A Treasury of Divine Raptures, Epigrams · Epigrams C · Epigram 117 – Epigram 127
117. On Children.
PEace-makers are the children of the High'ſt,
Not by eternal generation, Chriſt
Alone is ſo; nor only by creation
But chiefly by real ſanctification.
Adoption and infuſion of Grace,
Our childſhip conſiſts in, we are (alas!)
Not born, but made Gods children, ſince we are
Not ſons till we o' the Divine Nature ſhare.
Th' impulſive cauſe is Gods free Grace, the cauſe
Organical is Faith, 'tis Faith which draws
Whole Chriſt into the heart, him there applies;
This filiating Grace to Chriſt us ties.
By faith we are made one with Chriſt, and ſo
Become a kin to God; b'ing lincked to
The nat'ral ſon, our brother Chriſt we gather,
We are Gods children, he our loving father:
God's children have his ſpirit, for ſin are ſorry,
Are zealous for his Day, his Truth, his Glory:
Love to enjoy each others companie,
And in Gods preſence, delight much to be,
Are like their Heavenly father, and his will
They always are ambitious to fulfil,
Yea make it their ambition to draw in
Others to be of the ſame Royal-kin.
Sinners made ſons! O love to be admir'd,
We neither it deſerv'd, nor it deſir'd:
God's children are the royal Diadem,
He makes a precious account of them,
Creates them noble perſons; them doth crown
With honour, they have titles of renown.
They are call'd Kings, th' excellent of the earth,
And their rich Scutchions ſhew their Heav'nly …irth
The Scripture hath ſet forth their Heraldry,
Sometimes they give the Eagle flying high,
To heav'n upon the wings of faith and love;
Sometimes they give the meek & harmleſs Dove;
Sometimes they give as we in Scripture find,
The Lyon, ſhewing their couragious mind.
Adam was in his innocent eſtate,
The world's ſole Monarch, the Regenerate
Have higher Honour, more renowned are,
Adam was (though a bright) yet falling Star.
Adam's eſtate was glorious, yet unſtable,
And ſoon was loſt, theirs is unalterable.
Gods children are equal in glory to
The Angels, this themſelves acknowledge do,
I am thy fellow-ſervant, in ſome ſenſe
They are above them, in preheminence.
The Angels are their ſervants to attend,
And wait upon them to their Journeys end.
Beſides, Chriſt honoured their nature more,
By taking it; though by creation lower
They are then Angels, by adoption higher
Advanced are they, then the bleſſed Quire.
They have a fairer Coat of Arms to ſhew
Then Angels, let's their Priviledges view;
God loves them well, though for a while he may
Withdraw from them, yet long he cannot ſtay:
He will bear with many infirmities,
And will accept of their weak ſervices:
Provide for them he will, he gives them their
Allowance dayly, and he doth prepare
A portion for them, which can never be
Summ'd up to them, he granteth liberty.
He skreens off dangers from them, temporal
And ſpir't'al wills hurt them not at all.
God will reveal his Law to them, th…y may
Go to their Father, and with boldneſs pray;
They're heirs to all the promiſes, they ſhall
Their Fathers bleſſing have for their good all.
Good things, means, mercies, evil things alſo.
Poverty, ſickneſs, ſhame, ſuff'rings, death too,
Shall work together: Chriſt for them did die,
And they ſhall never periſh finally.
Theſe are the glorious priviledges that
Attend Gods children: Try we our eſtate,
If we are ſanctifi'd by God's good ſpirit,
We are adopted, and ſhall Heav'n inherit.
O let's walk as Gods children, yielding ſtill
Loving Obedience to our Fathers Will.
Are we the children of the High'ſt?
And is our elder brother Chriſt?
O never let's begin
To fall in league and match with ſin:
Better for ever ſingle tarry,
Then with the Devils daughter marry.
'Tis dangerous to dote upon her,
It will degrade us of our Honour.
Her Dowry is the horrid chains
Of darkneſs, and eternal pains,
The gnawing Worm, ſharp whips of Wire,
And ſtreams of ſulph'ry-flaming fire.
118. On the Chimes.
Sweet is the Muſick of a chime of Bells,
But Heavens diviner harmony excells.
119. On a Chimney.
IT is in Winter warm, in Summer chill,
We all the year are burning hot to ill.
120. On a Chinke.
FIll up each chink of our deſires none can
But God alone; the World is empty, vain.
121. On a Chin.
A Man may have a well thatch'd chin,
Yet freez for want of zeal within.
122. On a Chip.
A Ciens graffed in a righteous ſtock,
Was once a chip of the old (Adams) block.
123. On a Chirurgeon.
HE is the chief and beſt Chirurgeon who
Can heal Soul-wounds, this Chriſt alone can do.
124. On Chivalry.
TO overcome our ſelves and die
To Sin, is the beſt Chivalry.
125. On Choler.
A Man exceeding teaſty grows
When yellow choler overflows.
But Grace the Paſſions ſubdues.
126. On Chooſing.
MArtha minds the World, while Mary
Choſe the one thing neceſſary;
So will ev'ry gracious heart,
Always chooſe the better part.
127. On Chryſtal.
THe Law's a Cryſtal Glaſs, wherein
We ſee the ugly face of Sin.