an agree¬ 
 able Shade from the dazzling Splendors that 
 every where met my weak Eyes, unaccultomed 
 to fo much Brightnefs. 
 
 I took Notice of the vaft Number and Va¬ 
 riety of the Rooms. “ I told you fo before, 
 «< f a id he, that in my Father's Houfe were many 
 “ Mmfions but how hard is it to make thofe 
 “ of your Country believe any thing they do 
 « not fee.” I call down my Eyes, and fecretly 
 blulh’d at the Remembrance of my own Incre¬ 
 dulity ; when, inftead of a reproachful Look 
 as I expected, methought the Prince darted 
 upon me a benign Ray from his divine Coun¬ 
 tenance, all-beaming with Love and Sweetnels, 
 at the fame time wiping off a Tear that Hole 
 down my Cheek *. I was entirely comforted 
 and refrefhed, and the Shame of my former 
 Unbelief was quite loft in Joy and Thankful- 
 
 nefs 
 
 * S?e Grakdtson, Vol. VII. pag. 25. 
 
14 History 
 
 nefi that lb weak a Faith could be accepted by 
 him. Then I remembred it had been faid, 
 ’They had an Eye unto him , and were enlightened ; 
 and their Faces were not afhamed. 
 
 2D 
 
 But now for the Mufic-Parlour : I ihall 
 never be able to mention it without Rapture. 
 It is a fpacious Room, decorated with the Pic¬ 
 tures of the moft eminent Performers of former 
 and latter Times, and feveral Pieces of Divine 
 Poetry *. 
 
 _ There were Moses, and David the fweet 
 Singer of Ifrael, Deborah and Hannah, &c. 
 but above them all the Mother of my dear 
 Lord at full Length, with a Scroll in her 
 Hand, whereon was wrote herfweetly humble 
 Canticle. ^ Calling my Eye upon that.Verfe; 
 For He hath regarded the Lowlinefs of his Hand¬ 
 maiden-, I could not forbear finking down on 
 my Knees, and faying, « Oh! how fuitable 
 “ is that to my Cafe * It is I, it is I, that mull 
 “ now nng that Song.” He taketh up the Simple 
 out of the Duft, and lifteth the Poor out of the 
 
 Mire 
 
 * See Grandison, V 0 ), VII. pag. 2Ij 24 , aj . 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 15 
 
 Mire •, that He may fet them with the Princes , 
 even with the Princes of his People , Pfal. i. 13. 
 
 & & 
 
 My gracious Prince, methought, raifed me 
 in the moft endearing Manner : “ This Humi- 
 a jjty becomes my Spoufe, faid he, and it fhall 
 « always be my Delight to raife the dejeded 
 « and humble in Spirit.” 
 
 Then looking round upon the Guefts that 
 were already affembled there * “ My Friends, 
 « fays he, fhall we not have feme Mufic ? My 
 « Ecclesia is a great Lover of Harmony.” 
 
 After feveral little Concerts played off, me¬ 
 thought the Prince caft his Eye upon me j 
 which I underflood as a Signal that he would 
 have me try my Skill; I immediately obeyed, 
 though with fome Diffidence, and taking up 
 an Inftrument endeavoured to exprefs the Sen¬ 
 timents of my Heart in the following little 
 
 Hymn *. 
 
 * Ibid. g?ag. 25 . 
 
 Hofanna 
 
16 The History of 
 
 Hofanna to King David’s Son, 
 
 All good and gracious He! 
 
 Who hath exalted to his Throne 
 A Maid of low Degree. 
 
 By fo divine a Prince carefs’d. 
 
 How high my Honours rife! 
 
 In Garments of Salvation drels’d. 
 
 And lovely in his Eyes. 
 
 Reproach no more fhall break my Heart, 
 Nor wound my tender Ear; 
 
 , My Lord vouchfafes to take my Part 
 And dry up every Tear., 
 
 All Sins and Sorrows now forgot; 
 
 I tune my Voice to fing ; 
 
 Supremely happy is my Lot 
 In Thee my Saviour King. 
 
 Though I could not but be fenfible that my, 
 Mufic was vaftly inferior to what went before, 
 yet methought the Prince gave a Smile of Ap¬ 
 probation, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon Spiritualized. 1 7 
 probation, much in the manner we do to Chil¬ 
 dren when they have done their belt, and we 
 are not willing to difcourage them ; and fitting 
 down called for an Inftrument to be brought 
 to him. A profound Silence and Attention 
 took Pofiefiion of the whole Company, when 
 he began with inimitable Sweetnefs * > the 
 Words of his Song were, as near as I can re¬ 
 member, to this Purpofe. 
 
 But Thou, O Royal Bride, give ear, 
 
 And to my Words attend, 
 
 Forget thy native Country now 
 And ev’ry former Friend. 
 
 r 
 
 So fhall thy Beauty charm the King; 
 
 Nor will his Love decay ; 
 
 For Fie is now become thy Lord, 
 
 To Him due Rev’rence pay. 
 
 Reje&ed by my Jewifh Spoufe, 
 
 I make my fecond Choice ; 
 
 The Gentile Church fhall fhare my Vows, 
 And in my Love rejoice. 
 
 Rejoice 
 
 * See Grandison, Vol. VII. pag. 25. 
 
1 ^ History of 
 
 Rejoice and fhout, ye Heavens high, 
 
 Let Earth repeat the Sound, 
 Immanuel’s and Ecclesia’s Joy 
 Shall glad the Nations round. 
 
 Thefe Jaft Words were echo’d back by an 
 innumerableCompany of the celeftial Choirifters, 
 mtermixt with Hofannas and Allelujahs; after 
 which a Symphony of foft Mufic was heard, 
 and a beauteous Cherub ftept forth and fung 
 alone the following Part of the Eighty-ninth 
 Pfalm. 
 
 For fuch fiupendous Truth and Love, 
 
 Both Heaven and Earth their Praifes owe j 
 
 By Choirs of Angels fung above, 
 
 And by aflembled Saints below. 
 
 What Seraph of celeftial Birth 
 
 To vie with Ifraelh God may dare ! 
 
 Or who among the Sons of Earth 
 With our Almighty Lord compare ! 
 
 With 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpmtuahzed. *9 
 
 With Reverence and religious Dread 
 His Saints (hall to his Temple prefs. 
 
 His Fear thro’ all their Hearts fhould fpread. 
 Who his Almighty Name confefs. 
 
 Lord God of Armies ! who can boaft 
 Of Pow’r and Might like thine renown’d *, 
 
 Of fuch a num’rous, faithful Hoft, 
 
 As that which does thy Throne furround . 
 
 The Chorus again repeated their Allelujahs, 
 and fo ended this ravifhing Scene. 
 
 During the Performance, Tears of Joy ran 
 frequently down my Cheeks *. Oh! how dif¬ 
 ferent, thought I, is all this from the poor, 
 cold, imperfect Praifes that we ufed to fend up 
 to my Lord in the other World! And yet they 
 would rife fometimes almoft to Rapture, when 
 accompanied with Mufic. 
 
 m & 
 
 I rose up to retire, and the Prince perceiv¬ 
 ing me a little faint, fupported me with his 
 0 Arm 
 
 * See Grandison, Vol. VII. pag. 25, 261 
 
20 
 
 ^be History of 
 Arm to the Door of my own Apartment; where 
 ftlhng down at his Feet I embraced his Knees * 
 and filent Extafy offered him the fervent 
 
 Vows of a Heart overflowing with Love and 
 Gratitude. 
 
 He withdrew, and left me for a Seafon to 
 contemplate my happy Situation , I ft e p P ed 
 into the Oratory, and there with the deepeft 
 Humility and Self-Abafement gave Thanks to 
 the King Eternal ,, Immortal ,, Invifible, the Father 
 of my Lord, who had made me meet to be Par¬ 
 taker of the Inheritance of the Saints in Light ,, and 
 
 tranfated me out of Darknefs into the Kingdom of 
 his dear Son. J 
 
 M ^ 
 
 And now, methought, my Joy, which had 
 been a little too tumultuous, began to fubfide 
 into a.Tweet, fetded Calm of Spirit, which is 
 t at fort of Repofe in Heaven that anfwers to 
 our Sleep on Earth, and prepares the Blefied 
 for fucceeding. Enjoyments. During which 
 Time, methought, I was not deprived of Sen- 
 
 fation, 
 
 * See Grandison, VoJ. VII. pag . z 6. 
 
Sir Charles Grandiibn fpiritualized. 21 
 fation, but it was fomething like deeping and 
 feeling one’s felf deep. But being unincumbred 
 with Flefh and Blood, I foon awoke out of this 
 State of guietifm, as I may call it; my wearied 
 Powers recovered their former Vigour, and 
 finding myfelf ftill alone, I broke out into the 
 following 
 
 SOLILOQUY. 
 
 A n d is it true ? And can it be ? That I am 
 at laft fafe arrived at my Journey’s End, after 
 a long and troublefome Voyage ? Am I really 
 come where I have fo long wifhed to be ? To 
 the general Ajfembly and Church of the Firjl-born ; 
 to the Spirits of juft Men made perfebl ? United 
 for ever in indiflfoluble Bands to Him, who 
 is fairer than the Children of Men-, whom having 
 not feen I loved, but in whom now that I have 
 feen Him, and know myfelf beloved of Him, I 
 rejoice with Joy unfpeakable and full of Glory. 
 
 But is this the fame Theophila, who inha¬ 
 bited fo lately a frail Tenement of Clay in 
 yonder lower World, which One calls 
 
 “ The Atmofphere of Sin, Calamity and Care? 
 
 vexed 
 
2 2 The History of 
 
 vexed and haraffed with Troubles and Tempta¬ 
 tions of various Kinds, pierced through with 
 many Sorrows, and often ready to fink under a 
 Load of human Infirmities ? 
 
 N 
 
 How do I find myfelf entirely freed from 
 all the Languors attending on weak relaxed 
 Nerves, obtufe decayed Senfes ; from bodily 
 and mental Painj and all the Train of real and 
 imaginary Evils with which I have been fo long 
 exercifed ? 
 
 How are the Clouds difperfed that fo long 
 darkened and eclipfed the Sun of Righteoufnefs, 
 and kept my poor Soul too often benighted in 
 Error and Obfcurity ? Now all my Doubts, 
 Miftakes and Uncertainties are cleared up at 
 once •, Faith changed into Sight, and Hope 
 into Enjoyment. 
 
 How do I take in Light from all Parts, now 
 . that my Prifon-Walls are broken down ? and 
 fee all things in a new manner, not as they 
 were diftorted by palling through the Organs 
 of Senfe, or coloured over by a viciated Imagi¬ 
 nation, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualize'd. 23 
 nation, but in the Light of Truth itfelf ? And 
 how is my Underftanding gratified, and even 
 ravifhed with its new Acquifitions ? 
 
 But then my tender Pafiions with which I 
 have been fo often perplexed and entangled; 
 that extreme Senfibility of Heart that has caufed 
 me fo much Sorrow, while either the Abfence, 
 the Sufferings or Mifcondudt of my Friends, 
 has made me incapable of tailing any Delight; 
 even that fhall now but increafe my Happinefs. 
 Here are no Objects of Mifery to excite Horror 
 or Companion; and which is happier ftill, no 
 finful Object. All here are in righteous and 
 joyous Circumftances •, and I can communicate 
 in the Joy of every bleffed Spirit. My dear 
 Lord being as much every Saint’s, as mine; 
 and yet not lefs mine, than if there were no 
 other to partake of Him but myfelf. 
 
 No more fhall I be put upon the unpleafing 
 Talk of curbing and reining in my Affe&ions. 
 Here is no fear of Excefs, no fear of not 
 meeting a Return. I can never love my Lord 
 
 fo much as He has loved me; and He has 
 
 Love 
 
2 4 ’The History.;?/ 
 
 Love enough to fill every blefled Soul, and 
 
 every one ihall partake of it according to their 
 Capacities. 
 
 Dilate then, enlarge thyfelf, O my Heart; 
 look round about thee and fee thy Joys doubled 
 and multiplied in every glorified Spirit. Con- 
 fider thyfelf no longer as a fingle Particle of 
 Being, but a Member of a happy Community, 
 the Church Triumphant; owned and acknow¬ 
 ledged as fuch by Him who is the true fupreme 
 Head and Bridegroom thereof: And having 
 paffed the Ceremony of thy own private Efpou- 
 fals,' waiting with the reft of thy Fellow-Virgins 
 till the whole Body be gathered in, when the 
 Marriage of the Lamb Ihall be publicly fo- 
 lemnized, and his Wife Jhall have made herfelf 
 ready. Rev. xix. 7. 
 
 But was I ever fick, or uncertain, or in Suf- 
 pence ? Methinks I can but wonder at my 
 Doubts and Diffidence, at my Impatience and 
 Dejections under fuch light Afflictions, as they 
 now feem to be, In Companion of the Glories 
 with which I am furrounded, and that Joy 
 which no Alan Jhall take from me. 
 
 I will 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpirdualized. 25 
 
 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my Soul Jhall 
 be joyful in my God, for He hath clothed me with 
 'the Garments of Salvation , He hath covered me 
 with a Robe of Righteoufnefs , as a Bridegroom 
 decketh himfelf with Ornaments , and as a Bride 
 adorneth herfelf with Jewels, Ifaj. Ixi. 10. 
 
 i8f 
 
 Me thought I had no fooner finished thefc 
 Reflections, and locked them up in my little 
 Heart-Cabinet, than I heard as it were a Flourifh 
 of Trumpets, and a kind of Herald proclaimed 
 aloud, “ The Prince, the Prince Immanuel 
 “ is coming ; prepare the Way.” Every one 
 caught the charming Sound, every one was 
 fond of repeating the fweet Name, which like 
 a refrelhing Odour delighted the Hearts of all 
 that heard it. 
 
 Velut unguentum diffunditur nomen tuum *. 
 
 I looked through my Window, and feeing a 
 great Multitude of the heavenly Inhabitants as 
 in a Proceflion, I gave a Spring to the Door: 
 
 C Which 
 
 * Thy Name is as an Ointment poured forth. 
 
 This Lady Clementina applies to Sir Charles 
 Grandison. 
 
a 6 The History «/ 
 
 ‘Which fudden Effort fhook my feeble Frame,, 
 Broke the bright Yifion, and difiolv’d the Dream: 
 
 I funk at once, and loft the Skies ; 
 
 In vain I fought the Fields of Light; 
 
 Rolling abroad my longing Eyes, 
 
 For all around ’em flood my Curtains and the 
 Night *. 
 
 The S E Q_U E L. 
 
 I awoke then, as I faid, in a moft fweet 
 Harmony of Spirits, though much mortified to 
 find it but a Dream , yet I thought I would not 
 but have dreamt for any Confideration; partly 
 for the inconceivable Pleafure it gave me at 
 the Time, and partly on account of the Senti¬ 
 ments of Devotion, Piety and Humility that it 
 left upon my Heart •, which while I was mufing 
 on and endeavouring to keep up, I was infen- 
 fibly overcome with Sleep, and there was repre- 
 fented to my Mind what follows in the Sequel. 
 
 % X 
 
 Me thought I was again in the fame Place 
 as at firft, and that I had opened the Door, and 
 
 faw 
 
 * Watt sV Vifion of Paradife. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon /spiritualized. 27 
 
 faw the Prince in a kind of triumphal Carr, 
 returning, as I underftood, from a great Victory 
 He had gained over a rebellious Heart, which 
 , had flood out a long Siege againft Him, and 
 had juft furrendered. Millions of glorious 
 Creatures crouded about the Chariot, flnging 
 divine Songs and Anthems, fuitable to the Na¬ 
 ture of the Conqueft. 
 
 Indeed He has a lovely Way of fubduing 
 his Enemies by Kindnefs, and nothing but the 
 molt inveterate Malice can hold out againft 
 Him when once they become acquainted with 
 his amiable Qualities. 
 
 I was afraid of being overlooked in the Crowd, 
 and longed to place myfelf in his more immediate 
 View, when methought the Procefiion was over, 
 the Attendants difmifled, and He entered my 
 Apartment with only three of his Retinue. He 
 looked diredlly into my Heart-Cabinet, and 
 fmiling faid, “ The Sentiments of my Eccle- 
 « si a are fuch as I would have them.” Oh ! 
 how I was delighted to hear that. “ It has always 
 C 2 “ been 
 
eS The History of 
 
 <c been my Defire, replied I, that not only the 
 “ Words of my Mouth ,, hut alfo the Meditations 
 “ of my Heart , might be acceptable in the Sight 
 “ of my Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. 
 
 Alas that they have not always been fo ! ” 
 “ Let us hear no more of that, fays He ; it is 
 “ all over ; Old Things are puffed away ; behold 
 “ all Things are become new: You are as yet a 
 “ Stranger here, and will want abundance of 
 “ Inftruftion and Information with regard to 
 “ your new State of Being; therefore choofe 
 one of thefe my menial Servants for your 
 “ conftant Guardian and Attendant.” 
 
 Are they not all minifiring Spirits * ? 
 
 « But it is fit you fhould have one, whom 
 “ you may look upon as peculiarly your own.’* 
 What glorious Appearances, thought I j if I 
 had not feen the Prince I fhould have been 
 ready to worfhip Them ! 
 
 I fell down on my Face \ “ O my Lord, 
 faid I, « it is too much; rather let thine Hand - 
 
 “ maid 
 
 * Heb. i. 14, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. zg< 
 
 maid be a Servant to wafh the Feet of the Ser- 
 ** wants of my Lord,” i Sam. xxv. 41. 
 
 “ It muft be as I fay, faid the Prince; if 
 *« they have not thought it beneath them to at— 
 *<■ tend the poor helplefs Theophila in her 
 
 State of Mortality, clothed with the Infirmi- 
 <4 ties and Difhonours of Flefh and Blood; 
 44 with much more Pleafure will they perform; 
 4 < that Service to the honourable Ecclesia ia 
 « her State of Glory and Perfection.” 
 
 Then I remembred that I had read, Since 
 thou waft precious in my Sight thou haft been ho¬ 
 nourable, , Ifai. xliii. 4. and caft a Look toward 
 Him the moft grateful and affectionate that was 
 poffible. 
 
 m m 
 
 I do not know for what Reafon, but mc- 
 thought I feemed to confider one of them with 
 fome DiftinCtion, as if I chofe him, but was 
 loth to fpeak, not knowing where to make a 
 Preference •, when the Prince, turning toward 
 
 him, faid, “Raphael, you will affift my 
 Q J 44 Spoufe 
 
3 ° ^be History 1 «/ 
 
 “ Spoilfe in all Things wherein Jfhe has occafion 
 “ for your Service; and departed with the other 
 “ Two.” 
 
 I was exceeding glad of this Attendant; for 
 I longed to afk a great many Queftions which 
 I could not afk of my Lord : Notwithftanding 
 his gracious Behaviour, methought He had fo 
 much Awe mixt with his Sweetneis, that I ne¬ 
 ver approached Him without a tender Fear; 
 fweet Pear, the Child of Love, methought I 
 would not be without it on any Account. 
 
 So I faid, “ Raphael, methinks I Ihould 
 “ know fomething of you; Were you ever in 
 “ our Country ? Did you ever fee me before i 
 44 came here ?” 
 
 cc I have often been in your Country, faid 
 “ he, upon Meflages of Love to you and others, 
 
 “ though you could not fee me ; and have re- 
 turned with Prayers and Thanksgivings •> be- 
 “ ing one that go in and out before the Glory of 
 “ the Holy One, Tob. xii. 15. It was I that 
 had the Care of your Infancy*” 
 
 44 Then 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritmlized. 3,® 
 
 \ 
 
 «• Then I am fure, abided.I, you had Trouble 
 ** enough with me for I was always a ftrange, 
 
 « fickle, inconftant Creature. ” “ It is no 
 
 “■ Trouble to us, fays he; but the greateft 
 “ Pfeafure, to do the Will of our common 
 “ Lord and Matter. Do you not fee how all 
 <<• his Servants fly to execute his Commands 
 ■“ Indeed we adore Him.” 
 
 “ So do I too, fays I; and ftill wifh and 
 “ pray that his Will may be done on Earth as it 
 « is in Heaven. Sure, continued I, the Fol- 
 “ lies and Inconfiftencies of a human Creature,, 
 «< efpecially fo weak a one as I was, mutt needs 
 “ appear very extravagant in the Eye of a pure 
 “ Spirit.” 
 
 “ As the Follies of Childhood, fays he, to 
 w an adult Perfon ; we know it cannot be 
 « otherwife 
 
 “ Though I have never been united to a Body 
 “ of Flelh, our Lord has; and He is always 
 C 4 “ inclined 
 
 * This muft be underftood of thofe common Fail¬ 
 ings and Infirmities from which no one is entirely free; 
 in which who can tell how oft he ojfendetb ? Pfal. xix. 
 
3 2 The Jrl i s t o r y of 
 
 “ inclined t0 P^y thole whole Imperfections 
 “ are entire] y owin g to their Conftitution : 
 “ How of ten have I heard Him fay, it is im- 
 “ poffible for any Creature that has not expe- 
 nenccd it, to conceive what Influence thofe 
 Organs of Senfe have upon the Paflions and 
 “ Affections of the Mind ; but his Knowledge 
 “ was experimental, and though the flnful Paf- 
 “ flons found no Place in his innocent Breaft, 
 yet he became a Man of Sorrows and acquainted 
 wuh Grief by afiuming your real Nature.” 
 
 “ ^>h that, that, fays I, is molt endearing : 
 “ ds the Children were Partakers of Flefh and 
 “ Blood , He alfo himfelf likewife took Part of 
 the fame: And again ; He took not upon him 
 “ the Nature of Angels, but the Seed of Abraham, 
 “ Heb. ii. 
 
 “ Nothing has been a greater Confolation to 
 “ me in my Con Aids with inbred Corruptions, 
 
 “ than to confider, that we have not an High 
 “ Brief that cannot be touched with the Feeling 
 “ of our Infirmities , but who was in all Things 
 tempted as we are, yet without Sin, Pleb. iv. i-j. 
 
 ** Never 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 33 
 
 « Never Man had a more compafijonate 
 “ Heart, faidhe; and his Valour is equal to 
 “ his Tendernefs. Have you feen his Picture 
 “ in the long Gallery ? Never j you will oblige 
 “ me to let me fee it.” 
 
 & £ 
 
 As we were going along, I could not forbear 
 crying out, “ O my dear Raphael, what at 
 ** happy Creature am I! Howftrangely things 
 “ are turned about ? Who would have thought 
 “ it ? For my part I cannot yet recover the 
 “ Surprize that my Lord’s firft Addrefs- gave 
 “ me, and the Honours that were done me in-, 
 w the Banqueting Houfe, and in the MuiGc- 
 “ Parlour; to me, to me fb unworthy; who, 
 “ could fcarce lift up my Hopes fo high as to* 
 M expert even a Door-keeper’s Place in his 
 “ Houfe. And then the Thoughts of my fur- 
 “ prizing Refcue * will ever be frelh in. my 
 C 5. « Memory j; 
 
 * Surprizing Refcue : Not that our Deliverance 
 from Sin and Satan, or what is generally called Con ■» 
 vtrfm is always attended with fuch linking Circum- 
 
 ftaac««> 
 
34 
 
 the H 
 
 i s T o r y 
 
 of 
 
 “ Memory: What Jhall / render to my Lord 
 “ for‘all the Benefits I have received from Him ? 
 “ He hath delivered me from my Jlrong Enemy; 
 “ and from them that hated me ; for they were 
 “ too mighty for me” Pfal.xviii. 
 
 Then open wide the Temple Gates 
 To which the Juft repair, 
 
 That I may enter in and praife 
 My great Deliverer there. 
 
 Within 
 
 ftances, as fometimes happen to thofe that turn from 
 a vicious Courfe of Life} but yet I doubt not when 
 our Eyes fhall be opened in another State, and we 
 fhall be made acquainted with the Hair-breadth 
 Efcapes we have had, and the kind Methods of Pro¬ 
 vidence by which they have been brought about, 
 (though by Reafon of the Darknefs with which we are 
 now furrounded we difcern them not) it will be a 
 fweet Surprize to us } and every fuch Difcovery will 
 furnifh frefh Matter for Praife and Adoration. I have 
 read of a Gentleman, who coming home in a dark 
 Night very much in Liquor over a Wooden Bridge, 
 which had been broke down fince he left his Houfe; 
 his Friends afked him the nextDay how he got Home ? 
 He told them over the Bridge. They faid, it was im- 
 poffible, the Bridge was broke down. He would not 
 believe them; until going next Day to the Place, and 
 feeing nothing but a few Stumps and broken Boards, 
 he dropt down dead at the Sight of the Danger he had 
 efcaped. But ive Jhall not die at the Sight, but live 
 and declare the Works of the Lord, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon /piritualized. 35 
 
 Within thofe Gates of God’s Abode, 
 
 To which the Righteous prefs. 
 
 Since thou haft heard and fet me free. 
 
 Thy holy Name I’ll blefs *. 
 
 “ But tell me, I fuppofe the fame Gratula— 
 “ tions are paid to every one at their, firft Ac- 
 “ ceffion.” 
 
 r 
 
 Ra. “ Some more, fome lefs, according^ 
 “ to their Capacities and Improvements: There" 
 “ are ibme to whom a more abundant Entrance in 
 “given \ whereas others come here fo entirely;' 
 “ unacquainted with the Language and Bdfinefs.; 
 “ of the Place, that at firft they are rather con-- 
 “ founded than delighted with it: They lee a t 
 “ great many, fine- Things, but for. want of. 
 “ having their, Senfes lpiritually exercifed, they* 
 “ comprehend very little.” 
 
 Th„ “ ’Tis a Wonder how they, get ins 
 “ then: Perhaps-they are given to the..ardent: 
 “ Prayers of .their Eriends and Relations: Is it; 
 
 “ nost 
 
 * Pial. cxvili. 19, 20. New-Voften,.. 
 
$6 5 J he History of 
 
 “ not fo fometimes ? I have heard of a good 
 “ Minifter comforting the afflidted * Mother of 
 “ a very difiolute young Man, by telling her, 
 “ It was impoffible that the Child of fo many 
 “* Prayers and Tears fhould be loft : And the 
 
 Event anfwered his Predidtion.” 
 
 Ra. “ It may be fo : Or perhaps your 
 “ kind Redeemer, always willing and able to 
 “ fave to the uttermoft , perceiving fome Good in 
 “ them, which He will not fuffer to perifh, 
 “ ftretches over them the Veil of his infinite 
 “ Merit, and laves them from eternal Perdi- 
 “ tion; and in that Senfe may be faid to be 
 “ found of them that fought him not: But this Is 
 ‘‘ not common,’* 
 
 Th. “ You were (peaking of the Bufinels 
 ** of the Place, it is what I have been thinking 
 ** of: Shall I have nothing to do here ? Shall 
 “ I attend upon fome Spirit of fuperior Order, 
 *« with the fame Diligence, Pleafure and Ala- 
 “ crity, that one Member of the Body ferves 
 « another ? Or can my little, little Talents 
 
 M be 
 
 • Monica, the Mother of St Austin-, 
 
Sir Charles Grandlfon fpritualiztd. 37 
 
 « be any way ufeful among fuch Myriads of 
 « bright Intelligences ? V For methought my 
 Bridal Ideas were pretty near over. 
 
 Ra. “ I believe you will foon be employed : 
 “ Here arrived lately an infant female Spirit, 
 “ whofe; Parents, at her Departure from them, 
 « earneftly recommended her to the Guardian- 
 « fhip of our Prince 5 and it is poffible Ihe may 
 « be put under your Care, that you may fup- 
 << ply what was wanting in her Education, by 
 « reafon of her fhort Stay in the other World; 
 it which we fo me times call a School , fomctimes 
 « a Nurfery , fometimes an Apprenticejhip y to 
 « train up Souls for this Place.’* 
 
 Th. “ I have heard it reprelented under all 
 « thofe Notions; and I think a School the moft 
 « fignificant: But of what ufe can I be to her 
 « who am myfelf but a Novice here, and ra- 
 « t her fit to receive than to give Inftrudion 
 
 Ra. « And thofe bright Intelligences you juft 
 * now mentioned, do you think they are ar- 
 « rived at the higheft Point of Knowledge ? 
 
 \.v ** ‘‘ No> 
 
3 * ?be History of 
 
 “ No ; ever drawing nearer the Line of Per¬ 
 fection, they are ftill at fuch a Diftance from 
 it as leaves room for Improvement, vet 
 ** ta ^ e great Pleafure in communicating their 
 Light to others in a lower Clals ; as I doubt 
 “ not but you will experience to your unfpeak- 
 “ able Advantage, when you come to be better 
 “ acquainted with them. ” 
 
 Th. « I comprehend that pretty well. But* 
 “ Aall I have that Honour, and will, the little- 
 “ Obfervations and Experiences, that I have- 
 “ been able to make in. my former. State of 
 “ Bein g> be of any, Ule ? And will ho Impe- 
 “ diment” (and then I tecdledted what had* 
 been the grand Misfortune of my Life, and I. 
 gav§ & Sigh!) “ and will no Impediment hinder, 
 ^ but that I can perform that Service to the- 
 “ dear Creature ? Methinks I love her already, 
 « becaufe Ihe is- the Child of my PrinceV 
 
 Friend.” 
 
 Ra. “ Oyes ; and Ihe loves her Guardian, 
 
 “ and wants to know and do every Thing that* 
 % roay make her more acceptable to Him.., 
 
 » ' ** Her. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon Jpiritualized. $$ 
 
 “ Her fond Parents would gladly have accom- 
 “ panied her here, as they could not keep her 
 “ longer with them; but it could not be: 
 
 « Thefe Things feem ftrange to thofe of your. 
 << lower World*, that good People ffiould be 
 « fo often eroded in their mod tender and in- 
 “ nocent Defires *, but We fee Things in quite 
 “ another Light. Oh! had you but heard, as- 
 “ I did, the fervent Prayers and earned: Re¬ 
 tt commendations, with which She was wafted 
 « up to our Regions, you would never have 
 « forgot them : For She was an only Child.” 
 
 Th. “ Oh I hear, I feel, I guefs them.all: 
 « Where is the dear Babe, that I may perform 
 « the Office of a Mother to her, and as-much. 
 “ as in me lies fulfil all their Defire .’ 
 
 Ra. “ All in good Time.: But here comes 
 « a Company you mud be made acquainted 
 “ with.” 
 
 And I looked and faw a great Multitude , which 
 no Man could number, of all People, Nations and 
 
 Languages, 
 
4-0 The History j/ 
 
 Languages , cloathed with white Rohes , Palms 
 in their Hands j and they fung with a loud Voice * 
 As near as I could diftinguilh the Subftance of 
 their Song was to this Purpofe. 
 
 Salvation to the Great Supream 
 That fits enthron’d on high } 
 
 Salvation to our Lord the Lamb 
 That rules this lower Sky : 
 
 All Power and Praife to Him belong; 
 
 Exalt your Voices then; 
 
 Angels affift th* harmonious Song, 
 
 And jointly cry, Amen. Rev. vii. 9. 
 
 r> „ t' 
 
 I i 
 
 Turning to Raphael, I aflted, « Who- 
 are thefe ? and whence came they ? Thefe 
 ** are the y> he, that are come out of great 
 « Tribulation” As I was admiring their Robes,, 
 which feemed of a dazzling Whitenefs, me- 
 thought, one of the Elders of them came near, 
 
 “ and 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 41 
 
 and taking me by the Hand prefented me to the 
 reft of the Company, faying, “ Our Couftn 
 “ Theophila is juft arrived.” I told him, 
 ‘‘ He muft certainly be miftaken in the Perfon, 
 ** I could not poflibly belong to that illuftrious 
 “ Body, having never loft Houfes , nor Lands y 
 ** nor Life for the Sake of the Gofpel •, neither 
 “ could I take upon me to fay that any of my 
 “ Sufferings had been purely for Righteoufnefs 
 “ fake.”, 
 
 « We are not Martyrs, faid He, no more 
 “ than you : You will know them, when you 
 “ fee them, by the purple Streaks in their 
 « Robes, which add much to their Beauty : 
 « Oh how you will be delighted to fee that 
 « noble Army marching in Triumph, with 
 ' « their Banners difplayed, and the Captain of 
 “ their Salvation at their Head ! But we have 
 « pafied through the Vale of ‘tears under many 
 « Difcouragements, fore Trials, and Heart- 
 “ breaking Sorrows ; and now the Time is 
 « come, that we receive, according to his Pro- 
 “ mife, Beauty for AJhes \ the Oil of Joy for 
 
 “ Mourning \ 
 
4 2 The History of 
 
 “ Mourning ; the Garment of Praife , 
 
 “ ^ %>*'* of Heavinefs , Ifai. lxi. 3. We know 
 “ the Nature of your Sufferings, and the Ten- 
 “ dernefs of your Dilpofition, and fhall not 
 “ fcruple to admit you of our Society, The 
 “ Family of the Afflicted.” With that, 
 methought, He prelented me with the Freedom 
 of their Company, in a Box of Garnet finely 
 fiudded with all manner of precious Stones; 
 and alfo with one of their Robes, which was of 
 a particular Make, and a Palm which They 
 bore- in public Proceffions, when all the Com¬ 
 panies of Heaven march in their refpcclive 
 Liveries. 
 
 There was-a fort of Debate among them for 
 fome Time about the Palm; fome alledging I 
 had no Right to it, as I had not been fo patient- 
 as I ought to be; but at laft it was carried in 
 the Affirmative by a Majority, as it was proved 
 that my Impatience was purely Conftitutional, 
 and. had often been lamented by me among 
 my other Infirmities. “ The Mind may be 
 “ faid to be patient, fays the Elder, while it 
 
 ‘‘ actually 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 43 
 
 “ actually chooles its Sufferings in Conformity 
 “ to the Divine Will, though greatly defirous 
 “ of the Removal of them 
 
 They went on rejoicing, and Raphael gave 
 thofe Things to a Boyifh Human Spirit (whereof 
 there are Numbers always hovering about in 
 the Air) to carry them to my Emerald Apart¬ 
 ment and we continued our Walk. I feemed 
 thoughtful ; which my Guardian taking Notice 
 of, afked me the Reafon of it: I told him, I 
 was muling on what had been faid of my Im¬ 
 patience ; “ It is certainly true, fays I, that I 
 “ aggravated all my Troubles, with thinking 
 “ too deeply on them; as, on the contrary, 
 “ if any thing like Pleafure and Prolperity fell 
 “ in my way, I was. apt to flip into the other 
 “ Extream of vain Mirth and thoughtlefs 
 “ Gaiety.” 
 
 That, 
 
 * This Maxim muft be admitted: Our Lord 
 himfelf could choofe to fuffer in no other Senfe, than 
 as it was his Father’s Will. 
 
 The Man after God’s own Heart was no Stoic ; 
 He had the moft cutting Senfe of Injuries, and Re¬ 
 proaches in particular. 
 
44 The History of 
 
 Ra. “ That, I fuppofe, is the natural Effect of 
 “ a too warm Imagination, which gives a ftrong 
 “ Colouring to any Objetft it fixes upon, and 
 “ prevails much in weak Minds: We have 
 “ nothing to do with that here.”— “ You put 
 “ me in Mind, fays I, to afk you, if I Ihould 
 “ bring my Handmaid Fanny* here, my 
 “Fanny” (and then my Head was roving 
 about Lady Grandison and her Sally) “ to 
 “ t> e fare fae has been a little pert and flighty, 
 “ but flie has a ferious Turn now.” 
 
 “ I believe you will have little Occafion for 
 “your Fanny here, faid Raphael fmiling; 
 “ you came from the World of Shadows, all 
 “ here are Realities.”— “ That is true, fays I • 
 ** an ^ I thought I had faid a foolifh Thing. 
 “ How can People think of indulging their 
 “ Reveries, when fuch delightful Realities are 
 “ prefent! ” So, to turn off the Difcourfe, I 
 afked him, how Lady ■f Gierusalemme did, 
 and whether there were any Hopes of her Re¬ 
 covery ? 
 
 Ra. 
 
 . * A fondling Name, the Writer gave her Fancy 
 in fome Poetical Compofitions* 
 
 f The Jtwijh Church. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 45 
 
 Ra. “ To be fure we hope it, nay it is cer- 
 “ tainly believed; but there is little Appearance 
 “ of it at prefent: Her Malady affefts her Eye- 
 “ fight too; but the Doftors think if her Intel- 
 “ lefts were once quite found, that would go 
 tc off of courfe.” 
 
 “ It is ftrange, fays I; her Paffion for the 
 
 tc Veil continues ftill, I think.”_“ Oh as 
 
 “ ftrong as ever ; and then her obftinately re- 
 “ jefting every Method that is propofed for her 
 “ Recovery, makes her Cafe extremely dan- 
 “ gerous.” — “ But do not you think, fays I, 
 “ that Lady * St Officia has ufed her with too 
 “ much Severity ? She is very cruel in her Na- 
 “ ture and not fit to be intrufted with the 
 
 “ Care 
 
 * The Inquifuion, called, The Holy Office. 
 The Writer knew very well a Portuguefe Jew Mer¬ 
 chant, who having fuffered many Hardfhips in the 
 Inquifition at Lisbon himfelf, and feen his Wife burnt 
 alive before his Face, was at laft let out when they 
 had fqueezed what Money they could out of him, in 
 hopes of catching him again when he had replenifhed 
 his Coffers : But he came to England, and never could 
 be perfuaded to return to his own Country; though 
 many Arts were ufed for that Purpofe; and many Pro- 
 mifes that he fhould remain unmolefted. 
 
The History of 
 
 “ Care of fuch People.”— “ It is true, fays he, 
 “ thofe Methods were quite wrong; they rather 
 “ increafed her Diforder. I allure you the Prince 
 “ was not at all plealed with it.” — « Well, 
 “ fays I, fne has been a fine Creature, that’s 
 “ certain, as appears by her Writings ; and as 
 “ I owe all my prefent Felicity to her Rejection, 
 “ I fhall never think myfeif compleatly happy 
 “ till I hear fhe is fo 
 
 * * 
 
 Our Difcourfe was interrupted here by the 
 Approach of a female Spirit, whom I per¬ 
 ceived making toward me, with her Guardian- 
 Angel ; I ftopt, and foon difcovered the Re- 
 femblance and Features of a Friend lately de¬ 
 parted, whole Intimacy I had much coveted 
 upon Earth; but Diftance of Place, and other 
 unfurmountable Impediments, had always been 
 a Bar to my Defires, we flew into each other’s 
 Arms, unable to utter a Word. Thrice was 
 the filent Embraces repeated, and every time 
 with frelh Ardor; at laft we both broke Silence 
 
 together, 
 
 * See Grandison, Vol. VII. pag. 97. {jf feq . 
 
Sir Charles Grandilon fpiritualized. 4^ 
 together, and welcomed each other to the Re¬ 
 gions of Life and Liberty. 
 
 “ The galling Chain is broke, faid fhe; and 
 “ we are by more gentle Bands united to a Prince 
 “ whofe Service is perfect Freedom. Our Love 
 “ and Obedience to Him, inftead of feparating, 
 “ will bind us the falter to each other; as it 
 “ is, indeed, the belt Cement of all virtuous 
 “ Friendfhips.” 
 
 I told her where I was going ; « You’ll find 
 “ Entertainment enough there, fays fhe; I would 
 “ gladly have accompanied you, but I have a 
 “ Commiflion from our dear Lord, which I 
 “ mult hafte to execute.” — Oh ! with how 
 much Pleafure methought I longed to be em¬ 
 ployed too: So we parted, promifing to fee 
 each other often. 
 
 Away fhe flew, fwift as Thought, finging 
 as fhe went. 
 
 With what tranlporting Joy 
 I take my fpeedy Flight! 
 
 While ev’ry frefh Employ 
 Exhibits frelh Delight. 
 
 How 
 
4? 
 
 5 The History of 
 
 How fwift my Spirit glides 
 O’er all his righteous Ways! 
 
 *Tis perfed Wifdom guides. 
 
 And perfed Love obeys. 
 
 A Cloud has brufht by us : — St Judas. 
 St Judas, Faux-Saint, came to the Gate, and 
 •was denied Admittance : He did not take the 
 Refufal very eafily, but infilled he had a Right 
 to enter in, having often eaten and drank in the 
 Prince’s Prefence, and was very well acquainted 
 with Him ; upon which a fpecial Mellenger 
 was difpatched for Orders, who foon returned 
 with this Anfwer, I know him not *. 
 
 Nothing more remarkable happened till 
 we were come to the Gallery which was a long 
 Room hung on both Sides with the Pidures 
 of feveral Perfons eminent for their Faith and 
 Piety, and fome Hiftory Pieces : Among the 
 latter there were two or three that gave me 
 great Pleafure. 
 
 I pafs 
 
 f See Grandison, VqI. VII. pag. 36. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon Spiritualized. 49 
 
 I pafs by Abraham’s Sacrifice, becaufe I had 
 feen it fo often •, but there were others that I had 
 never met with any where j the firft was a fump- 
 tuous Feaft at which the chief Figure was a 
 Woman of, no mean Quality, very far advanced 
 in Years, but who carried in her Face the re¬ 
 mains of an extraordinary Beauty •, fhe was fur- 
 rounded with a great number of her own Sex, 
 who all appeared with chearful Countenances, 
 and turned their Eyes toward a young Child 
 that the old Lady held in her Arms, and to 
 whom I understood fhe had juft given fuck for 
 the laft Time. A Label was fixed to her 
 Mouth whereon was written, God hath made 
 me to laugh, fo that all that hear will laugh with 
 me. 
 
 While a venerable Perion, who feemed to be 
 the Father of the Child, with a more mafculine 
 Piety, and more ferious Devotion, feemed to fay 
 in anfwer, Is any thing too hard for God*? 
 
 D Another 
 
 * This was fpoke by the Angel when he foretold the 
 Birth of Isaac but may not improbably be fancied to 
 be repeated by Abraham at this Time. 
 
jo The History of 
 
 Another reprefented a Perfon of very high 
 Diftindion richly dreft, prelenting, with marks 
 •of the moft profound Relped, two young 
 Lads, his Sons, to a very plain old Man al- 
 •moft blind, who feemed in dying Circumftances, 
 fitting on the fide of his Bed and leaning on the 
 Top of his Staff; who when he was informed 
 that the young Gentlemen were his Grandfons, 
 -cotne to receive his laft Blefling, addrefled him- 
 Jelf to their Father in thefe Words ; 
 
 I had not thought to fee thy Face , and lo! God 
 hath Jhewed me alfo thy Seed. 
 
 The filial Piety of the Son, and the Joy 
 and Thankfulnefs of the Father, to be blefied 
 with the Sight not only of Him whom He 
 had fo long given over for loft, but even of his 
 Children alfo, were more emphatically exprefled 
 in their Faces, than-can he defcribed in any 
 written Language whatever. 
 
 There were feveral Paflages in the Life of 
 King David very movingly reprefented. In 
 one was feen that diftrefied Monarch flying 
 
 from 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritutilized. 51 
 
 from his Capital for fear of his moll beloved' 
 but rebellious Son ; going up the Afcent of 
 Mount Olivet , barefoot and weeping, with his 
 Head covered, and all his Followers in the 
 fame manner •, while an infolent audacious Fel¬ 
 low, on the other Side of the Way, went along 
 curfmg him, and throwing Stones and Dull at 
 him ; telling him, it was a juft Judgment upon 
 him for his Wickednefs, &c. One of the King’s 
 Officers, a fierce looking Man, with his Sword 
 half drawn, feemed to be afking leave to go 
 over and take off his Head. But David 
 would by no means confent to it j giving this 
 meek Anfwer as a Reafon for his Refufal; 
 That he was aftured that this Fellow’s Abufe, 
 as well as his much greater Trouble on ac¬ 
 count of his Son’s unnatural Rebellion, came 
 from the Hand of God * : The Lord hath bid¬ 
 den him curfe David. Behold , my Son , which 
 came forth of my Bowels , feeketh my Life: How 
 much more this Benjamite ? Let him alone, let 
 him curfe: it may be the Lord will requite me 
 good for his curfing this Day. 
 
 D 2 Who 
 
 * 2 Sam. xvi, 10, 11,12. 
 
52 The History of 
 
 Who can defcribe the Anguifh of his Soul 
 when he uttered thofe Words ? or fufficiently 
 admire the calm Refignation with which they 
 were fpoken ? As he had in feveral parts of his 
 Life difcovered both a great Senfxbility of Heart 
 and Quicknefs of Refentment ? 
 
 But what chiefly took my Eyes was this Pic¬ 
 ture of the Prince, that my Guardian had told 
 me of. He was mounted on a White Horfe , that 
 feemed to know the Importance of his Rider. 
 He looked to be about the Age of Thirty Three; 
 and had feveral Enfigns of Royalty about Him ; 
 and over his Shoulders a Scarf of a deep Crimfon, 
 upon which and upon his Thigh was a Label in- 
 fcribed in Capitals 
 
 Rex Re gum Dominus Lominantium 
 
 He feemed about to engage in fome Enter- 
 'prize of the utmoft Confequence, in which He 
 was fure to come off victorious. His Eyes 
 
 were 
 
 * King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I chcfe 
 TJominantium rather than Domintirum, as I found it fo 
 in the Latin Bible. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 53 
 
 were bright as Flames of Fire, and had this 
 Property, that where they did not melt they 
 would confume. His whole Countenance was as 
 the Sun Ihining in its Strength, but ferene and 
 mild as the Morning. So much Majefty and 
 fo much Meeknefs, fo much Intrepidity and fo 
 much Tendernefs, fure never met in one Perfon. 
 
 In the fame Piece were feen at a Diftance the 
 Armies of Heaven following Him upon white 
 Horfes, the Riders clothed in white and Palms 
 in their Hands: Methought, I fhould fpend a 
 great deal of Time in this Gallery if it were 
 but for the Sake of this One PiSiure *. 
 
 I was fo intent upon viewing this Piece, that 
 I did not prefently perceive a Spirit that flood 
 near me with a Pencil and Tablet, eying 
 the Picture, and confidering it in every Point 
 of View 5 and now and then taking down 
 Minutes in his Pocket - Book with apparent 
 Pleafure: I thought him a Painter, at firft, but 
 coming nearer, and calling my Eye upon what- 
 he was writing, I foon perceived him to oe a di- 
 p) g vine 
 
 * See Grandisqn, Vol. VII. pag. 3 V 
 
54 
 
 The History of 
 
 vine Poet, whole Works I was perfectly well ac¬ 
 quainted with, but had never feen his Face upon 
 Earth. 
 
 “ And have I found you at Ml, Paid I, whom 
 I have fo much defired to fee, and from whofe 
 Compofitions, both in Profe and Verfe, I have 
 received fo much Comfort and Inftrudtion in my 
 lo.v (.ejected State ; when my poor foiitary 
 ivjinu, looking on all about me and feeing no- 
 tliing like itfelf, was forced to take up with the 
 feeble Confolation of knowing that I had a 
 Kindred-Spirit fomewhere, though I could not 
 get acquainted with it ?” 
 
 '* A ^ as • Eid He, and if you had you would 
 not have been much the happier ; if you had 
 my Writings you had certainly the belt of me; 
 lor the many bodily Infirmities I laboured under 
 (m my latter Years efpecially) made me fome- 
 times but a very indifferent Companion.” 
 
 “ O • fa y s K how the Times are altered fince 
 you co npofed, and I read, with a fweet melan¬ 
 choly Pleafure that Difcourfe entitled 
 
 Sins 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritudizsd. ?;$- 
 
 Sins and Sorrows ftread before God. 
 
 Q! that I knew where I might find him, 
 that I- might Gome even to his Seat*, Jsbxr. iii, 3 *. 
 
 « ^ 11 , fays He, but now you have founds 
 him, and I doubt not but your firft Sight of him,, 
 exceeded all your Expectations. “ i hat it did,, 
 fays I. I.could never have believed the half oi it. 
 
 I muft borrow your own Words to expreis 
 my. Entertainment in the Banqueting-Hcufe. 
 
 “• Twas regal’d with heavenly Fare, 
 
 <t Y/ith Fruit and Manna from above.;* 
 
 <4 Divinely fweet the Bleffings were, 
 
 « While my Immanuel was there. 
 
 « And o’er my Head 
 
 “ The Conqu’ror fpread 
 
 “ The Banner of his Love + 
 
 Weafterwards entered into a moft entertaining; 
 and edifying Converfation, in which a great 
 many difficult Points were cleared up to me; 
 
 D 4 
 
 * The Text of that Sermon. t Watts’s Poems , 
 
5^ ^he History of 
 
 with fome difficult Remarks upon the Picture, 
 and what particular Tranfadlion of the Prince 
 that Piece might be fuppofed to allude to; 
 when, methought, on a fudden, a freih Gale 
 of Sweetnefs perfumed the Air, and by a %- 
 nihcant Look of my Guardian, I perceived the 
 Prince Himfejf was approaching: He entered 
 in effieft at the End of the Gallery, attended by a 
 great Number of grave Perfons, who had been 
 his Embaffadors to our Country, had fought 
 his Battles, and contributed much to the Ad¬ 
 vancement of his Glory and the Enlargement 
 of his Kingdom upon Earth. Confummate 
 Wifdom, folid Joy, and fervent Devotion, were 
 livelily impreffed upon their Countenances, and 
 Himfelf, 
 
 £>uaft 01 eo Lathi £ femper recent delihu'us, 
 
 Et femper fupra Socios*. 
 
 The Uniform of this illuftrious Company was 
 alfo White, but of a Form and Faffiion different 
 
 from 
 
 * See Dr Watts’* Latin Epitaph upon Mr 
 Mather. 
 
 As frelhly anointed with the Oil of Gladmf , and 
 always above hi: Companions. 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized . 57 
 
 from any I had remarked before, and perfectly 
 expreflive of their Fundtion: Each one had 
 a Breaft-plate of Azure, whereon was engrav¬ 
 ed in Letters of Gold, 
 
 Sancti estote, 
 
 Quoniam Ego Sanctus sum 
 Dominus Deus Vester *. 
 
 Methought, they were engaged in Difcourfes 
 of a fublime and myfterious Nature, which I 
 was not yet refined enough to underftand ; but 
 my divine Poet joined them, and entered into 
 the Converfation immediately. One of their 
 graceful long Robes was brought him, which 
 he put on without any manner of Scruple, and 
 indeed, it addedtmuch to the Dignity of his Ap¬ 
 pearance d\ 
 
 He (hook Hands, methought, in particular with 
 the Divine Poets Herbert and Norris, with 
 whom He had contracted an Intimacy fince his 
 Arrival; and it was with great Pleafure I beheld 
 D 5 fuch 
 
 Jt 
 
 f This Charge was given to the Priefts under the old 
 Law *—Be ye holy ? for I the Lord your God am holy , Deuu 
 
58 *The History of 
 
 fuch a perfedc Harmony among fo many Perfons 
 of once different Sentiments, whofe Controver- 
 fies and fcholaftic DiftindHons had divided them 
 into little angry Parties upon Earth, and occa* 
 iioned endlefs Altercations. 
 
 I could not help remarking (and I had obferved 
 the fame in fome degree of all the Inhabitants 
 of the Place) that they all had a Sort of Fa- 
 mily-Likenefs to each other, and all bore fome 
 kind of Refemblance to the Prince Himfelf; 
 which brought to my Mind what I had often 
 heard at the Interment of Friends: That as 
 we have born the Image of the earthy , fo we Jhall 
 c,ifo bear the Image of the heaveny i*. 
 
 I was 
 
 j Though there is no fear that this will be read by any 
 one who is not well acquainted with the Context, yet 
 as the Senfe of this Verfe is a little incompleat with¬ 
 out the two preceeding, I will here infert them. 1 Cor. 
 xv. 47. The firji Man is of the Earth, earthy, the fe- 
 cond Man is the Lord from Heaven. As is the earthy, 
 fuch are they that are earthy ; and as is the heavenly, 
 Juch are they alfo that are heavenly. And as we have 
 born the Image of the earthy , we /hall alfo bear the 
 Image cf the heavenly* 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 59 * 
 
 X was gazing on all the Train of Atten¬ 
 dants, when, methought, I difcovered a Face 
 not unknown to me; which, upon a nearer 
 View, I found to be an ancient and honoured 
 
 Relative, long fince departed. O! how^differ- 
 
 ent he looked from what he was the laft I une I ■ 
 faw Him, borne down with Age and Infirmities. 
 HeTeemed to look at me without any vifible. 
 Emotion at firft, but when he had Opportunity*' 
 
 hedrewmeafide: “ MyT.HEorHiLA, fays he,. 
 
 « what do you think of all this ? Do no*. yoa 
 think It is coon to be here ? 
 
 “Think! Sir, laid I, I think the one half was* 
 
 « not told me: Ot could the blind World but 
 
 “ fee half thefe Glories !” 
 
 “ But I hope, faid he, you will not be proud' 
 “ of all thefe Honours •” andfmiled at the fame * 
 Time as if He knew my Anfwer. . “ Proud, . 
 “ Sir, fays I i proud of my Inferiority ! Proud 
 “ of my Unworthinefs ! No, never fear it. Not * 
 “ all the mortifying Providences that-befel me - 
 “ in the lower World, funk me quite fo 1 mA’ kn 
 “ my own Eyes, as, I appear at prefect; the 
 
 hicrhpr p 
 
Sf he History of 
 
 “ higher one is exalted above one’s Deferts, the 
 “ l° wer we fhould be in our own Efteem.” 
 “ That ’ s n ’g ht > %s he j that is the true Charac- 
 “ ter of an humble Heart: I had only a mind 
 
 “ to hear what you would fay. But were not 
 “ our Country People ftrangely wanting in re- 
 
 “ f P ed t0 fuch a Man (for as Man He then ap- 
 “ P eared when He came to vifit us in great Humi - 
 " Then, without flaying for my Anfwer, 
 
 he rejoined his Company, who were gone on 
 before. 
 
 I turned to Raphael ; “ My dear Guar- 
 “ dian, fays I, my Happinefs goes on increafing; 
 
 “ 1 & e more of my Relations.” “ There 
 “ were fome of them, faid he, in theBanquet- 
 “ mg-Houfe, and in the Muflc-Parlour, but you 
 “ dld not ^ eem to obferve them.” “ No, fays 
 “ I, I had then fomewhat elfe to take up my 
 “ 1 houghts ; but now, methinks, I Ihould be 
 “ glad to fee my good Mother and Grand* 
 
 “ mother > that I might rejoice their Hearts with 
 “ the News of my fafe Arrival, and beg their 
 “ Bleffing upon their thrice-happy Daughter.” 
 
 They- 
 
Sir Charles Grandifcn ffir it utilized, 6t 
 
 “ They want nothing that can contribute to 
 « their Felicity, faid he ; and when you have 
 « been he/e longer, you will find that the Ties 
 “ of Blood are not of the fame Force here, as 
 “ in your Country ; but that all the Inhabitants 
 “ of this bleffed Place love each other the more 
 “ as they Hand in the fame Relation to their 
 “ common Lord, than by the Power of any 
 “ natural Affedtion.” 
 
 “ I believe it, faid I, for the Sight of that 
 « Relation did not affedt me fo much as I ffiould 
 “ have imagined •, but Friendfhip and a Simili- 
 « tude of Sentiments, that has no Foundation 
 “ but in the Mind, perhaps may be rather in- 
 «« creafed than diffolved by the Death of the 
 « Body.” 
 
 He was filent •, fo I run on—“ I have always 
 « thought it one of the fevereft Difpenfations 
 “ of Providence, that a Mind lb tender, and lb 
 « turned for the Offices of Friendffiip, could 
 “ never in any part of my Life fix upon One to 
 “ whom I might freely open my Pleart, and 
 
 “ with 
 
62 The History of 
 
 “ with whom I might fhare my Joys and Griefs; 
 ts ' by that means doubling the one, and leffen- 
 “ ing the other; fo that in the midlt of Compa- 
 “my, and in a populous City, I was as much 
 “’alone to alt Intents and Purpofes of Converfa- 
 “*tion, as if I had been in a Foreft.” 
 
 Ra. “ And what do you think of David ? ' 
 “ Who, though in a fplendid Court, and King 
 “ over a powerful People, yet complained he 
 <{ was as a Sparrow upon the Houfe-top and the 
 “ wife Solomon tells you, the Heart knoweth his 
 “ own BitternefSj and a Stranger doth not inter - 
 “ meddle with bis-Joy. And thoufands more 
 “are in the fame Situation. But Providence 
 “ muft always be accufed, if poor Mortals have 
 “ not every thing they with. for. Such a Friend 
 “ was not fit for you; you would have been too 
 “ apt to idolize fuch a one, and give to a frail 
 “ Creature , like yourfelf, that fuperlative de- 
 “ g ree of Efteem, Love and Confidence, which 
 “ is. due to the divine Philanthropift only. The 
 “ Paffions are always inclined to excefs; and 
 t* i £ is often necefiary to flop their irregular wan- 
 
 “ derings, 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 63 
 
 « derings, that they may turn into their right 
 “ Channel. But I will Ihew you fomething of 
 “ the Works of Providence.” 
 
 “ My dear Guardian, fays I, do not be am 
 «C gry ; X am fatisfied every thing was as it 
 “ fhould be •, but if it be not too much Trouble 
 « fhew me the Works of Providence *. 
 
 « "With Pleafure I will, faid he and me- 
 thought he brought me to a Place, where was 
 a Machine of a ftupendous Bignefs, full of 
 
 “ Wheels 
 
 * Mr Boyle in his Treatife of Seraphick Love ob- 
 ferves, “ that as anciently among the Jews there were 
 odoriferous Unguents, with which it was not un¬ 
 lawful to anoint themfelves or beftow upon their 
 Friends; but then there was alfo a certain peculiar 
 Compofition of a precious Ointment which God hav¬ 
 ing referved to be employed in his own Service ; with 
 that the perfuming their Friends was criminal and 
 facrilegious : So there are regulated degrees of Love, 
 which it is not forbidden to indulge for our Friends or 
 Relations; but there is alfo a certain peculiar Strain, 
 or if I may fo call it. Heroic Temperament of Love, , 
 which, whereever it is found, makes it belong juft«y . 
 and unalienably to God.” 
 
& History 
 
 Wheels within Wheels, and Chains and other 
 Apparatus, like the Infide of a Watch; in 
 another View were Keys and Stops like a mu/ical 
 Inflrument, and in another abundance of crofting 
 Lines, that leemed to interfect each other, yet 
 all centering in one Point at laft. I told him, 
 
 “ I could comprehend very little of it.” “ Not 
 “ yet, faid he; but you will be inltru&ed, and 
 “ y° u wil1 enough in that Study only to fur- 
 “ nifi 1 Matter for your Wonder and Admiration 
 “ even for Ages. But the Works of Grace ftffl 
 “ excel all thefe.” 
 
 Upon which, I could not help crying out with 
 Aftonifhment; Great and marvellous are thy 
 Works, Lord God Almighty ; juft and true are 
 thy Ways, thou King of Saints . Rev. xv. 3. 
 
 Thy Juftice like the Hills remains; 
 
 Unfathom’d Depths thy Judgments are : 
 
 Thy Providence the World fuftains; 
 
 The whole Creation is thy Care . Pfal. xxxvi. 
 
 It is true, faid Raphael ; but thole erf your 
 * lower World are always pretending to find 
 
 out 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 65 
 
 “ out a Judgment in one Thing and a Provi- 
 «* dence in another *, juft as their Shallow No- 
 “ tions conceive •, and would have all this beau- 
 “ tiful Frame put out of order to ferve their 
 particular Interefts. 
 
 Which brought to my Mind a Verfe out of 
 one of our modern Poets. 
 
 * 
 
 All this dread Order break, for whom ? for Thee? 
 Vile Worm! O Madnefs, Pride, Impiety. 
 
 Pope. 
 
 Several other Scenes crowded upon my Mind, 
 too long to be diftinctly remembered ; after 
 which my Thoughts grew broken and con- 
 fufed, and even fell into the Irregularities in¬ 
 cident 
 
 ♦ This is not meant of fuch extraordinary Providences 
 and Judgments as that of a late tremendous Event, 
 the Earthquake-, but of thofe common Calamities 
 which befal alike to the Evil and the Good j and which 
 wicked or at leaft weak People, a:e too apt to think, 
 muft needs be fent as a Puniftiment for fome fecret 
 Sin ; as Job’s Friends thought it an infallible Argument 
 that he muft be Wicked becaufe he was Afflifled. 
 
66 The History of 
 
 cident to Dreams, without any Coherence: 
 Sometimes I thought it was Twilight, and I was 
 hunting about to find out my Apartment, and 
 could not find it. Then I had loft my Guardian; 
 I grew uneafy and difturbed, and was even 
 apt to queftion whether I was well awake : Me- 
 thought I wandered through feveral Streets, 
 and could fee no one that I knew, till at laft 
 I met my Relation the Clergyman again; a Gleam 
 of Joy lprang up at the Sight of him, hoping 
 he would direct me what I lhould do ; when 
 he prevented me by faying, “ Theophila, do 
 “ you remember the laft Converfation I had with 
 “ you in the other World - ?” “ Yes, Sir, faid I, 
 
 “ perfedly well.” “ That’s all,.faid heand' 
 was going away; but feeing me much deje<5tedf 
 he turned back again, and faid, “ Be of good’ 
 
 “ Courage, my Child; in due 'Time you Jhall reap , 
 
 “ if you faint not .” And fb left me as much in 
 the dark as ever. After that I fancied I was got 
 without the Walls of the City, but could not tell 
 how I came there. A. Watchman met me, and 
 went to lay hold on me. I atked him, “ if he 
 “knew wherelmightfind thePrinceliwivr anuel?” 
 His Anfwer. was very churlifh, giving a great. 
 
 fnatch 
 
Sir Charles Grandifon fpiritualized. 6y 
 
 fnatch at my Robe, as if he would have torn it 
 off. Shocked at his Rudenefs, I got from him, 
 and meeting two or three young Ladies, fome of 
 Lady Gierusalemme’s Relations, whom I 
 afked the fame Queftion, their Anfwer was very 
 civil and complaifant, though they were utter 
 Strangers to the Perfon I inquired after •, they 
 even afked a Defcription of him from me. 
 Going on I faw fomewhat like a Church, I en¬ 
 tered in and faw a Minifter reading to a Congre¬ 
 gation the Parable of the ten Virgins, and when 
 he came to that Place, and they that were ready 
 went in with him in to the Marriage , and the Door 
 was Jbut. He fhut up the Book, and pronounced 
 with great Solemnity thefe Words; Be ye also 
 
 READY. 
 
 Upon which I awoke, and behold it was a 
 Vision. 
 
 REFLECTIONS 
 
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REFLECTIONS 
 
 Occafioned by the foregoing 
 
 VISION. 
 
 B E ye also ready : A very proper Admo¬ 
 nition to a Perfon who has been dreaming 
 of the Joys of Heaven: 'The Wedding truly- is 
 ready, but we hear of fome that were bidden 
 who are faid to be not worthy. Theophila, 
 look well to thyfelf, left thou fpend that Time 
 in dreaming , which fhould be fpent in running 
 and Jlriving to enter in at the Jlrait Gate. Thou 
 haft been very bufy to-night in grafting Hea¬ 
 venly Things upon Earthly, and from a roman- 
 
 ! tic Defcription of perfed Happinefs in this 
 World, framing Ideas of that Felicity we.are 
 taught to exped hereafter. Well, there is no 
 Harm in that, I hope ; but let us fee if fome 
 
 real 
 
70 REFLECTIONS, 
 real Good may not be drawn from thefe Images 
 of Fancy. 
 
 0 # 
 
 And firft, for the Profpeift of Death : can ft 
 thou bear the Thought of imbarking alone upon 
 the Black River ? And with Intrepidity fhoot 
 the Gulf that feparates the World of Bodies from 
 the World of Spirits ? Thou who art fo timor¬ 
 ous and apprehenfive on all Occafions, that 
 Fear feems to be the chief Ingredient in thy Com- 
 pofition ? 
 
 Though thou art not one of thofe who through 
 Fear of Death have been all their Life-time fubjell 
 to Bondage ; the Reafon may be, that thou 
 waft never brought very near it; or perhaps the 
 Enemy .of thy Peace having found other means 
 
 to difquiet and harafs thee in this Life, referves 
 all his Artillery of that kind to make one Grand 
 Attack at a Time when thou wilt be leaft able to 
 refill him. 
 
 However that be, depend upon it thou wilt 
 End enough to do when it comes to the Trial ; 
 
 Therefore 
 
REFLECTIONS. 71 
 Therefore be every Day laying up fomething 
 againft that important Hour : Let that Maxim 
 never go out of thy Mind, whoever was the Au¬ 
 thor of it; 
 
 ? r Hie efl Apex fumm<e Sapienlia , ea viventem 
 facere qua; morienli effent appetenda. “ This is 
 “ the higheft Point of Wifdom, to do thofe 
 “ Things while we are living, that we Ihall 
 “ with we had done when we come to die.” 
 
 Then for thy Admiffion at the Gates of Para- 
 dife : Thou art admitted to the outward Ordi¬ 
 nances of the Church, and art joined to thofe 
 mixt Ailemblies where the Tares and the Wheat 
 grow together, but haft thou any folid Grounds 
 to believe thyfelf a true Member of the inviftble 
 Church, the collective Body of fincere Chriftians 
 of every Country and every Denomination ? If 
 fo, be allured that however feparated from their 
 Converfation here by unavoidable Impediments, 
 thou wilt be joined with them hereafter; and 
 the Languifhings of a folitary Life abundantly 
 recompenced in the Society of innumerable hap¬ 
 py Spirits. 
 
 And 
 
yz reflections. 
 
 And if once thou art admitted there, what 
 hurt will all the Difappointments, Griefs and 
 Provocations thou haft paffed through here do 
 thee, were they much greater than they are? 
 Thou art not now to learn, I hope, that Things 
 left in themfelves, are not always beft for us. 
 
 It may be, thofe Evils thou haft fo earneftly 
 deprecated, may have contributed more to pre¬ 
 pare thee for thy future Happinefs, than all 
 thy Reading and Study, Hearing and Praying. 
 
 Be careful, however, not to miftake in a Point 
 of fo great Confequence. Thou can’ft not 
 charge thyfelf with that grofs Hypocrify of 
 endeavouring to deceive others, but beware 
 tkou doft not deceive thyfelf. Remember that 
 Fancy is not Faith, however fome Perfons may 
 confound them : The Idea of Virtue is not Vir¬ 
 tue •, it is Practice muft verify all thy Preten- 
 fions. 
 
 Confider further, 
 
 If thou art indeed defirous to appear amiable 
 in the Eyes of the Heavenly Bridegroom, re¬ 
 member 
 
REFLECTIONS. 
 
 member it muft be according to the Forms of 
 Marriage, ferving Him and fubje&ing thy 
 Will to his : If ye love me> keep my Command¬ 
 ments. And this will go farther to evidence 
 the Sincerity of thy Love, than any paffionate 
 Expreffions in the Stile of the Canticles. En¬ 
 deavour to imitate Him in all his imitable Per¬ 
 fections, in particular his amazing Humility 
 and Condefcenfion: Learn of Him to be meek and 
 lowly in Heart ; the only Virtue perhaps to 
 which thy natural Tendernefs and adventitious 
 Infirmities can be no manner of Obftacle. Be 
 ambitious to approve thyfelf the humblefi of his 
 Followers ; not by an affeCted Singularity of 
 Drefs, or AbjeCtnefs of Behaviour, nor yet by 
 fubje&ing thy Underftanding to every one that 
 would impofe upon it, (efpecially in religious 
 Matters;) but by an entire Acquiefcence in the 
 Difpofals of his Providence ; taking up his Crofs 
 in whatever Shape it is prefented to thee : And 
 thofe Things which after all thy Endeavours 
 thou canft not amend, either in thyfelf or others, 
 be content to bear as necefiary Appendages to 
 this State of Imperfection. Be not overcome 
 of Evil , but overcome Evil with Good. 
 
 E 
 
 For 
 
74 
 
 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 m © 
 
 For all the other parts of thy Vision, 
 which are purely the unconnected Rovings of 
 Imagination upon a State whereof there is fo 
 little Ground for any fure Footing ; I mean, the 
 Intermediate State •, let them pafs: Perhaps be¬ 
 tween fuch as thefe, and what are thought the 
 moft probable Conjectures, there is not more 
 Difference than between a Child of Five Years 
 old and another of Ten, thinking how they fhall 
 behave, and what manner -of Pleafures they 
 fhall enjoy, when they come to Man’s Eftate. 
 In all thefe Things we muff be content to 
 think. Ipeak and underjland as Children , and fee 
 through a Glafs darkly , i Cot. xiii. 12, It does 
 not yet appear what we fhall he ; but we know 
 that when He fhall appear, we fhall he like Him j 
 for we fhall fee Him as He is. 1 Johniii. 2. 
 
 Thefe Reflections naturally iffued in a Prayer, 
 for which I thought the following Colled ex¬ 
 tremely well calculated. 
 
 « O God, 
 
REFLECTIONS. 
 
 75 
 
 “ God > who haft prepared for them that 
 ^ love Thee fuch good Things as pafs 
 Man s Underftanding; pour into our Hearts 
 “ fuch Love towards Thee, that we loving Thee 
 “ above Things may obtain thy Promifes, 
 “ which exceed all that we can defire, through 
 « Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen" 
 
 Colie 51 for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity, 
 
 E 2 
 
 SINCE 
 
y 6 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 S INCE the Compofing of the foregoing 
 Sheets, Dr Scott’s Treatife of tbeCbriJHan 
 Life having fallen into my Hands, which I 
 had never feen before, I will tranfcribe a Part 
 of it, as it relates to the Miniftry of good 
 Angels, and may ferve as a Confirmation of 
 that Opinion mentioned in the firft Part of the 
 Vision, concerning the Angels efcorting the 
 Souls of the Faithful to their Habitation. 
 
 * ¥ 
 
 Page 342, of the Second Part. 
 
 Sixthly, “ Another Inftance of the Mi¬ 
 tt niftry of Angels in the Kingdom of Christ 
 “ is, their conducing the feparate Spirits of 
 “ his faithful Subjefts to the Manfions of 
 “ Glory. 
 
 “ it 
 
REFLECTIONS. 
 
 77 
 
 “ It was an ancient Tradition among the 
 “ Jews, that the Souls of the Faithful were 
 “ conduced by Angels into Paradife ; of which 
 “ the Chaldee Paraphrafe makes mention, on 
 “ Cant. iv. 12. and this Tradition of theirs is 
 “ confirmed by our Saviour, where He tells us, 
 “ that When Lazarus died he was carried by 
 “ Angels into Abraham’s Bofm ; that is, into 
 “ that Place of Reft and Refrelhment where 
 “ the Soul of Abraham, who is the Father of 
 “ the Faithful, dwells; and in all Probability, 
 *« that fiery Chariot and Horfes, wherein Elijah 
 « was mounted to Heaven, was nothing elfc 
 « but a Convoy of Angels.” 2 Kings ii. 11. 
 
 ‘‘ And accordingly Tertullian de Anima , 
 tc c. 52. calls the Angels Evocatores Animarum ; 
 « that is, Meffengers of God, that call forth 
 “ the lingering Souls out of their Bodies, and 
 “ Ihew them the Preparation of thole bleff- 
 “ ed Manfions where they are to abide till 
 « the Refurreftion. And this Office the good 
 «< Angels do perform to the Souls of the Faith- 
 E 3 « ful. 
 
78 REFLECTIONS. 
 
 “ ful, not merely to congratulate their fafe 
 “ Arrival into the World of Bleffednefs; 
 “ (though there is no doubt but that they 
 “ who lo heartily rejoice in the Conversion of 
 “ Sinners, are ready enough to congratulate 
 “ their Glorification :) But that which feems 
 “ to be the great Reafbn of this Miniftration 
 “ of theirs, is to guard holy Souls, when they 
 “ leave their Bodies, through thofe lower Re- 
 “ gions of the Air, which are the chief Seat 
 “ and Principality of the Apoftate Angels; who 
 “ may therefore very reafonably be fuppofed to 
 “ be continually lying in wait there, like Birds of 
 “ Prey, to feize upon the Soiils of Men, as foon 
 “ as they are efcaped out of the Cage of their 
 “ Bodies into the open Air ; and either to fcare 
 “ and terrify them in their Paflage to Heaven, 
 41 or to lead them away captive into their Dun- 
 “ geons, of endlefs Horror and Defpair : And 
 “ therefore to prevent their affrighting good 
 “ Souls (which is all the Hurt they can do 
 “ them) as they pafs along through their Ter- 
 “ ritories, they are nofooner parted from their 
 “ Bodies, but they are taken into the Cuftody of 
 
 “ Some 
 
REFLECTIONS. 79 
 
 « fome Angel or Angels, who guard them 
 “ fafe through the Enemies Quarters, and beat 
 “ off thofe evil Spirits from them that would 
 “ fain be infefting and affaulting them. And 
 “ it is not at all improbable, but that by this 
 « very Thing thofe evil Spirits do diftinguifh 
 “ what Souls belong to them from what do not; 
 “ namely, their being deftitute of or attended 
 “ with this holy Guard of Angels. 
 
 “ "When they behold a feparate Spirit under 
 «< this heavenly Convoy, they fly away from it 
 « with infinite Rage and Envy,to fee it irrecover- 
 « ably refcued out of theirPower to make it mi¬ 
 tt ferable. But when they perceive one deftitute, 
 « and abandoned of this Angelic Guard, they 
 «« immediately feize it as their own, and fcr 
 “ commit it to their Chains of Darknefs. 
 
 “ And as the good Angels do guard good 
 “ Souls as they pafs through the Air, againft 
 « the Power and Malice of the Prince of the 
 « Power of the Air •, fo they alfo conduct and 
 <f guide them to their Manfions of Bleffednefs. 
 
 E 4 “ For 
 
So REFLECTIONS. 
 
 “ For when the departed Soul is wafted through 
 “ the Air into thofe immenfe Trades of Ether, 
 “ wherein the Sun and all the heavenly Bodies 
 “ fwim, how would it be poffible for it, in 
 “ fuch a vaft and unknown Continent, ever to 
 “ find its way to the Seat of the Blefied without 
 “ the Condudt of fome experienced Guide ? And 
 “ who can be better experienced in that celeftial 
 “ Road, than thofe winged Meflengers of the 
 “ Almighty King, who, in the Execution of 
 “ his high Behefts, are always travelling to and 
 “ fro between Heaven and Earth ? And there- 
 “ fore our Saviour hath committed the feparated 
 “ Spirits of his faithful Subjedls to thefe mod: 
 “ fkilful and faithful Guides, who in purfu- 
 “ ance of his Commifiion, are one or other of 
 “ them ftill attending upon every good Man’s 
 “ deceafe, to receive his Soul into their Cuftody, 
 
 “ as foon as ever it is expired; and to guard it 
 “ againft evil Spirits, as it pafles through the 
 “ Air, and thence to condudt it through all 
 “ thofe fpacious Fields of Ether, which extend 
 
 “ them- 
 
REFLECTIONS.. 81 
 
 “ themfelves far and wide beyond all thevifible 
 “ Lights of Heaven, to thofe happy Abodes 
 “ which the divine Goodnefs hath prepared for 
 “ glorified Spirits.” So far Doctor Scott. 
 
 E 5 T KB 
 

 . 
 
 t ' * 
 
 
 
 : 
 
 £;* 
 
 
 
 I" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE 
 
 REPROACH 
 
 T O 
 
 fancy. 
 
 The following Lines upon Fancy were writ¬ 
 ten, fome Tears ago ; and as they are a little 
 glanced at in the 44 tb Page , 1 thought it 
 not improper to infert them in this Place .. 
 
 F 'AIR Fantasia, charming. Maid,, 
 In flowing Garments loofe array’d, 
 Varying ftill from Light to Shade j 
 
 Ever 
 
84 *Fhe Reproach to Fanc y. 
 
 Ever fluttering, pert, and gay. 
 
 Friend to Folly, Love and Play; 
 
 Tho’ fweet thy Charms have been to me, 
 
 Fm now refolv’d to break with Thee. 
 
 ’Tis true, that in my youthful Days 
 Thro’ Thee I got fome Share of Praife: 
 
 Thy Flights,' thy Jokes, and idle Stuff, 
 
 Havefometimes pleas’d me well enough; 
 
 Or in poetic, wild Excurfion, 
 
 Have giv’n my Friends fome fmall Diverfion. 
 But ftill “ for all Things there’s a Time 
 One would not always laugh nor rhime. 
 s Tis fit thou fhould’ft thy Diftance know. 
 
 And at my bidding come and go: 
 
 Be fober, grave, fedate, corredt. 
 
 And proper Times and Themes refpedt; 
 
 Nor with thy mimic Airs controul 
 My nobler Faculties of Soul, 
 
 How oft have thy officious Pow’rs 
 Broke in upon my ferious Hours, 
 
 Difturbing 
 
The Reproach to Fancy. 85 
 Difturbing with thy idle Dreams 
 Thofe folemn Times, thofe awful Themes: 
 Though always chid, repuls’d, refilled. 
 
 With ev’ry Thought I find thee twilled 5 
 Too forward when thy Sweets annoy. 
 
 And when defir’d as much too coy. 
 
 If, haply, on a vacant Day 
 I’m with the Mufe difpos’d to play, 
 
 Occafion, Time and Place agree 
 To loofe the Reins to Pier and Thee; 
 
 Be fure when I thy Friendlhip feek, 
 
 Thou’rt out of Humour, fick, or weak. 
 
 When Storms of Grief or Troubles rage. 
 
 And nought the Tumult can aflwage, 
 
 Or funk in melancholy Mood, 
 
 The Mind can relifh nothing Good, 
 
 But fad and filent I bemoan 
 My Friends Afflictions or my own 5 
 Perhaps I then invoke thy Aid, 
 
 .Where art thou now, my charming Maid ? 
 
 Come, 
 
8 6 The Reproach of Fancy. 
 Come, Fanny, now come fhow thy Art, 
 And aft for once a friendly Part; 
 
 Come gild me o’er this gloomy Scene, 
 
 And paint the fable Prolpeft green j 
 Thy livelieft Colours here difplay, 
 
 And chace thele low’ring Clouds away ; 
 Oppofe by dint of Magic Skill 
 Some fancied Good to real HI. 
 
 Then fullen, peevifh and perverfe, 
 
 Thou only helpft to make bad worfe ; 
 
 Thou tak’ft thyfelf the dulky Teint 5 
 Andechoeft back each fad Complaint 5 
 Height’ning the prefent Difcontent 
 With ev’ry future ill Event: 
 
 At bell thy fond Attempts to eafe,, 
 
 But feed and humour the Difeafe. 
 
 At other Times, releas’d from Care, 
 
 I feem to breathe a freer Air ; 
 
 The Intelleft all clear and bright, 
 
 Of Truth Divine obtains a Sight 
 That fills it with fupreme Delight. 
 
 Mis' 
 
Tbe Reproach to Fancy. 
 
 Misfortune then is banifh’d ftrait, 
 
 And pond’rous Sorrows lofe their Weight, 
 Thankful, well-pleas’d, devout, ferene ; 
 
 I would prolong the blifsful Scene: 
 
 Then thou creep’ll: in, unbidden Gueft, 
 To difcompofe my quiet Bread:; 
 Intruding fomething of thy own, 
 
 Which better far were let alone. 
 
 Fantaftic Scenes delude my Eyes, 
 
 And all the heav’nly Vifion dies. 
 
 Thy flatt’ring Influence is fuch 
 ’Tis ne’er perceiv’d till ’tis too much •, 
 
 And all thy Arts are mifapply’d. 
 
 Still weighing down the heavieft Side : 
 Howe’er, I quit the former Score 
 But fee thou trouble me no more. 
 
 Ingrateful Wretch, cries Fanny then, 
 (O who can pleafe the Sons of Men !) 
 Thus to contemn the Gift of Heav’n, 
 Which was for wifeft Purpofe giv’n. 
 
88 < Tbs Reproach to Fancy - . 
 Should I now take thee at thy Word, 
 What Comfort would this World afford i 
 Shut out from fweet Society, 
 
 Where canfl thou find a Friend like me? 
 But ’ds fo hard a Talk, it feems. 
 
 To keep me out of mad Extreams; 
 
 Why ev’ry Blefllng you can name. 
 
 Too much indulg’d, would be the fame. 
 Your Food, your Wine, your darling Tea, 
 May be abus’d, as well as me. 
 
 I’m indifpos’d fometimes, ’tis true ; 
 
 But that, my Friend, I take from you : 
 When all the Pow’rs are out of Frame 
 Mufl Fancy be alone to blame ? 
 
 Let Reafon but refume his Place, 
 
 Call in the mighty Aids of Grace , 
 
 Exert your nobler Faculties , 
 
 Be calm, be temp’rate, and be wife; 
 
 ’Till then forbear the leaft Reproach: 
 
 If you relax, I fhall encroach, 
 
 Enough 
 
!The Reproach to F a n cv. 89 
 
 * * 
 
 Enough, dear Fanny, I reply’d 5 
 The Fault, I fear, is on my Side : 
 
 In this imperfect State of Things, 
 
 Where every Good its Evil brings. 
 
 We muft each other’s Frailty bear. 
 
 And take of common Woes our Share, 
 
 That thou art weak, I plainly fee : 
 
‘Then being a little fpare Room , the following is 
 inferted to fill it up. 
 
 The Author’s Complaint of Deafness j 
 In Imitation of MILTON on Blindness. 
 
 A H me ! What Trouble and Difcomfort fad 
 Attend the Lofs of Hearing ? Grateful 
 Senfe! 
 
 By which we with our Friends hold Convcrfe 
 fweet, 
 
 And make a Part of bleft Society. 
 
 But not to me the Charms of Converfe fweet. 
 
 Or bleft Society affords Delight, 
 
 Or Singer’s tuneful Pipe, or prattle fond 
 Of Infancy, fo much delir’d and lov’d. 
 
 So far unbrac’d and ufelefs lie thofe Nerves 
 
 That 
 
 * This is faid to be the Caufe of a nervous Deaf- 
 nefs, a Relaxation of the auditory Nerve, which 
 ihould carry the Sound up to the Brain. 
 
 
92 
 
 The A u t h o rV Complaint 
 
 That to the Brain fhould give Intelligence 
 Of Sounds that vibrate on the Ear, unheard. 
 If, penfive, o’er the verdant Meads I rove. 
 Chewing the bitter Cud of Sorrow paft. 
 
 Or future Ills foreboding ; loft in Thought; 
 Not the delightful Harmony of Birds, 
 
 In Concert ; nor the Plowman whittling blithe; 
 Nor falling Brook, that o’er the Pebbles fmooth 
 Trickles tranfparent; nor the bluft’ring Winds 
 (To which the trembling Leaves relpondent 
 danceJ 
 
 Ever break in upon the filent Scene, 
 
 To roufe the Mind, attentive to its Griefs. 
 
 Yet thefe I well cou’d fpare: But when to Thee, 
 Fair Sion, and thy hallow’d Courts on Earth, 
 With folemn Step I walk, in hopes to hear 
 From human Voice Divine, divineft Truths ; 
 Then to be quite excluded !——. 
 
 Then in the Room of Pray’r and Praife, a Blank 
 Of univerfal Silence reigns around 
 
 And 
 
of D E A F N E S S. 23 
 
 And flags Devotion’s Wings. The Eye intent 
 Fain wou’d aflift its fellow Senfe, and lpell 
 ' tom Motion and from Gefture fome fmall part 
 Of thofe high Themes, that into Minds prepar’d 
 Pour Comfort and Inftrudtion: upward drawn 
 Each Faculty, ftrain’d to the highefi: Pitch 
 Each Senfe would then be Ear: ’Till now the 
 Soul 
 
 Calls in her feeble Pow’rs ; herfelf too weak 
 To bear their longer Abfence, down flie finks 
 Exhaufted, fpiritlefs, deprefs’d and fad. 
 
 To find her utmofl Efforts all in vain, 
 
 “ And Wifdom at one entrance quite fhut out.” 
 
 So much the rather Thou, Celeftial Spirit, 
 Speak in the ftill fmall Voice, that needs no Aid 
 Of Nerve or Membrane to convey the Sound, 
 But finds its way immediate to the Heart. 
 
 There make me quick of Hearing ; thence ejeft 
 All the tumultuous Rabble of vain Thoughts, 
 Paffions unmortify’d, Refentment keen. 
 
 Sad Fears and worldly Sorrow—working Death, 
 
 With 
 
94 The Author’s Complaint 
 
 | With all the Train of moping Melancholy; 
 
 And plant inftead the blefled Fruits of Love, 
 
 Joy, Peace, Long-fuffering, Meeknefs, Gentle- 
 nefs, 
 
 Bell Garb of Chriftian Women ; but o’er all 
 Let Gratitude and Thankfulnefs abound 
 For Bleffings ftill continu’d—Precious Sight, 
 Invaluable ! chief corporeal Gift, 
 
 Through that bleft Medium,ftill preferv’d entire, 
 (Save natural Decays by Time and Ule) 
 
 The Labours of the Pious and the Wile, 
 
 In different Climes and diftant Ages born. 
 
 Are fafe to me tranlmitted j made my own. : 
 
 Still to my Eyes the Book of God expands 
 Its facred Leaves, replete with Light and Truth, 
 Light to my Feet and Lanthorn to my Paths. 
 Still to my Eyes the Book of Nature fair 
 Exhibits all her Beauties; Groves and Fields, 
 
 Th* Expanfe of Heav’n ferene, or gathering 
 Clouds 
 
 That 
 
p/ Deafness. 95 
 
 That fall in Show’rs, and on the gaping Earth 
 Drop Fatnefs; grateful both to Man and Beaft. 
 Still to my Eyes, not unobferv’d, returns 
 
 Day, and the fweet Approach of Ev’n and Morn, 
 
 .... 
 
 With Change of Seafons in the circling Year, 
 EachChange affording fome newThemeforPraife. 
 While with thefe Scenes refrefh’d, my Soul, re¬ 
 member 
 
 Milton was blind s and ceafe thy fond Com¬ 
 plaint. 
 
 finis. 
 

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