The glorious lover a divine poem upon the adorable mystery of sinners redemption /

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Was it not to take the Crowns of every King, And all their Glory to the Dust to bring, To set their Diadems on his own head, That so the Nations might be better led? Was it not to take Revenge upon his Foes, And grind to Powder all that him oppose? Was it not to commence his glorious Reign, That so he might the pride of Nations stain? Herod, tis like, as you before did hear, Such things might dream, and it might vainly fear: But wholly groundless: for (alas) he came Not as a King to punish, but a Lamb, To offer up in sacrifice his Life, To put an end to all tormenting strife, And only gain a poor, but longed-for Wife. His sole design, I told you, it was Love, 'Twas that alone which brought him from above, These hardships, and these pains to undergo, And many more, which yet we have to show: For these are nothing, in comparison Of those which must be told e•re we have done.

Was't not to take the Crowns of every King, And all their Glory to the Dust to bring, To set their Diadems on his own head, That so the Nations might be better led? Was't not to take Revenge upon his Foes, And grind to Powder all that him oppose? Was it not to commence his glorious Raign, That so he might the pride of Nations stain? Herod, tis like, as you before did hear, Such things might dream, and it might vainly fear: But wholly groundless: for (alas) he came Not as a King to punish, but a Lamb, To offer up in sacrifice his Life, To put an end to all tormenting strife, And only gain a poor, but long'd-for Wife. His sole design, I told you, it was Love, 'Twas that alone which brought him from above, These hardships, and these pains to undergo, And many more, which yet we have to show: For these are nothing, in comparison Of those which must be told e•re we have done.