The Infancy of the World, Poem 20
Historicall Applications,
1.
Tis pretty sport to see the Cobtines stride
VponUpon a Hobby-horses back, and ride.
Insip…d Ideots! O prepostrous deeds!
Steeds doe not carry them, they carry Steeds.
Pleasures are Reeds, which yeild us infant play;
Reader, we ride on Reeds as well as they.
2.
The Alc'ran sayes, (which who will may beleeve)
The Moon descended into Mahomet's sleeve:
'Tis strange! yet God doth his loves lamp impart
T'a more coarcted room, what's that? the heart.
O may the lustre of those rayes divine
Be alwaies sparkling in this heart of mine!
That I, inlightned by thy light may see,
Great God! more clearly to discover thee.
3:
The Tibaren's affix unto the Cross
Those they love best; triumphing in their loss.
But we to part with darling fins are sorry:
Though we may gaine thereby a crown of glory.
4.
Th' Arabians instead of worser wood
Feed Corm'rant Vulcans jawes with fragrant spices
But ah! we chuse what's bad, refuse what's good,
Offend the Lord of life with loathsome vices.
My soul when zeal to kindle prayer begins.
Cast out the filthy rubish of thy sins.
5:
Chimerians think there is no Sun,
Because it is debar'd their sight:
The dark'ned soul doth groping run,
If God absent his glorious light,
Lord turne, with thy corruscant rayes,
My darksom nights to lightsome dayes.
6.
At the Cape of good hope the rib-made Sex
With chaines of greasie tripes adorne their necks.
Ev'n so those sins which in our eyes seem faire,
In Gods, which are most pu…e, deformed are.
What God abhors that mostly doth arride us,
Disgrace we grace, and in our shame we pride us.
7.
Amongst the Series (O had we less store)
Is neither Theif, nor Murtherer, nor Whore.
8.
If glass-wall'd Baumgar be a Court for Cats,
Small entertainment's there for Mice, or Rats,
Those noted theeves; 'tis dang'rous for a Mouse
To seek for shelter in a Mouzer's house.
For…warn'd (they say) fore-arm'd, if that I were
A Mouse, I'le warrant you I'de ne're come there.
9.
Pheniceans slay their only sons t'asswage
And mitigate their angry Demon's rage;
They their Directo's do fall down before.
Such love Gods well who sensless ones adore.
10.
The Pegusi, to stave off further evill,
Throw meat behind their backs to feed the Divel
And think such puppy-dogs as come and eat
Are the Devil's Caterers to bring him mear,
Lord! when I offer up to thee my prayers,
Let me behind my back cast mundane cares
Fill thou my soul with grace and on mine ill
The Devil may feed and surfeit if he will.
11.
Ʋulcan they say is lame, and reason good;
For fire cannot go forward without wood.
12.
The Turks rewards to their tormentors bring,
Esteem the whip, O 'tis … pious thing.
Lord when thou scourgest let not me repine▪
But kiss the Rod, because the Rod is thine.
Give me to know that my …ffences urge,
That so with patience I may bear thy scorge:
And if thou please to stroke, or please to strik…,
O may I love both equaly al…ke.
13.
In Turky the Adulterers head is drest
With the full paunch of a new slaught'red beast;
And so, in pomp, is carried up and down,
Through …he throng'd streets of the admiting town.
As wholsome laws with us are instituted,
But ah! so strictly are not executed.
Why mayn't an A …or the Adulterers laud,
Be a front-mark, as well as B for Baud?
Would all our Letchers, and each light-skirt Trull
Were ship'd for Turkey, or the great Mogull.
Or else wayes vsed heer theire lusts to t…me
So as to make them be asham'd of shame.
14.
Men-e…ting Lestrigons all men will blame
But ah! Oppressors do the very same:
They grind the faces of the poor, and put
In bags the chinck squeez'd from the hungry gut:
They rob the Spittle, lab'ri…g most of all
To raise themselves by their untimely fall.
But let such know goods so unjustly got
Shall prove a curse, and in their purse shall rot.
15.
Midas his wish obtaines, his touch behold
A fruitfull Alchimy turne all to gold.
In tract of time that man may have, which be…rs
Midas his wealth, Midas his Asses e…rs.
How fond are our desires! we wish …'enjoy
The things which do within a moment cloy.
Rash Midas wish'd, but Midas did not think
T'except from Generals his meat and drinke.
Midas may say experiencedly,
More hard to fill the belly then the eye.
Gold buyeth all things, but were all things gold,
Food would be wanting, and our comfort cold.
Art thou a muck-worme? go take Midas store;
Midas was but an Ass and thou no more.
16.
Least they pollute pure water in Batenter,
To wash their hands the people wont t'adventure:
Lord I am worse then they; my soul forbears
To purge her foulness with repentant tears.
17.
The wound-restoring Balm is said to grow
Within the fruitfull vale of Jericho:
Nor will it set its foot on ev'ry ground:
Ev'n so in ev'ry heart grace is not found.
That Balm for sin-sick souls, the Lord doth plant it
Jn humble vales, when lofty Mountaines want it.
Lord plant thy grace in my hearts bord'red ally
To beat such fruits make me a lowly vally:
Let Gileads Balm my sin-sick soul recover,
And over me thy Balmy pinions hover:
The grace of true repentance pour thou in
Into my soul, and that will eat out sin.
18.
The mouth-less Attom…s by the aicr do… live,
And scent of odors; Lord be pleas'd to give
Thy quickning spirit and loves fragranci…,
Unto my soul that I may live to thee.
19.
Best in the night the Owl-ey'd Albans see;
And in the day of grace how blind are we!
20.
Our love to God is cold and hot by turns,
Now cole as Alps, anon like E…na burns.
21.
A wonder Epimenides hath bin
To many, who have longer slept in sin.
22.
Cyrus knew, by their names, his Souldiers all,
To mind his owne, Corvinus could not call;
Thy names in all thine attributes make known,
To m…, dear Lord, though I forget mine owne.
23.
Dice, Bal…s, and Chess, first to the I…dians came in;
Occasion'd by a body-pining f…mine:
Th'Inhabitants finding no other way
Lay open to redress, did fall to play
Their empty belly… to beguil; for easing
Our saturated bodies, games are pleasing.
24.
None, can in all felicity abound,
Vntoothsom Clerus is in hony found.
25.
Th' Esseni, neither lust nor money know,
I'me sure, with us, ther…s none can say, tis so.
Heathens are chast, content where are you come,
You'l find it otherwise in Christendome.
26.
The Persians affect a temp'rate Diet,
Hate what the Parthians love, excess, and Ryot
Though bodies meanly fare, let the full bowls.
Of thy Nectarean word fill full our soules.
27.
In Turky, fools, and Lunaticks are deemd
The onelyonly saints and who so much esteemed?
And here in England, som account for holy.
Fanatick Quakers, and the sons of Fo…ly:
28.
The Barb'rous Issedon's, their dead devo'ur
Their drinking boul… are skulls all gilded o're.
So are our natures most inclind unto.
T…e things which lest th…y should delight to do.
29.
Closs sinners, their offences cloke with night.
And like the Blattae hate the till-tale Light.
30.
Gods favoure shins on us but we ('tis pitty)
Are like the blind-eyd Chalc…donian citty.
We take no notice, what our God hath done,
But shut our eyes, and say there is no Sun.
31.
An Ape resembles man, some men and Apes
In gesture are alike as well as shapes.
Nay our Pragmaticks m…ny a task do set,
Un followd by the busy marmoset.
32.
Christ is our Esculapius, when to sin.
We l…veless are he quickens us agin.
33.
Lord grant this boon (what e're thou else denyst)
I may ha…e faith to build my self in Christ.
So shall the lofty structures I shall raise
Ge… more then C…esiphon or Philon's, Praise.
Di…nas fane, and Athens Arsenall.
Are slep'd in ruin, mine shall …ver fall.
34.
Christ's the true A…las, his vnshrinking shoulders
Are our off…nces Firmamen…s vpholders.
35
Sweet Jesus land me at th… banks of Sion.
Be thou m… Dolphin I will be Arion,
To sound thy praises on my warbling Lyer
In emulatioh of that heavenly Quire.
And Caroll sonnets, sonnets … whose sound
The Hills may eccho, and the Dales rebound.
36.
Gainst Satans grand assaults, Lord make my brest▪
Impenetrable as the Halcyons nest.
And when the Arrows of Temptation fly.
Against me, Oh! …e pleas'd to put them by;
O may it not be said his fi'ry dart
Hath got the better of my yeilding heart.
When he malli…iously takes aim to throw
His venom'd shafts from his lowd sownding Bow;
Ah me! O may they (falling on the ground)
Make no Impression, nor no rag…ed wound▪
37.
Not long before great Julius Cesar's death,
A sheep (having no heart) was found drew breath.
But Hipocrites, and those that flatter do,
Have, like the Pamphlagonian Partridg, two.
38.
We wisely can avoyd Bosphorean shelvs.
While on the Rocks of sin we split our selves.
39.
Lord grant that I a Dedalus may be,
To build a stately edifice to thee:
The heigh… of my Ambition is to fram…
Within my heart a mon'ment of thy name.
40.
Like the Saguntian Child from th' …arth we come,
And shall return into our mothers womb.
O… fleshly walls, and bony …imber must
Turn out their Tenant, th…n return t… dust
Our breath is Gods, if he but take away
The breath he lent us what are we but clay?
Clay at the best, our matter and their forms
Wh…n dead, are thorough fares for crawling worms
41
What was't a clock, Pompilius would know,
A…d dy…s▪ with me why may it not be so?
Bef…re thy g…im-fac'd messeger thou send,
O mak… me wise to know my latter end.
Dea…h stays …or no…e, may I be ready still
Prepared, and then come he when he will.
42.
Wit… poysnous sins, let us not h…ste our …ate,
Last we, Domi…ius-like, repent too late.
43.
Many have dy'd with grief, but over joy
Did Sophocles and Panacrete destroy.
Dangers enwrapd in every sudden passion;
It often puts the sens…s out of fashion
Then moderate thy joy, and when grief wounds
Thy soul, besure to lim… i… with hounds.
Observe a mean, and let thy footsteps be
In the mid-road, avoyd Obliquitie.
44.
Iove's bird to th'Wren will not be reconcil'd,
Because he's Regulus, a Kingling stild:
Let Soveraignty be kep'd, then the…'s no odds,
There must be no pluralitie of Gods.
Our God comands it so, nay jealous he
Will have no rivalls, to the fourth degree
He'le soundly punish, the successive race
Of Polytheists who bow to Idolls base:
But as for thousands, that observe his ways,
Mercy shall them encompass all their days.
45.
All the day long Gymnosophists will stand
(Admired patiencel) in the scalding Sand.
On their alternate legs, and glare upon
With eys, vnapt to wink, the scorching Sun.
O Sun of God teach us t'apply this story,
And make vsus constant to behold thy glory.
46.
Lord tune my heart turn griefs to songs of praise
And troublous Nights to Halcyonian dayes.
47.
If thou my sins Shouldst number by my hair
Lord make my head (like the Myconian's) bare.
48.
The swallowing down an hair? how poor a thing!
And yet to prove an instrument to bring.
Death to the Roman Fabius. may not wee.
Depart as soon, who are as frail as he?
Dangers Vnsen… for oftentimes do skip.
Betwixt the sparkling cup, and vpper lip.
49.
Lord grant that as the Heliotrop Apollo.
My heart the Sun of rightiousness may follow.
50.
Lord raise up holy fear in me to flee
From sin as creatures do the Linden-tree.
51.
The Heathen Brachmens do contemn and scorn
The fear of death, with hopes to be reborn.
Small is that Christians faith who dreads to dye,
When life is promis'd; and eternity!
Happy that soul which dyeth unto sin,
And unto righteousness is born agin.
This death's a pregnant wombe, regeneration
First-born to life, and heir unto salvation.
Death is the Turn-key, for to let thee in
The gate of life if thou be dead to sin.
So live to dye, that thou maiest dye to live;
And wear the crown God shall the faithfull give.
52.
God angles, Souls unwilling to be took,
Glanis like, bite the bait, leave bare the hook.
53.
The Ch…nois dreaming that they shall be born.
To heav'n up by their locks, will not be shorn:
Is hea'vens hand short'ned? can th'almighty save not
If he you… length'ned hair to hold by have not?
Rebellious Abs'lom wore the like, yer he
Was not caught up to heaven, but to a Tree.
Although vponupon the ground you traile your haire,
Heav'ns high; short may you come, of coming there,
God cant' a Glorious throne advance thy soul
Although th' hast not an heir upon thy poul
If to the eyes of God my heart seem faire,
What care I for such excrements as hair
54.
The Nabatheans so n…glect their dead
That their Kings are in dunghils buried
Lord make me faithfull to the death, that I,
May weare a crown of life if that I dye;
To live to thee I would not wish to have
A fair inscription, on a gawdy grave
If so my soul unto her mak…r fly
It makes no matter where my body ly.
55.
At Bemavis sick people like to dy
All night, before an idle Idoll ly:
Fond people! think you that that sensless stones
Can ease your sorrows, or regard your mones?
My soul, when sick, …cq…in… the grand physitan
Of heav'n and earth, with thy deplor'd condition
B…g hard for mercy at the thron of grace.
And he'le give audience, and and at length embr…ce
Thee in his circling arms. Oh who'd not cr…ue
VponUpon such easy terms, but ask and have
Nay, he is readier to giuegive by farr.
Then thou to ask, Oh his indulgent care!
Ask but in faith besure thou shalt reciue,
Thou canst not crave the thing he can not give
Fear not if God but undertake the cure,
Soon done, as …aid, of health thou shalt be sure
Can heav'n be false? hath he not promised rest,
Unto th… heavy laden, and opprest?
Mans help is vain, God is a Help indeed,
I wish no better help in time of need.
56.
The Hirpian witches, with uncindged soles
On mount Soracte walk on burning coal…;
So those that in security excell,
Walk as it were amidest the flames of hell
57.
Ther's difference in climes, D…cembers thunder
Is not to the Italian a wonder.
Lord when so'ere thy thundring judgments rattle.
About mine eares let me prepare …' embattle
Against my sins, not count thy voice a crime.
N…r sent in an unseasonable time.
58
The Marsian Bears do fashion out their young,
By licking rhem all over with their tongue,
And we with Bears in this one thing agree,
We put a gloss on our deformitie.
59.
Aeschyl was killed by a Tortise-shell,
Which from the tallons of an Ea…le fell;
His fate foretold, into the op…n ay'…
He gets; Gods judgments find us ev'ry where.
60.
I read man only laughs, and sheddeth tears,
And wanteth power alone to shake his ears:
But sure I am, when discontent is bred,
He needs must shake his ears that shakes his head.
61.
Dame Martia was her infants living Tombe,
When lightning killed it within her wombe
Before sins come into their birth 'twere well
If God would crush the Hydra in the shell.
62.
Great Judah's Lion is as mild to those
Who do submit. as furious to his foes.
Sampson, that knockt so many to the ground,
Within the carkase of a Lion found
Sweet combs of Honey: the tender Spouse doth s…
In Christ, the fruits of the mellifluous Bee.
His love is ve…y pleasing to her taste,
He, he alone is his deare-hearts repaste.
He is the Bee, the Honey, and the Hive,
To active souls; the Drones away must drive.
63.
If wisdome lies in beards, a Goate would be
Plato, full out as wise, as grave, as thee.
64.
Th' Antaei into woolves transformed were,
And Ants tur…'d men, at Ae…c…s his prayer.
If so, no mar'l they'r bloudily encl…nd,
And these laborious. Cat after kinde.
65.
L…mpido was both daughter, wife, and mother,
Unto a King; Queen Ann… was such another.
Is not the Church the daughter of the High'st?
Is not the Church the …ender spouse of Christ?
Is not the Church the Mother of us all?
None dare deny't, I hope nor never shall.
But are we kings? God and his Son I know
Are Kings, and gre…t ones to, the Kings below.
Are mean too them and but subordina…e.
But wher's our crown? we reign with Christ in state
Thus then to God, to Christ to Saints (no other)
The Church a Daughter is, a wife, a mother.
66.
Kissing at first came in, that men might know
If their wives drank Temetum wine or no
To find her out, the jealous husband sip…
The reaking sent from the good womans lips
Thus 'tis with us for sinister intents
We vse a cloake of courtly compliments
67.
Diomedean birds, have teeth to bite
Yet fawning looks, such is a parasite.
Friend me no friends, for if thou go bout
To bite at me would all thy teeth were out.
68.
The Gymeco-cratumens, are born…
The Object of im…erious womens scorn…
Obeying husbands and comanding w…ues
Both equally do lead vnnat'rall lives.
I doubt not but ther's many could …fford
To wear the breeches would you s…y the word;
We…'t not for shame, Ile lay a brace of groats
More breeches would be worn, and fewer coats
Give shrowes the reines, if men will be such fools,
How purely will they scold, they need no schools,
To Learn them, or to traine them vp there …o.
No that (God knows) they naturally can do
Their tongu…s run gl…b, and clutter out as thick
As any hops th…ir dwelish Rhetorick.
Such as will not believe this sex can prate
Go vex the Oyster wiues at Billing's gate
69
No males belong unto the modest Chainy,
Some females are so Chast that they love many
They hate and love you in a trice, the while
They'l frown upon you in their hearts they smile
And when their tongues do bid you not come neer
You may conclude your presence then doth cheer
O how they love to work contrary still,
Thrust off, pull on, unwill the things they will;
Now hard, anon, as pliable as war;
A faire Encomium for th'unconstant sex.
70.
Great men are multipl…'d, but good men are
As is the D…ephanis exceeding rare;
Were there as many men as good as great
Virtue would more advance, and vice retreat.
71.
The g…gling of a goose, how poor a thing?
And yet so strange deliverance to bring
The Roman Capitol: oft great events
Are brought about by weakest instruments.
…n Sampson's hand the Jaw-bone of an Ass
Did slaughter thousands; purp'ling o're the grass.
The Rock yeilds water smot with Moses rod;
The smalest means prevails, if blest by God.
72.
The Shrimp only for food waits one the Nacre,
So we to serve our turnes do serve our maker.
How servile are we? we affection bear
To God not so much out of love as feare.
73.
Like Quails, and Roe-bucks we love poyson, that
Which most we should avoyd doth make us fat.
Sin is a cut-throat, yet it is our will.
To count him friendliest, when he means to kill.
74.
I would not wish, so I be fair within,
For Chios earth to beautifie my skin.
While ceruss'd faces unto sin allure,
May my chast soul b'unseperably pure:
I care not how the world esteem of mee,
So I be lovely onelyonly vntounto thee,
Nothing can make me fine I must confess.
O Saviour but thy robes of righteousness.
75.
Our hearts all vice, as Amphitane gold draws,
The Load-stone iron, as the Amber strawes.
76.
A chillis-like god which inflicts the wound.
In justice, can in mercy make it sound.
The law is as a lance to cut the bile,
The gosple pours in balme an healing oile.
O may that make me sensible of sin.
And this revive, when I to sink begin.
78.
I Tortoise-like, wish neither Te…th nor Tonge.
Rather then hauehave them instruments of wrong.
Abusive language may I alwayes shun,
By their lewd bab'lings many are undone.
Silence is laudable; my judgment's such,
Better to have no tongue, then one too much.
79.
We like L…ertes, and Augeas, Kings,
Who dung'd their grounds, minde only earthly things.
W… pore still downwards, and are groveling still
Below, like muke-wormes, ne're looke up the hill,
The pleasant Sion; let the things of heaven
Or sink, or swim, t…ey'r left at six and seaven.
May I, who Christianity profess,
Minde God and heaven more, and trifles less.
80.
To three M's the Philosopher assignes
Th'earths rich…s, Mettals, Minerals, and Mines▪
81.
Poor Cincimatus, he which held the plough
So lately, is become dictator now.
Fortune on Peasants sometimes casts renown,
Raises the humble, kicks the lofty down.
Joy is the consequent of dull-brow'd sorrow,
A subject now, may be a King to morrow.
The active spirits of our age do climbe
By gradual steps to dignities sublime:
I speak in rev'rence to his Highness, who
By Martial Valour hath attain'd unto
The pow'r now in his hands, whom God doth bless
With matchless and unparralel'd success:
The Honor…ble title of a King,
How modestly refus'd he? under's wing
We are protected from the boyling rage
Of home-bred foes in this rebellious Age
Blessed be God, that under our own vine,
We have the liberty to sup, and dine.
82.
Support my faith with thy confirming hand,
So shall it firme, like unmov'd Milo, stand.
If thou withdraw and leave me but an hour
Unto my selfe, how feeble is my power.
But by thy sinewy arme, great God upheld,
The day is mine, my foe-men needs must yeild.
83.
Christ's our Nepenthe, enemy to sadness
Dispersing sorrow; and reversing gladness.
Art thou, my soul, at any time cast down?
O think on him; and thou wilt smile, not frown;
Drink in, by faith, the Julips of his bloud,
Oh that's a Cordial, thou wilt say 'tis good,
O what can more refocilate the soul,
Then streaming merits in a lib'ral boul.
84.
The Prognean swallow, the cold country leaves,
Hasts to a warmer one: a false friend cleaves,
Fast in the Summer of prosperity.
Let adverse Winter come, then farewell he.
85.
God's word, like to Sybilla's golden branch
Can make us through all difficulties lance.
Soul t…k… it with thee, when thou wouldst oppose
The storming fury of thy spiritual foes,
As sin, and death: nay it hath power to quell
The Divel, and drive him to the gates of hell.
86.
On the pure Elements, four things live sole,
Chamelion, Herring, Salamander, Mole.
Tobacc…nists, Pot-Leaches, Lechers, Misers,
Of Ayr, and Water, Fire, and Earth are prizers.
The fi…st makes the Tobacco pipe his dugg,
And sucks the smoak of the burnt Indian drugg.
The second, he, for his part, c…nnot live
Without full flaggons: And the third doth grieve
If any step between and stop the flame
Of his lust …oward… an alluring Dame;
Whores are his hackneys, he is alwaies dull,
But wh…n he's sporting with his pamp'…ed Trull.
As for the fourth, the M…ser to be sure,
Were't not for gold he could not long endure.
S… then this one, and that another likes;
Wedded to that their own opinion strikes.
87.
The Indian women, in a foolish spite,
Will black their teeth because that dogs be white:
As for the sparkish gallants of our Nation,
They'r French-mens Apes in each fantastik fashion.
88.
Wouldst thou repair thy memory? I think
Thou may'st, if thou'l… look Mneme fount, then drink.
89.
Zisca commands his skin be made a drum,
That the Bohemians still might overcome.
Who, while he lives, is over sin victorious,
After his death he shall not be in-glorious.
90.
Malice inflicts on men more dang'rous wounds
Then Porc'pines quills on the pursuing hounds.
How sedulous are some to purchase woe
For other men, what will not malice doe?
91.
The ebbs and flows of, Egipts plowman, Nile,
Do make a barren, or a fruitfull soile:
Grace is this river, and the more it flows
The more good fruit; if less, the lesser grows.
92.
Panthers have crabbed looks though speckled skins,
And fairest out-sides joyne to fowlest sins.
93.
Anaxarete, whilst on the Rack he hung,
Did in the Tyrants face spit out his tongue.
To have no tongue it is the lesser evill,
Then to recant by't, and so please the Divel.
94.
Soul, though the flames should for a while subdue thee
Like the Pyrrhean grove, God can renew thee.
95.
Le…t I be like the Hirecinyan wood,
Lord lop my sins, and in the roome graft good.
Since the Creation that was never lop'd,
Till renovation we do stand untop'd.
Lord if thou hew us, hew us not in ire,
Nor make us bundles for eternal fire
To feed upon: our names are in thy rouls,
And wilt thou cast out our immortal souls.
96.
Taprobans, (not respecting persons) fling
To merc'less Tygers their offending King.
How happy were we if we could command
Our head-sins, go, to the Arch-Tyrants land.
97.
The B…udmes fight unarm'd, the Sword, the Spear,
They are the only weapons that they bear:
Right Combatants of Mars they scorn to throw
Cowardly Arrowes from the springing Bow.
My life a warfare is, Lord, let thy word
Thy d…eadful word, be as a two-edgd Sword
To wound mine en'mies, O be thou my S…ear,
And it an Hoast besiege me I'le not fear.
98.
Hold water in their mouths, forceing their wives
The men of Burami lead quiet lives.
A better way then this there may be found
For both their ease, as this I shall propound.
It argues wisdome when the wife doth scold,
And clap her fists, the prudent husband hold
His passion in, and when the husband chides,
A wise wife her unruly member hides
'Twixt double doors: this well observ'd infrindges
No Nuptial love, but keps them on their hindges.
99.
Ignatius Leiola, the first Jesuite
As ever I did read of, did delight
In giggling laughter, and why did he so?
His teeth (it may be yellow) for to shew:
A Jesuite I would not wish to be,
Unless mine actions with my name agree:
Laughter is Cou…en-Germane unto folly,
Better is the extream of Malencholly:
To too much Mirth it is not safe to leane;
Nor too much Grief: There is a golden mean.
O grant, dear Lord, I may be alwayes glad
In thee, my God, or make me alwaies sad:
If I must needs be p…oud, p…rmit not me
To pride in any thing, great God, but thee;
Unfold my lips, for to agn…ze my sin;
Let me be foul w…thout, so, fair within.
100.
The Alc'ran tels us ther's a Bird nam'd Ziz,
(I think more fabulous then true it is)
So large, that when his wings abro…d are hurl'd
They hide the Sun and darken all rhe world,
Thou…h li…le credit unto this be due
Yet shall it's application be true.
Sin is this monstrous bird, which doth obscu…c
God's Sun-like face: 'tis sin that doth immure
Our souls from saith, 'tis sin that puts a skreen
And walls of seperation between
God and the soul; 'tis sin that hath the power
To cloath, in shades, this Micro-cosm of our:
Thou which from darkness didst deduce the day,
Banish such mists, let thy coruscant ray
Break through the clouds of my opposing sin;
That so thou maiest enlighten me within.