Lyra Davidica/Martyrdom Revers'd
Martyrdom Revers'd or
the Lover's flames.
Sacred flames of love divine
In our hearts untainted shine
Feed upon our souls and let
them to Love's burning stake be set
O blest fires quickly come
We're prepared for Martyrdom
Blessed is the soul that dies
thus to Love a Sacrifice.
2.
BLessed Jesus from thine Eye,
Those thrice Sacred Flames did fly,
Which now burn without controul
As on the Tinder of our Soul.
Blessed Fires, O consume
What's prepard for Martyrdom.
Blessed as the Soul that dies,
Thus to Love a Sacrifice,
3.
The Etherial Flames that are
Couched in the Welkin Fair;
Those that crown the radiant Sun;
And those that beautify the Moon,
Are less fair than those that come
Thus to Crown our Martyrdom.
Blessed is the Soul that dies
Loves unspotted Sacrifice.
4.
O how raging, yet how sweet
Are those Sacred Fires, which greet
Our dry Souls with flaming Kisses,
Pains dispensing with our Blisses.
But such Pains we wish to come,
That bring us Crowns of Martyrdom.
Blessed is the Soul that dies
Thus to Love a Sacrifice
2.
O our Souls are all on Fire,
We consume in our Desire
We Desire what we Possess
Water's but our Fires Increase:
Those bright Fires which are come
To crown our Souls with Martyrdom.
Happy is the Soul that dies
Loves All-willing-Sacrifice.
6.
O what lingring Death is this,
Bliss inviting unto bliss.
By those Tasts of Love are we
But more Enamour'd of the Sea
Of Abyssal Love, whence come
The Flames that crown our Martyrdom.
Happy is the Soul that dies
Thus Loves daily Sacrifice.
7.
O what kind of Pain is this,
Which is sweetest of all bliss
Oh! tis Pain intolerable!
Pleasure yet Unutterable
Such are these blest Flames which come
To crown us with Loves Martyrdom.
Happy, happy Soul that dies.
Thus Love's Living Sacrifice.
8.
O we cry we cannot bear
Love's hot Flames, which domineer
In our Souls, and yet had we
Doom'd to Death far rather be,
Than to lose those Flames that come
To crown us with Loves Martyrdom
O thrice happy Soul that dies
Love's Eternal Sacrifice.