AMONGST a variety of pleasing cu­riosities, which, in the bloom of youth, attracted my attention, I found a pe­culiar taste to mathematical studies. I fancied myself qualified to answer hard questions, solve difficulties, and determine things abstruse; but, in the course of my pursuits, I was accosted by an accomplished mathematician, who confounded all my skill, by propounding to me a question, stated in the following order.

There is a certain large country, formerly a kingdom, so rich and flourishing, that for excel­lency and dignity, it was the second in the universe; an island, situate in the midst of the temperate zone, and surrounded with the pacific ocean; free from all scorching heat, chilling cold, or molesta­tion by storms; no barren land, unhealthful wa­ters, or infectious air, were found therein; no prickling bramble, poisonous herb, or unhwholsome fruit, grew therein; no ravenous bird, voracious beast, or venomous reptile, infested the land: it abounded with all the substantial blessings of life: and was embellished with all the beauties and de­corations of nature. There was no deficiency of any thing that might conduce to the felicity of the inhabitants, who enjoyed uninterrupted health and peace, liberty and plenty.

[Page 2]This delightful realm was subject to the grand Monarch of the world, who honoured it with many gracious visits, conferred on it many royal favours, and granted the inhabitants all the privileges that were necessary to constitute them a free and happy people: and, to consummate their glory, a king of their own nation; he dignified in the throne, and crowned with glory had honour, the eldest prince of the blood; a person endued with amplitude of all natural perfections, a noble genius, untainted virtue, and of perfect stature, without blemish; and gave him to wife a royal princess, a perfect virgin, of exquisite beauty, accomplished with all the virtues, and amiable qualities, which adorn the female sex.

And for the safety of the state, because the coasts were not inaccessible, neither were the fortifi­cations impregnable, and the prince was but young; therefore, the universal Sovereign recommended him, and all his subjects, to the super-intendency of his grand Geometrician; by whose infallible di­rections the universal empire is justly proportioned, and all the affairs thereof accurately regulated; whose representations are all the stated in the exactest manner; his descriptions appear in the most curious figures, and all his rules are models of perfection: his draughts are a compleat system of rectitude and harmony, and his instructions are perfectly refined; so that he is a consummate pattern of absolute infallibility. No cause can miscarry that is directed by his council, nor can any people cease to be happy, so long as they yield ample subjection to his dictates. —This great master of science was appointed guardian, regent, vicegerent, or governor of the whole realm, to preside over, and inspect all the affairs of the prince and the people: to him they were accountable for all their actions; and, to prevent any infraction or confusion [Page 3] in the land, every circumstance was subject to his cognizance; and the tenure whereby all the Inha­bitants held their estates and enjoyments, was, conformity to his most excellent prescriptions. Thus this beatific region was amply accommodated with every enjoyment that was necessary to per­petuate its felicity.

But a foreigner, of the race of the giants, who, for their rebellion against the King of kings, were ba­nished from the royal palace, into the unilluminable desert, found means, in disguise, to enter this spa­cious country; and, by false pretences, and feigned address, obtained access to the princess; until, by subtile arts, and delusive flatteries, he prevailed against her chastity: so she committed adultery with him, and conceived by him. And, while she was advancing in her pregnancy, she prevailed against the virtue of the prince, so that he polluted himself, by committing adultery with her. For, though she was his wife, it was adultery for a per­son in his station to have conversation with her, since she was so basely deflowered. And so it was, that he conceived by her, and they both became pregnant with the same thing, and brought forth a monster. As soon as this monster was born, the prince and princess fell from the throne, and had no more capacity to sway the sceptre, or maintain their dignity; for he poisoned, with his first breath, the man and the woman who brought him forth: all their excellent qualities were corrupted, all their beauties deformed, and all their glory laid in the dust. They died a lingering death, in exile, shame, and sorrow; and their names have been had in execration throughout the world ever since.

The form of this unnatural production was so horrible, as astonished every eye that beheld him; his roaring so hideous, as made every ear tingle [...] [Page 4] every one sick where the scent came; and he grew to such an enormous size, that his shadow filled the whole land with darkness; and so invincible in his power, that no army upon earth was able to with­stand him; and he became so voracious, that he spread death and destruction wherever he came; swallowing up men and women alive, devouring every living creature, and making the whole land a desolate wilderness.

But, notwithstanding the horrors that appear in this monster, the mischeif done, and misery intro­duced by him, which manifestly proves him to be an enemy to nature; yet, he is such a master of enchantments, and has the delusive art of disguising himself, and infatuating the people, that he has drawn all the inhabitants of the land into a conse­deracy with him, to break all the measures of the governor: and they accordingly have cast off all allegiance to, and despised all the admonitions of, their faithful guardian, and are in open rebellion against him. They, like a distracted banditti, follow their mortal foe, and execute his cursed projects; while he is sporting himself with their wretchedness; distressing them with all kinds of torture, and destroying them by all kinds of death. None escape him, of whatever condition, age, or sex they be; he tyrannizes over all. And every creature, that is subjugated by him, must fall a prey to his rapacious fury, and is destined to ine­vitable destruction.—And, if he be permitted thus to proceed, there will not be left alive a soul to breathe in the whole land.

Wherefore, the design of the ensuing question is, to discover, whether there be a possibility of any expedient being found, to stop the ravage of this horrible monster, to prevent the direful effects of his tyranny, and save the country from total ruin.

[Page 5]

When this master of skill, first laid before me this question. I looked upon it with an air of disdain, as being matter too easy to be made the [Page 6] subject of serious attention; and thought to solve it, as a diversion only: but, having pondered a while thereon, and finding some difficulties arise, I asked him, whether he himself was the projector?

But (in reply) he asked me what conceptions I formed concerning it?

I told him, I took it to be an enigmatical prob­lem, proposed to puzzle, or try the skill of the ingenious.

But he gravely replied, that it was not fiction, but reality; that the matter was too serious to be made a droll of wit; and that a determinate solution was a concern of the utmost consequence.

I asked him, whether it immediately concerned himself?

He told me, he himself was the rightful gover­nor of the country, which this monster had so long infested; and that all the damage done, was against his honour; to the injury of his government, and the destruction of subjects, under his jurisdiction.

I asked him (since he was governor) if it was not in his power to resist, and expel the monster out of his dominions?

He told me, it was utterly out of his power to destroy him, to stop his progress, or prevent the effects of his fury; otherwise he would not have suffered him to proceed in his violence, to that outrageous degree as he had done: for, before this monster was born, he took all proper mea­sures to prevent any such unnatural birth; and, as soon as he was brought forth, he pursued him with the utmost diligence, to seize and destroy him, but unsuccessfully; and, since he grew so formida­ble, he had still continued to use all possible means, both offensive and defensive, to prevent his de­structive measures; but the utmost success he had ever been able to obtain against this deadly enemy, was only, at some times, a little to retard his ra­pidity, [Page 7] but never to withstand his force; but, in spite of all his endeavours, the whole land was become a prey to this tyrant; not a creature had escaped, but what either followed him as a willing slave, groaned under thraldom to his merciless cruelty, or had already perished by his insatiable voracity. And since it appeared utterly impos­sible for the governor to save the life of one of his subjects, he was determined to vindicate his honour, and defend his right some other way; for which reason he presented to me this question, re­quiring a determinate answer.

Upon this, I began to deliberate on the question with more close attention: but the more I exa­mined it, the more difficult it appeared; and I be­gan to be convinced of my mistake, in imagining it a meer puff of pedantry: for I found it truly in­tricate; not only far surpassing my capacity, but astonishing to my Mind whereupon, I offered to return it again to the governor, desiring to be excused.

But he told me, he could not accept any excuse, for he was determined to have justice.

I asked him, how he could expect justice, where a tyrannical and invincible monster reigned.

But, with a fire in his countenance, which made my heart tremble, he replied, that altho' he had not power to withstand the ravenous destroyer, he had power to deal with his own subjects, who had re­belled against him, in giving succour to, and form­ing alliance with, such an enemy; and inasmuch as I was one, that did of right belong to his juris­diction, but had been found in those treasonable practices, I might expect condign punishment, if I did not give a definitive answer to the question.

At this sentence I began to be seized with an uncommon horror; for I was aware that I was conversing with a person, not of a common cha­racter; [Page 8] and tho' I could not form any just concep­tion of his meaning, yet my heart smote me, upon the remembrance of some past transactions; so that I was convinced, it was something more than fiction; and I set myself to ponder the mat­ters laid before me, with the utmost seriousness: but, in ruminating on this deep question, I found the more I attempted to find a solution, the more I was embarrassed; the more expedients I tried to discover the mystery, the more I began to despair of a possibility. My heart fainted, my flesh trem­bled, and my countenance was turned to paleness; I was filled with a multitude of strange conjectures, all which turned to my confusion, but none to my relief. The sublimity, and tremedousness of the subject, over-powered my mind, so that I was obliged (for while) to quit the study, endeavour­ing to relax, and compose my mind as well as I could, but the impression it had made upon me, prevented me from having much repose.

In this distress, I began to reflect on my former vanity, in imagining myself able to number the sand, to weigh the mountains, to sound the depth of the seas, and to measure the heavens; to describe the magnitudes, distances, and revolutions of the planets; and to solve the most abstruse problems, relating to terrestrial operations, or celestial signs; which was (now) an extreme mortification. But the most piercing, was the levity and contempt with which I first looked on the question before me; by which I found my understanding confounded, and my pride laid in the dust.

Bye and bye, I made another essay, to work out a solution, but finding myself at the greatest non­plus, my mind began to be filled with resentment, and I complained of the governor's severity, to in­sist on my performing a task impracticable.

[Page 9]Then the governor turning upon me, with lightening in his his eyes, challenged me to prove my charge against him: telling me, that tyranny was not in his nature, but justice was his element; and he would convince me, that his demand was just and reasonable; and, if I failed in the preformance, I had nothing to expect but death, by a most righ­teous and unalterable determination.

Upon this I trembled and fell at his feet, con­fessing the injustice of my complaint; intreating him to allow me time, promising the utmost ap­plication. I also earnestly requested his assistance, for my better information into the nature of these things, hoping I should be able to satisfy his de­mand.

But, concerning the time, he gave me no an­swer at all; concerning the state of the question, he told me, the two last branches could never be solved, unless the two first were duly understood; notwithstanding, the solving of the former would not be of any benefit, unless the latter could be fully demonstrated; that, as to the first two parts, he was perfectly acquainted with them, in every punctilio; nor was it possible for any thing relating thereto, to escape his cognizance. And according to the best rules of calculation, he had stated the whole account, in the most accurate order, in his book of records, and tables of proportion; which, for my better information, I was at fully liberty to peruse. But as to the last two parts, (tho' it would be greatly to his honour and satisfaction, to have them solved) they were utterly beyond his line. He had never been able to penetrate into the least, branch thereof, or to discover whether a solution was possible, or not; nor could he give me the least assistance therein.

This answer was so pathetic and circumstantial, that, in deliberating thereon, it made my heart [Page 10] faint, my blood chill, and all my bones to shiver. Howbeit, I pretended great submission to the go­vernor, (for tho' I loved him not, I dreaded his resent­ment) and feignedly set myself upon a very diligent search into all the rules he gave me; but I was pre­possessed with such despairing thoughts, that I made very little proficiency; even in those things which were stated in a very intelligible light.

But a conceit came into my head, (which, for a while, yielded some relief to my imagination,) viz. that he was only a subordinate governor, with a limited power, and that his threatenings might exceed his authority, and that by appealing to superior authority I might find redress, so as to escape his severity, altho' I did not answer his de­mand; whereupon, I began to make such enqui­ries as these, concerning him: viz. Who is this governor? Whence did he receive his authority? How far doth his power extend? &c. To which I was answered, that he was the king's vice-gerent, once of his houshold, and inseparable from his fa­mily; that he had full power of life and death, and from him there was no appeal.

Then the governor, with all the serenity of a judge, and with such majesty as seemed to spread death thro' all my powers, told me, I should know his authority; then calling for his secretary, I felt a shock like that of an earthquake; and imme­diately the door of a certain apartment was burst open, from whence a certain person sprang forth and made obeisance to his highness, who familiarly received him. This person was my domestick companion, whom I had formerly treated with much insolence, using him as a slave to bear my burdens: and when he protested against my pro­ceedings, I would not suffer him to speak, but often attempted to strangle him; and, at last, found means to confine him in a dark vault, having [Page 11] fastened the door with bars of iron. It is not to be expressed, nor scarcely to be conceived, how surprising this shock was! But much more so, when I observed how his mien was altered, and perceived that he was the governor's secretary.—Then he bid him produce his accounts, and he laid open a train of accusations against me, conceived in terms so strong, and delivered in expressions so emphatical, that it was like so many arrows of fire piercing my heart. Likewise, the burden which I formerly obliged him to bear, he now fixed unmoveable upon me, which I found an in­supportable weight; I trembled under it, and was not able to stand, and to remove it I found impossible. — The governor also called his execu­tioner, who took and bound me with chains, beat me with many stripes, and cast me into a horrible dungeon: during these proceedings, I cried for mercy, but in vain; for the governor assured me, that as his authority did not admit of any appeal, so neither did his severity admit of any mitigation: therefore, I was committed to the vigilant inspec­tion of the secretary, and the unrelenting rigour of the executioner; confined in a dark prison, bound in strong chains, and crushed under the weight of an insupportable burden, which did not admit me to move any way, to get a little ease. And if I made any complaint, the secretary, would silence me, by reminding me of my former con­duct; upbraiding me in the most piercing manner, and galling me with such grinding accusations, as even to tear my heart to pieces: and then I was sure to feel most dreadful lashes from the execu­tioner, so stinging as none can describe, but those that have felt his stripes.

In this deplorable condition I sustained a variety of inexpressible tortures; sometimes wrecked with anxious thoughts concerning the question proposed, [Page 12] debating in my mind whether there was any hope, or possibility of finding an answer, thereby to ob­tain my liberty; sometimes sinking down in di­stress, weariness, and despair; sometimes swelling with rancour against the governor, and sometimes restlessly desiring to abandon my mind to an in­sensibility, thereby to forget my wretchedness: but the most distracting thought, was an appre­hension of the governor's return, to call me before him, concerning which I was in perpetual suspence, as I could not obtain the least hint of certainty re­lating to the time; nor had I any room to expect any further respite; but that the indictment exhi­bited against me by the secretary being fully proved in open court, I should receive the sentence of the governor, be cut asunder by the executioner, and my carcass cast out to be devoured by the monster; for that is the law of the country.

In these circumstances I continued, till my spirit was exhausted with anguish and distraction, and my heart was hardened through vexation and hor­ror: and I began to conceive hopes of obtaining relief by the assistance of the monster, inasmuch as the governor had not power to destroy him. And as I had formerly been strongly attached to his in­terest, and had never violated my allegiance to him, he was ready to give me all the aid in his power; but it was thought expedient to be done without noise; therefore he sent me his apothecary with some mollifying ointments, hoping thereby to enable me to slip my chains. And by these I found some present ease, so that I began to fancy I should outwit my keepers, and creep away; but, after all endeavours, I found my chains inextricable.

Thus disappointed, he sent me a cunning pick­lock, with some instruments very artfully con­trived, to loose my chains; when I saw the sub­tilties of these inventions, I thought the right ex­pedient [Page 13] was found imagining the device sufficient to unravel the most intricate gordian knot; but, upon trial, I found my expectations disappointed, for my chains were cemented beyond the reach of art.

Then I began to be in deep despair, but my master encouraged me once more to try another stratagem; so he prepared me an anvil, and chose some of his own servants (who appeared best qua­lified for such an enterprise) to attend me in dis­guise, as often as possible, with files, and some­times with hammers, or other instruments, as op­portunity should serve, hoping to wear off my chains in time: but all means were ineffectual, for my chains proved infrangible. Neither could this work be done so silently, as to escape the vigilant observation of the secretary, whose accusations were like the stinging of an adder, and his rebukes like the biting of a serpent: and whensoever I awaked his resentment, he awaked the executioner, whose strokes were like the torments of a scorpion.

At last, finding all stratagems vain, and being quite tired out with pains and disappointments, I began to grow desperate; and the monster, flaming with malice against the governor, hoping (by open force) to vanquish my keepers, break the prison, and carry me away in triumph, resolved to appear in person, with all his might; which he did, and approached in the most formidable manner, and proceeded to the attack with the utmost fury, and with great success; for the cast up such banks that the secretary was buried under them, and made such a terrible fire, that I imagined the foundations of the prison gave way, and the smoak darkened the air, so that the executioner was obscured from my sight, and I thought he had been fled: I also fancied my chains had been broken, and was ready to shout for victory. But on a sudden the governor [Page 14] appeared with a glittering sword in his hand, and with a voice like thunder, called the secretary, who straight arose out of the rubbish, and the ex­ecutioner appearing close by me, struck me such a blow, as made me lie like one dead, expecting instantaneous destruction: then the monster ap­pearing disconcerted, marched off; but I remained in the most invincible fetters, under the most pun­gent torture, encompassed with the most amazing horrors.

I now gave up all hope; all thoughts of finding an answer to the governor's question ceased, and all expectation of deliverance vanished; nothing but apprehensions of inevitable ruin possessed my breast. But, after some time, my old master pro­posed another expedient for my relief, by sending his orator, in disguise, as an ambassador, to in­treat, or negotiate with the governor, for my de­liverance. This orator interceded for me like an accomplished rhetorician, with all the alluring terms of sophistry, with many specious promises and proposals to make, or comply with any con­ditions that should be required; and delivered himself with so much eloquence, good temper, and pompous appearance, as seemed to attract the attention of the secretary; and I fancied he began to look favourable upon me, which I took for an indication, that the governor inclined to accept of terms. I likewise imagined, that the executioner began to treat me with more gentleness, which I conceived must proceed from some milder orders from the governor. Thus I sunk into a fond dream; for being brought so low by the fatigues I had suffered, a little relaxation easily composed me to sleep: but upon my awaking, I heard the governor reply to the ambassador, that all propo­sals were vain; for justice was his province, and he should for ever be found inexorable. But this [Page 15] ambassador (with all elegance of stile, and softness of address) continuing to urge for further audience; the governor stepping to him, plucked off his gar­ment, whereby his nakedness was discovered, and he appeared such an ugly deformed creature, as fully betrayed him to be a limb of the monster: when finding himself exposed, he sculked behind a thicket, like a dog that had done some mischief.

Upon this sight I fainted away, being fully con­vinced of the justice, penetration and inflexibility of the governor; knowing, that to escape from him is impracticable, and to answer his demand is, to me, impossible; and unless some deliverer, or deliverance, should appear, which to me is yet unknown, I have no resource left, but am in­evitably bound over to destruction; inextricable bondage, exquisite pains, and insupportable terrors, are now my fixed portion, where I lie comfortless, friendless, helpless, and hopeless.

Now, my confinement was more severe than ever; I was deprived of all liberty or power to act or move, only to gnash my teeth, gnaw my tongue, and torture my own mind: I saw nothing but darkness and dismal spectres; I heard nothing but roarings, thunders, and doleful groans; I felt nothing but chains, bars, sickness, and pain; I smelled nothing but stench and nauseousness; I tasted nothing but gall and wormwood: in this condition, without relaxation, I languished many days, perpetually expecting my final execution. At last I was alarmed with something, which I apprehended like musick, at a great distance, which attracted my attention, and awaked some sensation of pleasure; though I could not under­stand the sound distinctly; but as I listened to hear it, it seemed to draw nearer, and I plainly perceived it was the sound of a trumpet. The meaning of it I could not conceive, but I found [Page 16] the nearer it approached, the more my passion was excited into an ardent desire to know whence it came, and what it might portend. While my soul was thus alert in attending, the found conti­nued advancing, and raising some faint joy in my heart, rather from the sweetness of the melody, than any reason I could render for my taking com­fort; until it approached so near, that I heard three blasts distinctly sounded, and in the sounds I heard these words pronounced, GOOD-WILL, PEACE, PARDON: these words seemed to give some reviving to my soul, I lifted up myself to hearken if any thing further would be expressed; when the trumpet seeming still nearer, I heard three blasts more, pronouncing these words, LOVE, WISDOM, POWER. Upon this I found a sweetness of joy seize my heart, though I understood not the meaning, but still gladly attended to hear the sound repeated: bye-and-bye I heard the trumpet exceeding loud, as it were, just before the prison-gate, sounding three alarms expressing these words, REDEMPTION, RECONCILIATION, SALVATION.

These words came with so much power, that they spread new life through all my faculties; I felt the foundation of the prison shake, and a win­dow (which before was close shut up) burst open, whereby light shined into the prison; for I per­ceived a strong wind joined with the voice, which made way wherever it touched, though I knew not whence it came, nor whither it went; but by this means I enjoyed some light, and found opportu­nity to look about, to see whence the joyful sound proceeded; and seeing a man standing before the gate, with a banner displayed in one hand, and a trumpet in the other; I asked him who he was, and what his design?

He told me, he was the king's messenger, sent to proclaim good tidings.

[Page 17]I asked, What king?

He answered, King SHILOH,

I did not know any king of that name; there­fore I desired to be informed who he was, of what line or family, in what realm was his dominion.

He told me, that he was the only son of the uni­versal sovereign; a prince of such excellent dignity and merit, that he was made lord-chancellor in his father's court, and intrusted with the direction of all the affairs of the empire; and his mother being a native of that (once happy, though now mi­serable) country, he had a natural indubitable right to the sovereignty of the realm; which, since the other prince had lost, and the governor was not able to recover, his father had appointed him, to take into his own hand.

Then I enquired what good news he brought?

He answered, healing to the broken hearted, liberty to the captives, opening of the prison to those that are bound, relief to them that are ready to perish, comfort to all that mourn, and to pro­claim the joyful year.

The balsamick influence which these words had upon my soul none can know, but such as have been in the like condition, and favoured with some­thing of the like kind!

I asked him, if he had authority to perform such great things?

He answered, that he was the king's herald sent to publish the glad tidings of his good pleasure, in those places where his majesty designed himself to come, in whose hand alone the power was re­served.

I asked, if the king was come that way?

He told me, it was the king's delightful em­ploy, to visit the most desolate places, to seek out such as were in distress, and to deliver them; and for that purpose had sent his royal proclamation, [Page 18] that every poor wretched prisoner that should hear the news, and wait for his salvation, might be de­livered from all bondage or misery whatsoever.

Then I asked, if the king did not insist on some conditions, to be performed by the persons to whom he would grant such favours? for I knew it was not in my power to do any thing, but must perish.

But the messenger told me, the redemption was free to such as have no power, wisdom, riches, or any thing to recommend them; it being beneath the honour of his majesty to make terms with poor miserable slaves, but to deliver them freely, of his own royal beneficence.

I further enquired, if his royal bounty was not confined to some particular favourites, so as that many may wait for it and not be disappointed?

He replied, that such blessings as the king be­stowed might well be esteemed peculiar favours; but that none was ever rejected who gladly accepted his bounty: and if there were any who were not favoured with it, they were such (only) as did not seek it. But that it was reasonable to suppose, his majesty's wisdom would bestow his favours where they would be received with gratitude, and upon such persons whose circumstances rendered the be­nefit necessary and acceptable; as gifts, not to the rich, but to the poor; deliverance, not to persons at liberty, but to those that were bound; healing, not to the whole, but the sick; provisions, not to the full, but to the hungry; and there was no other restriction in the king's bounty. That is, though it is not given to such as never saw their need, and consequently do not desire, but despise it; it is richly extended to every one, who (through his majesty's goodness) is made willing to wait for, and thankfully receive, such bounty; so that none ever was denied, who earnestly desired the blessing.

—Therefore, as no person ever had reason to com­plain [Page 19] of injustice in the governor; neither had any person the least reason to complain of the want of generosity in the king.

I gave audience to this word with all my exter­nal and internal powers; and as I found the words, I eat them; for they were as cold water to a thirsty soul: but when I heard mention made of the go­vernor, I made a pause, and asked him, if there was any intimacy between the governor and the king his master?

He told me, there was an inviolable friendship between them inasmuch as that the one never did any thing in opposition to the other. But the king ratified all the acts of the governor, and the go­vernor approved all the edicts of the king.

I replied, how then can the king set any one at liberty from his bondage?

The herald answered tho' the king is an invin­cible warrior against his enemies, he never uses hostilities against the governor of this country; but all things are done by means so amicable, as to issue in their mutual honour and satisfaction.

I then enquired whether the king had so much influence, or interest in the governor, to bring his inexorable disposition to become flexible? or had the governor a right to resign his commission into his majesty's hand during his stay.

He replied, that the governor's authority was perpetual; nor would the king ever offer him such an indignity as to recall his commission for a mo­ment; neither would he ever attempt to obtain the least mitigation of justice from his hand, which would be a dishonour to the king himself, since all the rules and decrees of the governor are according to the king's own heart; and whatsoever is done by either of them, is for the reciprocal honour of them both.

I asked him, how this could be, and yet that [Page 20] the king should deliver a condemned wretch out of such a deplorable condition as mine was?

He answered, by making ample satisfaction to all, and every individual, of the governor's de­mands; so as that the governor himself should ac­quit, and honourably discharge, the criminal from all his offences, and fully cancel every indictment exhibited against him, and at the same time secure his own prerogitive, his honour, and his justice, inviolate.

In this declaration I apprehended such a beauty, that it was like the most salutary cordial to me; and I began to enquire when the king would ar­rive?

He answered, that the precise time was in his majesty's own breast; but that he was well ac­quainted with my condition, and never made any delay in time of necessity, or ever suffered any one to perish that waited for his salvation.

I told him my case was so desperate, that if I had not speedy relief, I could not live.

He encouraged me not to fear, but wait for the arrival of his majesty, who perhaps, might be nearer than I conceived; and, probably, I might observe something to my consolation, if I pleased to take a deliberate view through a perspective, which he presented to me.

With eager joy, and intense application, I en­deavoured to look, according to his direction. I found the telescope exceeding clear, and curiously fixed; and though it was too extensive for my hand to guide, it was directed to my eye with sur­prizing exactness, by an invisible hand, (which af­terwards was matter of much contemplation and admiration, though at the time it almost escaped my observation through the amazing prospect which saluted my eyes, and the delightful enter­tainment I found therein;) and, upon a very de­lectable [Page 21] mountain I saw a person of a most splen­ded appearance and exquisite beauty: such a sight my eyes never beheld before; nor is it possible for any to describe it, except such as can speak with new tongues; and such a transport of joy was raised in my soul as I never felt before; nor is it possible for any to feel the same, but those that have seen the same sight! and such a flame of love arose in my breast towards the person, as I had never felt; nor can any soul feel the same love, unless it be to the same object.

When I had beheld this sight, and feasted my eyes and all my passions, with the effulgent glories and inestable beauties of this shining one, and had considered the amity between the governor and this glorious prince, all my old enmity against the governor vanished away: for as the flame of love kindled more and more in my heart towards the king of glory, it also produced sincere regard, and high veneration towards the governor. I thought of him with delight, and fully convinced, that all was equal just, and good, that he had done to me; yea, I was satisfied, that if was to die by his hand I must justify him and love him; for I could not desire to live at the expence of his glory.

Then I laid before the messenger all my case, how I had been embarrassed with that intricate four-fold question, and the misery which had en­sued; increating the best advice in my present cir­cumstance.

To which he replied, that as to the two last parts of the problem, none in heaven or earth could touch upon them, save that king of glory. But respecting the first parts, the governor had rules to illustrate them, which I might have had opportunity to have seen already; though none were able to form such just conceptions of those rules, or understand them in a such a perspicuous [Page 22] light, as those who had their intellectuals enlarged, through acquaintance with the glorious prince.

I told him I had seen those rules, and wearied myself with poring on them, but could make very little of them, only what quite puzzled my under­standing.

He told me, that it was my enmity to the governor that prevented success in my searches; but that he could appeal to myself if I did not find much pride, enmity, murmuring, and reluctance, and that I wanted a good-will in my enquities.

I confessed, what he said was true, but that I now found a real change in my disposition.

He told me, that since I found my mind well affected to the governor, the study of his records would become pleasant; and that while I waited for the king's approach, it would be necessary for me to inform myself the best I could, in those things wherein I had opportunity to be instructed; for the more I was acquainted with those two first branches, the better I might understand, and with more pleasure take in, the solution of the other parts, whensoever it should be the king's pleasure to favour me with it.

I was fully persuaded of the seasonableness of this advice, and I set myself (in earnest) to examine the rules given me by the governor; and when I began to attend to it with affection, approbation, and chearfulness, I found the paradoxes open, with an intelligible consistency, through the whole system.

But when I entered into a close perusal of these records, and began to form just conceptions of the things therein contained, to view them in a true light, and deliberate thereon with understanding; I found it not only the deepest study, but attended with the most awful considerations, that ever my thoughts had been employed in. All the anguish and terror which had distressed me heretofore, did [Page 23] scarce bear any comparison with the tremendous aspect now before me; the hideousness of the mon­ster! the devastation made by him! the majesty and justice of the governor! and the inexpressible misery of my own condition! appeared so amaz­ing as no heart can conceive, save those who have had a distinct view of these things: and had it not been for the comfort I had received from the king's messenger, the light which was opened into my dark situation, and the prospect I had of the king's person, it had been impossible for me to have survived, without falling into distraction or desperation.—And frequently, when my very soul was overwhelmed with deep enquiries and shocking discoveries, I should be roused up by the melodious sound of the trumpet, which would transport my mind, and relieve my weary spirits: for the herald continued often to pass that way, with whom I had frequent conferences concerning the king, his person, grace, glory and expected approach. And sometimes I had the prospect of his beauties and excellencies repeated to me, which afforded comfortable meditations in my weary hours. Thus I was refreshed and supported, while searching into the profound rules of justice, and dark abyss of misery.

I found the questions and solutions stated with the utmost accuracy and coherence, but so deep and extensive, that all my powers were absorbed in the discoveries; for my faculties had never been ex­panded to a capacity for receiving things so sublime. And I was convinced, that the most profound pro­blems I had ever exercised myself upon were mere childish toys, in comparison of this: yet, by dili­gent application I arrived at a considerable degree of distinct understanding, both in the description of the monster, and the effects of his outrages: but a perfect knowledge I could not obtain; for I [Page 24] continually found, the more discoveries I made, the more profound and unsearchable the mystery ap­peared.

In this condition I continued for a season, some­times close engaged in this necessary study, and sometimes seized with fear, and crushed down with dark apprehensions: for tho' I had received much comfort. I was still in bondages, and I began to think the time very long, insomuch, that I was of­ten ready to give up all hope. [...] the manifest tokens of [...], which I would not forget, yet, I was frequently much [...] with suspicion of its being a deception especially, when my mind was fatigued, and my [...] low; or when I had continued some [...] re­petition of my former comforts; than I should be ready to draw the most uncomfortable conclusions; for my mind was too weak, to retain the satisfac­tion which I received at one time, so as to be a support to me at another.—At some seasons, all my fears would be dissipated, and my mind ele­vated with great joy; both upon the remembrance of the first joyful discoveries, fresh soundings of the trumpet, and fresh views of the king's majesty. And as the sound grew more clear, and the pro­spect still more distinct and glorious, I judged the king was making some nearer advances; so that my joy would be unspeakable, until some dusky cloud would overspread my mind, and cast a gloom upon all my conceptions; or, some fresh discovery of the monster's horrible aspects, would arise before me; which would chill my very heart, and strike a piercing shock through all my powers Thus my soul would be filled with fears, doubts, and questionings; but when I could enjoy a fresh ma­nifestation of the king's beauty, grace, and near approach, all my fears would vanish away.

[Page 25]The reason of these waverings and hesitations, I conceive to proceed, both from the weakness of my judgment, and the instability, or imbecility of my inward powers.—As to the former, the discove­ries I had of the king, and his designs, carried such demonstration of love, mercy, faithfulness, and sufficiency, that there was not the least to distrust the accomplishment of all that the herald declared; but the darkness, and contractedness of my understanding, prevented me from forming clear and distinct conceptions, or digesting those things in due order. —As to the latter, my mind was so weak, that when I was favoured with those manifestations, I found myself filled with such exstatick joy, that at these seasons, I had not the least suspicion of a delusion: therefore, I did not employ my understanding, (as I ought to have done) in scrutinizing into the nature of what I heard and saw; whereby, I might have been better esta­blished; but taking all for undeniable fact, (nor apprehending any need of close enquiry, concern­ing the reality, or fictitiousness thereof) while I found myself in the enjoyment; I should find my­self quite at a loss at other times, when those en­joyments were withdrawn: and some horri­ble appearance presented itself; and I was fainting with weariness and impatience; I was not able to form any just conceptions, nor make any proper reflections upon those things which had formerly given me comfort, but were not present before my eyes. For then I should be filled with a mul­titude of thoughts, of the possibility, and probabi­lity of a deception; and of the miserable mistakes which many have fallen into, by taking fancies for realities, &c. And I should fall into doubts and questionings, concerning the propriety, or ambi­guity of the things which I had seen and heard; as, whether the blessing I had hoped for, were only [Page 26] for others, and not for me; whether the good news brought by the herald, were to be confided in; whether my miserable state and earnest desire of deliverance, had not induced me to impose upon myself, by construing things in my own favour, contrary to their natural intentions; whether the real favours which I did enjoy, ever since the light was opened into my apartment, were granted by the king's order, as a preparative to my full deli­verance, or only a relaxaction granted by the goaler, before my final sentence, &c. And amidst these mutual debates, all my faculties would be so in­veloped, that I could not come to any fixed deter­mination, nor reason conclusively upon any thing, relating to my present circumstances; nay, some­times my spirits would be so far exhausted, that I was ready to doubt, whether all that I had seen and heard, from whence I had conceived hope or comfort, was any more than a fond dream.—Thus for want of clearness in judgment, and forti­tude in mind, I should be in the greatest suspence, even, after receiving the fullest demonstrations, and after enjoying the richest consolations.

But, in all my doubts and waverings, I never wavered in this one thing, that if ever I must find relief, it must be by the king alone; and that there was no possibility of help in any other. Therefore, whether my hope was stronger or weaker, or my comfort more or less, it was only according to the encouragement I received, or the discourage­ment I formed to myself, concerning his majesty's sufficiency, good-will, near approach, &c. For I neither expected, sought, nor desired deliverance from any other. Yea, I found such a flame of love, and soul so powerfully drawn towards him, that I should sooner have chose to perish at his feet, than that any other should claim the glory of my deliverance; and in my most joyful hours, [Page 27] the height of my ambition, was to wait on his majesty all the days of my life; for I thought, if I was at full liberty, and must not enjoy the fa­vour to attend on the king, it would be as great a distress to me, as any thing I ever underwent, for he had truly conquered my heart with his love; and if I did not enjoy comfort and satisfaction in him, I enjoyed it no where at all: for though my spirits would sometimes grow flat, and exceeding low, thro' drowsiness, weariness, and discourage­ment; whensoever I received any fresh consolation, it was from him alone: and whensoever I enjoyed any good degree of vivacity, I still found my mind intensely fixed upon the glorious prince, waiting for the happy hour of his arrival, to see his beauty, and enjoy his salvation.

At last the trumpet sounded exceeding loud and distinct, as it had been talking to the intellectual powers of my soul; and light shined around me exceeding clear; as it had been the beams of the sun in the meredian altitude; my soul became ex­ceeding alert, all my faculties were expanded, and all my passions took fire! and I saw the king him­self approaching the prison-gate.—The appearance was superlatively glorious, that I melted away, and there remained no spirit in me: I was not able to sustain such a conjunction of joy and glory, and I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right-hand upon me, and said, I am the first and the last.—I have the key of David, I open and no man shutteth, I shut and no man openeth.—I say to the pri­soners, go forth; to them that are in darkness, shew yourselves.

Then I was strengthened and arose and stood upon my feet, but I was not able to behold his glory; for his beauty, and the majesty of his coun­tenance were so overcoming, that I was obliged to turn away my eyes.—But there was a person along [Page 28] with him, (whom for quality, was equal with his majesty, but not clothed in the same garments,) whose office is, to attend the king in all his enter­prizes; to attest and seal all his edicts, to dispense all his royal bounties, to illustrate the glory of his majesty, and his kingdom, and to interpret all mysteries belonging to the state; whose dignity and authority, I cannot find words to express: but, be­cause all the counsels of the court, all the circum­stances of the subject, and all transactions in the state, came under his recognizance; I shall call him the king's secretary. This is the person who di­rected the king's trumpet to my dismal cell, and di­rected my eyes to take a prospect of his majesty; with many other kind offices, which I have been fa­voured with, tho' I know not whence they came. He now anointed my eyes and my ears, and gave me a strengthening cordial; whereby my eyes were enabled to behold the king in his beauty, my ears to hear tremendous voices, and my heart to meditate terror. And, I lift up my face and looked sted­fastly upon the king.

Then the king asked, what was my request?

I answered, that it might please his majesty, to consider my condition, and deliver me from my bondage.

He asked me, whether I understood my own condition?

Then I laid before him my distress, as far as I was capable of describing it, and told him I had no expectation from any, but himself; being sen­sible, that I must either be saved by his goodness, or inevitably perish. And, therefore, I earnestly implored his compassion, in case he did not find my condition too hopeless to admit of relief; but, if that should be the case, I was willing to die at his feet.

[Page 29]To which he replied, Is there any thing too hard for me?

From this word I took courage, drew near, and took hold of his girdle; and falling down at his feet, besought him, to get himself honour in my deliverance.

Then he asked me, which way I expected to be set at liberty?

I told him, I was very sensible of the justice of my confinement, and the direful sentence past up­on me, and did not desire liberty upon any other terms, but what might be to the honour of the go­vernor, and of his majesty; but that I was in­formed by his own messenger, that he undertook to satisfy all the demands of the governor, on be­half of such helpless wretches as I was.

He asked, what were those demands, which his excellency the governor made upon me?

Upon this, I produced all the accounts which I had gathered from the tables and records laid before me.

Then the king's herald told me, my calcula­tions were very just in many particulars, but in many things deficient. That it was well for me to have a competent understanding in those things, that I might know the necessity, the nature, and the greatness of the king'salvation; but, that it was not sufficient, that his majesty should answer the question according to my accompts; but ac­cording to the governor's perfect description, which was already compleatly done betwixt the king and the governor, and therefore the king had a right to demand my liberty when he pleased. And that as I had been embarrassed with those hard questions, and had borne the distress of seeing my own cala­mity; it was his majesty's will, that I should enjoy the pleasure of beholding the whole transaction, wherein all things had been adjusted between the [Page 30] king and the governor; and that I might peruse all his majesty's solutions to my full contentment, and ample satisfaction.

I heard these words with earnest attention, and drank them in with eagerness; and being strength­ened by what the king's secretary had done to me, I was able to understand in a distinct light, and ruminate upon what was spoken with such sere­nity of mind, as I never felt before; and it was attended with such attactive power, as if my very soul had gone out of myself, into the bosom of the king; or, as if I had ceased to be, and I had found myself become a member of his body; or, as if my life had expired, and I had been inspired with new life from his breath. Therefore, I fur­ther enquired, if there were any hopes that I might enjoy such a blessing, when set at liberty, as to dwell in his dominion, or become one of his atten­dants; for to be wholly denied in this, I thought would be a grief equal to my present confine­ment.

He told me, all that the king redeemed were his own property, and he would take care to have them duly qualified for, and securely fixed in the station for which he designed them; which was to attend his person and continue his domesticks for ever.

This declaration was adequate to my ultimate wishes and spread tranquility thro' my faculties; and I found my soul filled with such composure, satisfaction, and delight in the king, as if every thing in the universe had been dead but himself; or as if every excellency in the creation had disap­peared, and all their glories centered in him alone. Then I had such a view of the beauties, and per­fections of his majesty, as my eyes had never seen; for tho' the former discoveries were transcendently striking and glorious, so as to raise the highest rap­tures [Page 31] in my soul, yet I was too weak to view his glory in a distinct light; but now I had strength to make deliberate observations, and form just con­ceptions of what my eyes beheld; but the perfec­tion of his person, the light of his countenance, the lustre of his garments, the splendor of his throne, the glory of his crown, the rectitude of his sceptre, &c. were such, as nothing but the new strength I had received could have enabled me to behold; nor shall I ever be able fully to de­scribe them.

After my eyes were feasted, and my soul sa­tiated with this incomparable vision, the king took a key in his hand, which the herald very amply described to me; and the secretary directed my eyes to behold the curious make of it, that I might understand the form and powers thereof. And with this key he opened every lock belonging to the prison, and to my chains; and did it in such an open, deliberate manner, as gave me opportu­nity to observe by what power he removed every bar, disengaged every ward, and turned every spring. Thus I was brought out of prison, set at full liberty, and found myself made free indeed. I now rejoiced with joy unspeakable and full of glory to see my long expected deliverance con­summate in such a perfect, undeniable manner: I can scarcely say, whether I was more delighted with my ever memorable, and unspeakably happy deliverance, or with the mysterious excellency of his majesty's performance. But I confess, that till this time, I had never so clearly understood, as now I did, how inexplicable the depth and nature of my misery, and how absolutely inextricable my bondage were, to any but him that understood all mysteries, and possessed invicible power; for an operation so masterly and curious I had never seen before.

[Page 32]Then the herald informed me, it was the king's pleasure that I should have a satisfactory demonstra­tion, how compleat and honourable my deliverance was; and therefore, I should be admitted to take a deliberate view of the transactions relative to my acquittance, and the decisive stroke whereby all the demands of the governor were undeniably satisfied by the king's majesty: whereupon he led me to a spacious plain where I saw the governor walk­ing in a garment white as snow, and his secretary familiarly walking by his side; and when he came to a certain place, he put upon his white raiment a vesture of flaming scarlet, and called his executioner, who immediately came with a glittering sword in his hand. Thus he stood with a countenance full of terrible majesty, having his secretary on his right-hand, and his executioner on his left; and immediately I saw the king upon the distant mountains riding in a glorious chariot, swift as lightning; and when he came near, he alighted and made very low obeisance to the governor, but the governor did not move, or made any obeisance to the king. Then the king placed himself over against the governor, having his secretary on his right-hand, and his herald on his left; and here I had an opportunity to behold the majesty of two courts, disposed in the most regular order. So awful was the appearance! so grave the mien! it spread silence and had serenity through the whole plan; there was neither voice nor motion to be heard or seen, till the court was opened; nor during, the whole process did the wind blow, or a leaf shake; but all the elements appeared in a total stagnation. So I saw, and heard the whole procedure.

The governor first sounded a trumpet exceeding loud, which made the earth tremble; then he pro­claimed his great authority, the extensiveness of his commission, and the justice of his govern­ment, [Page 33] which the king acknowledged by a very low bow, and all the king's court made their pro­per signals of respect; and audience was given while he distinctly opened the two first branches of the question, and gave a very accurate description of the monster in all his unbounded enormities; and an ample definition of the mischief done, and damage sustained, by him; with a just representa­tion of the heinous and aggravated crimes of those who had entered into alliance with such an enemy. When he spake of these things, his voice was like thunder, his breath was flames of fire, and a cloud of smoke darkened the air round about him; from his breath, the executioner's sword took fire, and burnt with a vehement flame; and when he had ended every paragraph, his secretary attested the truth thereof, and signed it with a pen of brass; then his executioner brandished his flaming sword over the whole plain.—And all the king's court kept silence, and gave audience, till the governor had finished all his declarations.—And when he had made an end, having demonstrated every thing in a distinct and obvious light, he again sounded a trumpet, and made proclamation; ‘That if any one had any objection against the light in which these things were represented; or any reason to render, why vengeance should not be taken on all those rebellious subjects, who had committed treason against their rightful governor, and joined with the destroyer of their country, Let him draw near.’—But no answer was made.—Then he commanded his executioner to go forth and slay, without mercy or distinction, every creature that was found in rebellion, or had deserted his allegiance to his serene highness.—Then the exe­cutioner rendezvoused a formidable host, mounted a pale horse, lifted up a black flag, and began his march, with all the ensigns and terrors of death; [Page 34] and his fiery sword shot darts of lightning through all the land.

Upon this, the king's herald sounded his trumpet so loud, that it not only made the earth shake, but the heavens also, and proclaimed his majesty umpire. And there was profound silence.

Then his majesty spake, with a serene voice, to the governor, and bid him stay his hand; for he had undertaken to save those offenders, and they should be saved; and on them no vengeance should be taken.

The governor replied, that vengeance against rebels was inevitable.

The king told him, he was not come to offer violence to his honour, nor intrench upon his autho­rity, neither to intreat any favour, nor yet to abett, or excuse offences; but to be the representative of those miserable offenders; having engaged in their behalf, and made their case his own, he would stand in their place; therefore, whatsoever his highness found against them, lay it to his charge, impute all their transgressions to him, and deal with him as the very criminal; spare him not, but let all the deserved vengeance fall upon him.

This declaration of his majesty, struck a total silence, and stagnation, through all the plain; there was neither voice nor motion; the heaven and the earth stood in astonishment, and amazement ap­peared in every countenance, for about an hour; during which period, the two potentates stood unmoveable, having their eyes fixed upon one an­other, without the least change of countenance in either.

Then the governor made a signal to the execu­tioner to bend all his force against the king's person, which he accordingly did; whereupon all the king's guards, and attendants, opened to the right and left, leaving his majesty exposed; and the executioner [Page 35] marched against him, with such tremendous fury, as I never beheld before, nor was ever the like seen under heaven. The sun closed his eyes, the world shook, the rocks burst asunder, and the whole frame of nature was distorted; and he came upon his majesty like a torrent, and (without ceremony, or resistance) pierced him through the heart, with his flaming sword.

This was the most awful sight that my eyes ever saw; nor did I ever hear of any that had seen the like. The blood gushed out; his countenance turned to paleness; all his powers trembled; he fainted away, and resigned his life.—Thus fell the prince of perfect glory and merit; and the most valuable of all lives was taken away?

But what tongue can declare? What pen can describe? What heart can conceive? the effects of this stupendous stroke! the world was in astonish­ment; the heavens stood amazed; celestial angels came down to behold the wonder; infernal angels felt the tremor, thro' all the coasts of hell; living men trembled, and became as dead; and dead men came out of their graves to see what was done! None can express the love, compassion, humility, patience, justice, goodness, veracity, fortitude, &c. which this meritorious prince manifested in this action! Nor can all the annals of time furnish us with an instance, worthy to be named in comparison with this!

By this surprizing sight my soul was absorbed, all my mental powers were exhausted, and there re­mained no more spirit in me; I was fainting away; but the king's secretary sustained me; and, directing my eyes to behold this dreadful catastrophe, he gave me a distinct view of the most surpassing glorious and indelible trophy, arising from thence.

The blood that issued from the prince's wound, quenched the flame of the sword; and the execu­tioner [Page 36] (without any violence offered to him) expired upon the spot; the moment he struck his majesty the last stroke, all his army vanished away, all ap­pearance of hostility ceased; and what remained was a most shocking aspect like unto a field of bat­tle, where two armies had destroyed one another, 'till nothing remained alive. Thus all things con­tinued in a total stagnation for a certain space; but quickly a troop of guards arrived from the palace, and placed themselves in order about their prince's dead body; and his secretary embraced him, and he revived, and appeared alive, in his full vigour.—This stupendous victory inspired all nature with exstatick joy; the heavens rejoiced; the morning stars sang together; the earth was full of gladness; the mountains dropped new wine; the trees clapped their hands; the flowers appeared all in bloom; the birds warbid all around; the sea roared with joyful murmurs; and shouts of triumph ran thro' all the host.—I was attentive to this unparalleled transac­tion, till my soul was swallowed up in exstacy, and lost in wonder; I was transported into such raptures of joy, that it had almost overcome all my intel­lectual powers, and elevated my mind into a stupe­faction; but my comforting sustainer strengthened my heart with a vivifying cordial, whereby I was enabled to retain the use of my faculties; and my mind was much alert, to attend to the whole scene.—The king, seeing the executioner dead at his feet, asked the governor, if he had any more hosts to send forth; and he answered, no. He asked again, if he had any more vengeance, or any thing to lay to the charge of those persons whose cause the king had espoused; and the governor answered, no. Again he asked, if what had been done was sufficient satisfaction to his justice, and adequate to his honour; and he answered, yes.

[Page 37]Then the king and the governor saluted one another, with all the tokens of friendship; and all the nobles and attendants, in each court, kissed and embraced one another; there appeared such perfect amity, and every thing so harmonious, as far ex­ceeded any thing I had ever seen; the two courts became one: the governor acknowledged the king's supremacy, gave him his right-hand, and the pre-eminence in all things, yet abated nothing of his own dignity; likewise the governor's secretary, and all his retinue (only his executioner who was dead) kept every one his proper station; and without compulsion or reluctance, were entirely subservient to his majesty's pleasure.—Now I saw the splendor of a king's court indeed! The majesty, the unani­mity, the similarity, the regularity, and the har­mony of this court! with the refulgent rays of glory, shining in the king's person, and reflecting lustre upon every face! did excel all the glorious appearances that ever my eyes beheld; nor had I ever heard, or read, of the like, or ever conceived in my heart, any thing equal to what I now saw!—For, tho' the glory proceeded from the king alone, yet it had such an extensive influence, that it poured an incomparable brilliancy upon all around him; every object took the reflection, and every face shone with peculiar beauty; and, among the rest, I found myself illucidated within and without: my vital parts were in a flame, illuminating my whole body; and my garments glittered like beams of light; my heart was abundantly enlarged, and the faculties of my soul strengthened, more than ever I had found them before; and I was inspired with such vivacity and agility, that I became as sprightly as a roe, or a young hart.—Here my soul regaled itself in unspeakable pleasure, bathed in fountains of inexpressible delight, and floated in the midst of an ocean of inconceivable joy; for the king's secre­tary [Page 38] anointed my eyes to make my sight clear and strong; and directed me to behold such a variety of splendid objects, in such harmonious contexture, and exquisite order; all shining in the radiancy of the supreme origin of glory; until my soul was so expanded, that I scarcely knew whether I was on earth, or in heaven.

But when my soul was largely satiated with these extatic delights, and my mind returned to a settled composure, I still found incessant desires to hear the king's solution to the governor's propositions.

Then the king's herald sounded his trumpet so loud, that it echoed through all the celestial orbs: the mountains trembled and melted away; the val­lies arose, and were exalted; springs dried up, and dry land flowed with waters; fruitful ground wi­thered, and barren desarts appeared in bloom; the sea dried up, and the heavens opened; all the glory of man totally subsided; and there was profound silence.

And he proclaimed the glory of the king's ma­jesty, the rectitude of his kingdom, his ample per­fections, and his immense riches; whereby he is sufficient to subdue every enemy, to compleat every work he pleases to undertake, to bless all his subjects with every enjoyment which their hearts can desire, and to maintain their happy state for ever.

Then he distinctly answered to all the particulars, which were contained in the governor's question. He fully demonstrated the qualifications of his ma­jesty to be far superior to all the formidable ap­pearances of the hideous monster; sufficient to de­stroy his reign, and extirpate his being; and also to make ample reparation of all the damage done by him; so as that the governor should neither suf­fer loss or dishonour, nor his subjects suffer distress or disgrace, no more than if the monster had never been born.

[Page 39]But in the opening of these things, there was such a display of wisdom, love, and power; such excellency, glory, and majesty; that it frequently exhilarated my soul into rapturous agitation; but the secretary stayed my passions, and would not suffer me to give way to too much extacy, because the importance, and sublimity of the subject, re­quired the most fixed attention. So I was favoured with a full, distinct, and accurate manifestation, of that which had filled my mind with so much anxiety; and which I had so long, and so earnestly desired to see. But the comfort, satisfaction, en­largedness, establishment, solid peace, and serenity of mind, which I enjoyed, in seeing and hearing the explication of those deep mysteries, did excell all that ever I had experienced before, or what I shall ever be able to describe.

Now when the herald had spoken every particu­lar paragraph, relating to the excellencies, or won­derful performances of the king; his secretary at­tested the truth thereof; inscribed it upon living tables, and sealed it with the king's immutable sig­net. And when he had made an end, his majesty stood up, and made proclamation, that if any per­son in heaven, or in earth, or under the earth, would contend with him, undertake to accuse him in any thing, or found any thing to object against his proceedings in any punctilio; let him draw near.—But no answer was made. Then the trum­pet sounded, and all the harps answered in chorus; and the harmonious noise resounded through all the heavenly domes; triumphal acclamations ran thro' all the court; and all the kingdom was filled with shouts of joy; which made the earth and the hea­vens ring: the royal standard was erected; and all the ensigns of majesty, victory, peace, and glory, were displayed; the mountains and forests broke forth into singing, the lower parts of the earth [Page 40] shouted; and the morning stars sang together; the light of the moon became as the light of the sun; and the light of the sun was seven-fold, as the light of seven days; and rays of stupendous glory shined through the whole creation.—Now my soul was absorbed with wonder; lost in admiration; I was obliged to give way to the overcoming rap­ture, and indulge my exstatick passions; for I could not refrain from songs of gladness, shouts of joy, and all the demonstrations of delight, that my soul was able to express. And still, whenso­ever I recollect the magnificence of this triumph, I cannot refrain being transported with pleasure, and crying out with unspeakable joy; HOW GLO­RIOUS LOOKED THE KING OF ISRAEL THAT DAY!

Then the king called me unto him, and told me, he accepted me as his son; that he had pre­pared all things necessary to give me a princely education; and as soon as I had attained to the due qualifications, he would take me to his royal palace; where I should abide in his presence for ever; and enjoy all the delights that my heart could desire. And in the mean time, I should have free access to him, in every thing that might be needful to call upon him for.—The king's secre­tary told me, he would always continue present with me, to assist, instruct, and comfort me; to introduce me into the king's presence, and com­municate to me his bounties; and to improve me in every thing that might be conducive to my feli­city.—The king's herald assured me, he would be ready at all seasons, to inform me in all matters that could be necessary for my instruction relating to the king, his excellencies, his riches, his go­vernment, the orders of his house, my relation to him, and interest in him.—Also the governor told me, he should no more exercise jurisdiction over [Page 41] me; but, as it would be for my benefit to receive his instructions, he would always attend me in quality of a counsellor; and I should always find an equal pleasure and profit in all his admonitions.—Also the governor's secretary told me, he should no more act toward me in the same character as he did before; since I now belonged to another prince; but seeing I still might be liable to many inconve­niences, through my own instability, or want of presence of mind; to prevent which, his assistance might be very useful; he should continue my con­stant companion, under the king's direction, in the capacity of a monitor.—Then all the king's guards, and nobles of the court, saluted me in the quality of a prince. And the herald further in­formed me, that I was to remain at his majesty's country-seat, (with others of the king's children) where I should enjoy all accommodations fit for a prince; and might expect frequent visits from his majesty; having princes for my companions, and the royal guards for my attendants; till the king should come, and carry me in triumph, and state, to his royal city.

Then the king wrote me a discharge from all offences, past, present, and to come; with an ac­quittance from all servitude, or allegiance, to any lord, or governor, but himself: he also bestowed on me an instrument of adoption; whereby he ac­knowledged, and declared me to be his own son, and to have a right to all the enjoyments in his kingdom. And also promised me every necessary accommodation, during my stay at his lower house; and that he would be expeditious in returning to fetch me to himself, in his serene palace.—These things he signed, sealed, and delivered to me, in the presence of three faithful witnesses; assuring me they were enrolled in the council-chamber, by three infallible recorders.

[Page 42]And when his majesty had regularly stationed me in his inferior palace, and given proper directions for my education, and noble accomplishment; he mounted his triumphal chariot, and hasted with all his train, to the imperial city; where he was re­ceived with all the demonstrations of joy, and tri­umph; and where he reigns supreme King of kings, and Lord of lords; to whom every creature yields subjection, every knee bows, and every tongue ascribes praise and glory.

I find this country-palace is the king's acade­my; where the royal sciences are taught; which are not to be learned in any school in the universe beside; nor can be taught by any but the king's instructors; who are his herald, and his secretary. For notwithstanding the governor and his secretary remain with us, and are of special use among us, in their own province (being well skilled in other sciences) they are entire strangers to the sciences peculiar to the palace. Nor can any man learn, or is it possible for them to be taught these things, so long as they dwell in any part of universe, save in the king's own country. All other climates are incompatible with these sciences; the air they breathe in, and the food they live upon, render them incapable of receiving the instructions; yea, the very nature, and complexion of the inhabitants of all other realms, are foreign, and indocible to any of these things.

The sciences taught in this school, and learned by all the royal princes, are chiefly four, viz.

1. The nature, extensiveness, and perfection of his majesty's answers, to the governor's problems; for though we had heard them published, we were far from apprehending them in their fullest ex­tent; they being of so sublime a nature, as require the closest application, and deepest penetration, to conceive of them in a distinct light. These are [Page 43] much deeper studies than the tables of the gover­nor (notwithstanding the intricacy, and amazing depths thereof;) for the perfections, and perfor­mances of the king, do far out-vie all descrip­tions of the monster, and the mischief done by him; and do abound beyond all that ever was re­quired, or mentioned by the governor: and not­withstanding we have opportunity to peruse all the herald's curious descriptions, drawn in the most lively figures, and apt representations, as well as hearing his excellent lectures, upon the great qua­lities, undertakings, performances, and victories, of his majesty; they so far transcend any thing that ever was presented to our eyes, or ears, or that ever our minds were exercised in before; that our capacities could never conceive of the dephs thereof, were it not that the king's secretary opens, interprets, and guides our understandings into these mysteries. He not only leads to the true chain, di­recting us to compare one thing with another, so as to see the consistency, and perfection of the whole system; but also anoints our eyes and ears, with an unction peculiar to his excellency; and refreshes us with vivifying cordials, to keep our minds, and senses alert. Thus the study becomes delightful; both as it is most excellent in its own nature, and as our­selves are so much interested therein: and we make a comfortable proficiency; notwithstanding the knowledge is unattainable by any creature that is not instructed the same way.

2. To understand the foundation, constitution, oeconomy, and privileges of the kingdom; the re­lation between the king and his subjects; the royal grant whereby they hold their title to all the rich blessings of the kingdom; with the glory and dig­nity wherein they stand, &c. This is study more sublime than the former. But as it bears some re­lation [Page 44] to it, it becomes more easy, when the other is well understood; especially as they both depend upon the perfections of the king. And we have the same instructors, and the same advantages in this, as in the former branch; but the stupendous depths, and glories, that do herein appear, are suf­ficient to astonish the most enlarged and most esta­blished mind; nor is it possible for any one to form just conceptions thereof, without such preparations as we are favoured with, through the bounty of the secretary, our grand tutor.

3. To learn the court-language. As this is the most elegant of all languages, so the study of it is most excellent and curious. It is a language which no person was ever able to learn, who lived under the governor's jurisdiction, or in any other realm, but in the king's proper dominions only; conse­quently, this language never could be carried into any foreign country. It has no affinity with any other language in the universe; nor is it (like all other languages) subject to any mutations; but continues one pure language through all ages. The grounds of it are amply laid down by the king's herald, with all necessary instructions therein; but the pronunciation can never be attained but by the most refined and immediate crudition received from the king's secretary, in which he is always ready to assist us.

4. To learn the behaviour of the court. This science (like the rest) is what none can learn in any other school. The herald lays down proper direc­tions for this branch of learning; but the secretary alone can inspire us with the princely mein, to adorn our behaviour with a becoming grace.—Some per­sons confound the demeanour of the king's court, with that of the governor's court; but it is a gross mistake: for, though all the excellency of the go­vernor's court is common to the king's court, there [Page 45] is a peculiarity attending the palace, both in lan­guage and mein, which none of the proper subjects of the governor were ever able to learn: for, when his court was in its utmost splendor, these peculiar excellencies were utterly unknown in his dominion; and, since the glory of his court was ruined, by the inroads of the monster, he has not a loyal subject in the universe, properly belonging to himself. For those that are in league with the monster, are rebel­lious subjects, whatever pretences they make of loyalty: and those that have been brought back to give due honour to his excellency the governor, (as it was not his, but the king's power and good­ness, whereby they were reclaimed) they are not properly his, but the king's subjects. And though many of those pretendedly loyal, but really rebelli­ous subjects of the governor (confounding the two courts, one with the other, through there being real strangers to both) have imagined, they had attained to the accomplishments of the palace; and could mimick the king's subjects, so far as to impose up­on the ignorant; yet, in reality, they were as far from attaining to the truth thereof, as parrots, monkeys, &c. are from attaining to the proper actions of men.—But the king's sons (and they only) being endowed with privileges peculiar to themselves, are capable of learning the royal sciences, which are peculiar to their dignity. For, the air they breathe in; the waters they drink, and bathe in; the food they live upon; the clothing they wear; the clear and large prospects they view; the ground they walk upon; with the society they con­verse with, &c. are so many preparatives to qualify them for receiving those sublime instructions. And thus they become proficients to those profound sciences, which remain impenetrable secrets to the most learned, wise, and ingenious of all other na­tions.

[Page 46]But we differ much from some celebrated bands, who have been much gazed at by the world, and much valued by themselves, on account of their keeping some branches of knowledge secret from the vulgar; for we never use art to conceal our learning and knowledge, nor amuse persons by eva­sions; but, in a sincere open manner, are ready to give an answer to any one that asketh us a reason, of any thing that we profess; yea, we are glad to inform any person as far as we can; and rejoice to find any desirous or capable of receiving instruction. Therefore, it is not want to public spirit, in them that are initiated into these mysteries, that they are kept secret from all other people; (for all the grounds, and rules, belonging to each of these sciences, are made public, to be seen by all) but it is owing to the rudeness of their capacities, the grossness of their taste, and indocibleness of their natures, that things so refined are too sublime for their conceptions. And all the nations upon earth are strangers to the king's secretary; (who alone can inspire persons with an apt genius for learning the royal sciences) except those in his majesty's own realm. Some are insensible, and unconcerned; some despise and contemn him; and others give him nominal honours, but esteem him as a being meerly ideal. And while it is thus with them, they must remain strangers to the excellencies of the kingdom; for the knowledge thereof, is, to them, impossible.

In this college we remain students, and become true mathematicians; our studies being all upon substantial things, and all our solutions grounded upon facts. We practise no chimera nor exercise ourselves in empty flights of fancy, only those things which are useful and durable, and admit of just demonstration, are objects of our re-searches. Our pursuits are not follies of speculation, but true [Page 47] wisdom and reality; so that however useful other sciences, and the instructions given in other schools, may be, in their proper place; there is not any learning in the world that is worthy to be esteemed any more than chaff or dung, when compared with the profound wisdom, taught by the great master of our assembly—And we pursue the study of these things with great delight, not only as they yield us much pleasure and profit, in our present situation; but as they inspire our hearts with future hopes of solid and everlasting felicity. For we are assured, that when we are arrived to such a degree of learn­ing, and accomplished with those qualifications, which the king designs for us, he will come in the glory of his majesty, and carry us home in triumph, and make us fellows of the royal society, at his imperial court, where we shall be blessed with the knowledge of such mysteries, as never yet entered into the heart of man.