God is a distant stately Lover — Jehovah and Jesus

Miles Standish sent John Alden to persuade Priscilla to accept Miles' love; however, Priscilla married John at the end. They were the pilgrims of Plymouth. This poem compares Miles and John with God and Jesus. The key word is Synonym at the end.

God is a distant－stately Lover－¹
Woos, as He states us－by His Son－
Verily, a Vicarious Courtship－
"Miles", and "Priscilla", were such an One－

But, lest the Soul－like fair "Priscilla" ⁵
Choose the Envoy－and spurn the Groom－
Vouches, with hyperbolic archness－
"Miles", and "John Alden" were Synonym－

(F.615/J.357)

[1, 2] God, His Son:: God sent Jesus to persuade people to love God.
[3] Vicarious:: similar, substituted.
[4] Miles, Priscilla:: Longfellow's The Courtship of Miles Standish (1858) was based on the story of Miles and John Alden.
[6] Envoy:: John Alden. Groom:: Miles Standish.
[7] hyperbolic:: exaggerated, Dickinson's comment on Jehovah and Jesus as one. archness:: cleverness, waggishness; good-humoured slyness, pleasantry _(OED).
[8] Synonym:: Jehovah and Jesus are one.