IN the heauenlye Hierusalem dwelleth an Emperor , so worthie , and so wealthie , as in his presence , both the rarest maiestie seemeth base ; and the richest Monarch a beggar . The cite wherein hee abideth is so stately , and so strong , as neyther Niniuie without a lippe , nor Babilon●r ●r Ec●atane , may without a blush either be named , or numbred with it . It is of a glasse-like transparent , but the purest tried gold , that he resteth free from all doubt of euer hauing it wasted with fire , and voide of all feare , that it will not last for euer . The streetes of the citties are of the same gold , through them runneth a riuer as cleare as christall , on either side of which groweth a tree , which for euery of the twelue monethes giueth a seuerall fruite , and according vnto the effect it worketh , is called the tree of life : it is watered with the riuer which is of no lesse vertue then the tree , and hath his first vent from vnder the Emperour his throne . The citie is square 375. miles aswell in heigth , as length , and breadth , the compasse is 1500 mile : about it is a wal 216. foote high , all of Iasper stone , which beside the firmenes thereof , is of a most fresh and beautifull greene colour , that it mooueth the beholders to wish , as much as to wonder . The wall is built so low of purpose , that the statelinesse of the Citie may appeare the better vnto all passengers . The foundation of the wall is of twelue precious stones , the Iasper , the Saphire , the Calcedonicke , the Emerauld , the Sardonix , the Sardius , the Chrysolith , the Berill , the Topaze , the Chrysophrase , the Hyacinth , the Amethist . In this wall were twelue gates , in all poynts correspondent vnto the statelinesse of the wall , three toward the East , as many toward the West , also three towarde the North , and three toward the South : euerie seuerall gate is one of those twelue seuerall precious stones , and no one of the gates without all the rest of the stones , but they are not so much beautified by them , as by the presence of twelue princes , which stand in euery of the twelue gates one , who seeme there to abide , onely as allurements to their citie , if any beeing weary of the worlds illusions ▪ should indeuour too seeke theyr safetie , for neyther haue they any cause to looke vnto their gates , nor any custome to locke them .

And no worse then princes can stande at his gates , all whose houshold ●re princes , euerie one of them rich , because they cannot enioy more then they doe : all happie , because they cannot become lesse then they are , and onely contend , who shall to their power giue him most praise , who hath filled their harts with such ioy , as neither eye hath seene , eare hath heard , nor heart , ( but their owne ) can conceiue , and furnished all their senses with such delight , as still they couet , but neuer want , still they taste , but are neuer glutted , because they no sooner wish , then haue , and euery taste giueth a fresh appetite . If the ver●e pauement of their streetes bee of most pure gold , and the foundation of their walles of most precious stones , thinke what ornaments are those which are within theyr Pallaces . No night succeedeth their day , no winters colde , nor summers heate , disturbeth that temperature , which an euerlasting spring-time maintaineth in liuely vigour . One Kingdome contenteth them all , and because they all hold it of one , in whome ▪ onelie they ioy , and by whome they enioy it ; they know not how to liue , but as one ; no one enuyeth at anothers good , both because euery one hath what his heart can desire , and also for that they all haue one obiect , which so mightily draweth all their powers to the continuall loue , and looking thereon , as they haue neither power nor leysure to apply themselues to any other , more then that they loue each other , in respect that euerie one loueth him , who , as each thinketh , cannot bee loued too much .

How daintily doe they feede , whose meate and drinke is loue ? for if any thing delight without any likelyhood of euer loathing it , it is his loue : if any thing doe please without danger of poyson , it is his loue : if any thing bee able to quicken what seemeth quite dead , it is his loue . O howe well did the Poets aime at the truth , when they sayd that loue was a God , but shot much wide , when they fayned that hee was blinded , whose seeing onely , and being seene is that , which giueth life to all men , but neuer woundeth hee any against their willes , and whose heart hee woundeth , he salueth with the ioy of such a loue as is far more noblethen themselues , and will not leaue the least loue vnrequited .

This soueraign Lord ouer so many happy Princes , his estate is such as cannot by any art be described , his glorious throne , no eye is able to behold , his profound wisedome no vnderstanding is able to comprehend , his authoritie no power is able to resist , hee liueth in light inaccessible , hee ruleth with maiestie incomparable , and because his verie name is ineffable , too much presumption it were to attempt to set ●oorth the worthinesse of his nature . In his workes hee hath shewed himselfe so prouident , as all may iustly admire him , so good , as all may aboue all loue him , so sweet as all may ioy sufficiently in him , but for any inferiour vnto him selfe perfectly to know him , w●ere to limit his perfections , which are beyond all bounds , because they are infinite .

With this Emperour liued the aboue mentioned Princes , without any tediousnesse , desire of change , or any kinde of sorrow , being incapable of any thing but happinesse , vntill a maruailous rare and rigorous seeming accident befell them , for their Emperour hauing one onely sonne , equall vn●o his father in power , might , and authoritie , and in no one poynt of perfection , degenerating from him , from both whome , for the infinite likenesse betwixt them , proceeded an infinite loue , hee deputed him to a publike , shamefull , and a painefull death , which did so amaze the Princes attendant , whose loue was no lesse vnto him , then vnto his father , that ( might they haue beene suffered ) they would all haue sustained that punishment to haue saued their Prince , but their offer was refused , for the sentence was irreuocable .

The motiue of this vnnaturall●seeming iudgement , was an exceeding great loue , which hee bare vnto a Lady his adopted daughter , who was so enchaunted by her owne folly , as of a most comely and beautifull creature , shee became so mishapen and so vgly , that shee was loathsome euen vnto her selfe . This enchauntment was by eating an apple , of which her father before had giuen her warning shee should not taste , vpon perill of that which should ensue thereof : but her pride was so great , that ingratefull to so good a Lord , and disobedient to so carefull a father , shee followed the motion which was made vnto her by a false , though a fayre spoken enemie , and eate thereof contrarie to her father his commaundement .

The Enchantment was so deuised , that hauing taken effect , it should not bee dissolued but by the death of the onely sonne of an Emperour , who should exceede all the princes in the world in giftes both of bodie and minde : he should bee peerelesse for his birth , riches , beautie , wisedom , and might ; whose father should neuer know any woman , nor his mother any man , and should in the very selfe same instant both haue and want both father and mother . The liking by any such prince of such an vnlouely Lady being vnlike , and the birth of anie such prince or other seeming impossible , made the Enchanter secure , that this his work should endure for euer .

The Enchanter himselfe was one of more malice then might , but yet of more might then an vnrulie assailed could well resist . Hee was sometime a prince of the Emperour his court , & among princes a prince , being endewed with farre more excellent gifts then any his fellow princes , and exalted vnto that honor , as hee was reputed the chiefest vnder his Lord and Maister : but bearing himselfe so proudly against his maker , hee found by too late an experience , that hee who bestowed those graces vpon him , could also againe bereaue him of them , and because hee had once abused them with intollerable pride , hee should euer after be abridged of them to his eternal pain . To reuenge which disgrace hee assayed the Ladye the Emperour his daughter , and wonne her loue so farre foorth , as shee gaue more credite vnto him , then vnto her father , and would do more at his request , then at her fathers commaundement , for although she seemed at the first to haue a small liking vnto his motion , yet with faire promises , and too farre aboue his power to performe ; in the ende hee made her giue a consent vnto her vtter ouerthrow , had not the Emperour his sonne being deputed by his Father thereunto , vndertaken to release her by the losse of his owne life .

The ransome being appointed to be disbursed infinitely exceeding that , which was to bee redeemed , too gracious for so vngracious a creature , and too bountifull for her , who wilfully made herselfe bondslaue , by selling outright a royall and reall good for a proud imaginatiue Godhead , a great difficultie arose in what manner it should be paid , for the prince being of so excellent a nature , that he was not capable of the smallest annoyance , and in so strong a hold , that hee could not sustaine the least harme , much lesse the losse of his life , it was needfull he should both take vppon him a nature , and abide in such place , as in which , and where he might effect his desire ,

Here loue ( which maketh euery one it possesseth to conforme themselues vnto their loue ) quicklie determined what was in doubt , and make this conclusion ; that hee should take vppon him the same nature , of which his sister was , and her peruersenes onely excepted , hee should in all thinges bee like vnto her , which conceit loue made so conformable vnto his former counsell , as the more hee thought vppon it , the fitter the meanes seemed to bring his purpose to a good passe . For first he thoght that hereby hee might in a most louelie manner enioy her companie , whome hee so entirely loued without giuing any cause of ielousie to her ouerdiligent keeper : Secondly , hee thought , that the keper taking him for his captiue , might the more easily be ouertaken by his carelesnes : Thirdly , he thought this nature fittest for his purpose , that shee whome hee loued being of the same nature , might the better gesse at the torture hee should suffer for her sake ; because , by the shedding of his blood , hee was to worke her safety , and fancy him the sooner , who would aduenture so far to win her loue , who was not worthy of a good looke .

Wisedome therefore guiding the sterne as carefully , as loue seemed continually to fill the sayles , the prince proceedeth with no lesse policy then speede , and searching who of vnworthies was least vnworthy , ( for no one was worthy to mother such a sonne ) hee founde a maiden so farre exceeding all the rest , that he thought it both needles to seeke any further , shee was so fitte for his purpose , and impossible to finde her peere , she was so pure a creature , shee was descended of a princely race , but liued very obscurely , and although she were espoused to a mate , yet meant she to remaine a maiden A princely ofspring was fittest to conceiue such a maiesty , and a poore maiden meetest to cloake so high a mystery , of her he determined to bee borne without a Father , who before all beginnings was begotten without a mother .

This maide dwelt in Palestina the chiefest Prouince of Syria , enuironed with Syria and Arabia on the east side , on the south with the desart of Pharam , and Egypt , on the west with the Mediterranean sea , and on the North with Mount Libanus : it was sometime called Chanaam , after the name of Noah his grand-child by Cham , who possessed this cou●trey after the great floud , which drowned all the world except Noah , and his familie , but by the principall Lord thereof it was promised to Abraham the great Patriarch , and to his ofspring : whereupon he forsooke Chaldea his owne countrey , and came into Chanaam , where hee and after him his children continued untill the famous dearth , which was in all the world for the space of seuen yeares draue them into Egypt , whereafter 400. yeares , as some say , or as other some say , after 200. yeares , their children returning ( guided first by Moses , then by Iosue ) ouerthrew aboue thirtie kings , & destroying many nations made a reentrie into the land , and euerie familie tooke a portion vnto them and theirs , as Iosue by cordes allotted it , which hee did with the greater facilitie , because it lay in length with litle breadth , betwixt the riuer Iordan , and the middle earth sea , for Iordan hauing two heades , the one from the mount Libanus , ( not farre from the tower of Libanus ) and was called Ior , the other from a mountaine not farre off also from Libanus , which was called Dan , both met at a city called Dan , ( afterward Caesarea Philippi , ) and made one riuer , which is called Iordan , and runneth from these north partes of Palestina , by the East be●weene Iturea , and Traconitis , into the sea of Galile , ( otherwise called the poole of Genazereth , ) through which it runens , keeping a streight course vntill it came to the dead sea , ( which also was on the East side of the countrie , and reached vnto the mountaines which parted the south borders of Palestina from the desart of Pharan . ) The place where this sea is , was sometime both so pleasant and profitable , as it was compared vnto the highest his Paradise : insomuch as Abraham giuing his nephew Lot his choise , where he would go feed his flockes ( willing to preuent such strife as was likely to grow between them by the falling out of their shepheards ) Lot preferred this part before all the rest of the countrie , but the inhabitants increasing in wickednesse , as much as in wealth , prouoked God to so great wrath against them , that he consumed them all with fire , and all the countrie for the space of foure or fiue dayes iourney in length , and fiue or sixe miles in breadth , and this is the quantitie of the dead sea , which casteth vp many times great clods of clay , in colour like pitch , in smell like Brimstone , in holding togither that to which it is vsed ( for it was long before vsed in place of mortar in their buildings ) so strong as neither any force , fire , or water could dissolue it : and these valleyes ( where the sea is ) were verie full of this kinde of clay , before the countrie was destroyed . This sea breathed out very often great flames of fire , as if it had within it many furnaces , that , what with fire , and the filthinesse of the water , the trees within fiue miles compasse , did either beare nothing , or onely a likenes of fruit : for when it was touched or opened , nothing appeared but ashes , although before it were touched , it had an exceeding fresh , and liuely colour . Moreouer this qualitie had this sea , that what heauy thing soeuer was cast into it ( so that it were no dead thing ) it would neuer sinke : for triall whereof , Vespafian the Roman Emperour ( by whom the countrie was last spoiled of her peerlesse beautie ) caused certain men to be cast aliue into the sea , with their hands bound behinde them , who risse presently vnto the top , and lay there as securely from drowning , as they could haue beene vpon any drie land , and therefore perchance is it called the dead ●ea , not because no quicke thing liueth in it , but because it will not brooke any quicke thing , nor any thing which hath any similitude with lite , as sufficient triall hath beene made by those , who when they threw in one candle lighted , & another not lighted , saw the candle which was lighted swim ; and the other sinke .

The middle earth sea kept as streight a line vpon the west side of the countrie , so that Reuben beeing seated without the riuer Iordan , vpon the south , and halfe the tribe of Manasse vppon the North , and Gad in the middle betwixt them , the rest of the twelue tribes or familyes ( for so were the people distinguished ) tooke their portions in this sort betweene the riuer Iordan , and the middle earth sea , Iudah and Simeon , had the farthest south partes , next vnto whome were Beniamin and Dan , Nephtalim and Aser , were placed in the farthest North partes , and Zabulon bordered vpon them , the other halfe tribe of Manasse enioyed the middle of the land , and was neighboured on the south by Ephraim , and on the North side by Issaehar : Leui , who had the Priesthoode , had no portion of land in this diuision , but had out of euerie portion certaine townes and commons about them , and in the diuision of the countrie , one of Ioseph his sonnes supplied his roome , and the other his owne fathers .

The whole country from Dan to Barsabee ( that is from the farthest citie north , vnto the farthest citie south ) containeth 67 myles , and the breadth betwixt Iordan , and the middle earth sea , is in some places sixteene miles , in other eighteene , which ( euery mile esteemed a long houres iourney ) seemeth to bee of no great quantitie . But this small compasse was sufficientlie recompensed with the great commoditie which the countrye did yeelde , for neither did the seas want great store of fish , nor the land great plentie of fruit , both of such things as did breed , and also of such as did bud , & for proofe of the latter two of these which were sent to take a view of the land , while the rest of the Israelites remained in the desart of Pharan , brought betwixt them but one bunch of Grapes vpon a Leuer , and thought that both had their full loade , yet were they not the least of such a stocke ; as people nowe liuing are nothing like vnto them , either for strength or stature . And Ionathan , Sauls son , by no lesse then the losse of his life ( had not the people saued him ) prooued the Oracle true , which sayde , it was a land flowing with milke and honie . To conclude , what soeuer the world could afford , either to please mans sense , or delight mans mind , was within the compas of this little portion of land , which hauing equally round about it the East , west , north , and south , it self like a Princesse , sat in the midst of the whole world , to be admired by all for her beautie , and honoured for her soueraigntie , nowe lately triumphing that it could yet excell it selfe in bringing forth a flower , which passed al the rest in vertue , beautie , and sweetnesse , the fruit whereof being beaten downe , would of it selfe rise againe , and being eaten would neuerthelesse remaine for euer , it would giue sight to the blind , lims to the lame , ease to euery diseased , and life to those who are dead .

This flower grew in the top of a mountain in the north part of this ( for this speciall cause ) a most sacred land , 3. daies iourny from Ierusalem , the chiefest citie in the country , in a citie of the tribe of Zabulon , called Nazareth , for the beautie thereof , & pleasantnesse so called , for Nazareth signifieth a flower , yet hath it her principall worth in being a garde to her , who was for that time the flower , not onely of that country , but of the whole world , at the appearing of which vpon this mountaine , the lillies of the vallyes were ashamed of their whitenes , the roses in Hiericho blushed , when they ordred their leaues to breath out their sweetnes , the Cedars of Libanus woulde neuer haue mustred themselues to make knowne their starelines , had not nature commanded them all to do this honor vnto thei● princesse , that they also appearing in the●r richest , beautifullest , sweetest & comliest att●re , she might the more easily bee discerned to exceed them all , hauing in one what perfection was in them all , and what was not .