A Counterbane Against Earthly Carefulness, Poem
To the worlds white Sonnes.
O Witleſſe mortalls! you all heedleſſe catch
Appearing Shadowes; let the Substance go;
At bables, bubbles, butterflies do ſnatch,
But the true treaſure to ſeeke out forſlowe;
Carke for your Carcaſe, it to clothe and feed,
Your Soule leaue naked, and let pine for need.
The nimble Fire ſtill vpward doth aſpire
To its owne ſphere: and his deare natiue Home
The wandring Exile euer doth deſire.
The liuing Birth pent in its mothers Wombe
Doth restleſſe ſtruggle for more liberty:
But void of Motion the dead Mole dothly.
Were you from God with life diuine inſpir'd,
Earth were too narrow to confine your Harts:
Or were your Soules with louelove ſpirituall fir'd,
They would not dote on meere terreſtriall parts,
But God would louelove, and to enioy that LoueLove,
Would vpward riſe and aime at things aboue.
Felt you your wants; moſt earneſt would your care
Be for your Soule, your Bodie ſetting light.
Knew you the world; its gariſh Shewes and rare
You would deſpiſe, which but delude the ſight.
Saw you Heauens bliſſe, baſe would the world appeare,
But Heauen to win, no paines, no coſt too deare.
Which breathed in our foggie aire whilcome,
But weary of thoſe ſtinkes it did diſcerne,
To Heauens pure aire and cleareſt light is gone;
Learne whither your chiefe labours to direct:
Learne what ſucceſſe you may thereon expect.
Seeke Gods bleſt Kingdome, Seeke his Righteouſnes:
All worldly comforts ſhall then follow you.
Heauens ſhadovv is this earthly happineſſe:
Who holdes the bodie hath the ſhadovv too.
On thy Gods ſeruice do thou onelyonly thinke,
And hee'l prouide thee raiment, meat and drinke.
FINIS.
End of the text · Paul Baynes, A Counterbane Against Earthly Carefulness (1618)