Upon the Sight of a Pound of Candles Falling to the Ground
Upon the Sight of a Pound of Candles Falling to the Ground But be the candles down, and scattered too,Some lying here, some there? What shall we do? But be the candles down, and scattered too,Some lying here, some there? What shall we do?Hold, light the candle there that stands on high, It you may […]
Upon the Flint in the Water
Upon the Flint in the Water This flint, time out of mind, has there abode,Where crystal streams make their continual road. This flint, time out of mind, has there abode,Where crystal streams make their continual road.Yet it abides a flint as much as ’twereBefore it touched the water, or came there Its hard obdurateness is […]
Upon a Snail
Upon a Snail She goes but softly, but she goeth sure,She stumbles not, as stronger creatures do. She goes but softly, but she goeth sure,She stumbles not, as stronger creatures do.Her journey’s shorter, so she may endureBetter than they which do much farther go. She makes no noise, but stilly seizeth onThe flower or herb […]
Upon a Lowering of Morning
Upon a Lowering of Morning Well, with the day I see the clouds appear,And mix the light with darkness everywhere; Well, with the day I see the clouds appear,And mix the light with darkness everywhere;This threatening is, to travellers that goLong journeys, slabby rain they’ll have, or snow. Else, while I gaze, the sun doth […]
The Sinner and the Spider
The Sinner and the Spider I am a man, and in God’s image made,I have a soul shall neither die nor fade, Sinner. What black, what ugly crawling thing art thou? Spider. I am a spider——————- Sinner. A spider, ay, also a filthy creature. Spider. Not filthy as thyself in name or feature.My name entailed […]
The Necessity of a New Heart
The Necessity of a New Heart Now wouldst thou have a heart that tender is,A heart that forward is to close with bliss; Now wouldst thou have a heart that tender is,A heart that forward is to close with bliss; A heart that will impressions freely takeOf the new covenant, and that will make The […]
Of the Rose Bush
Of the Rose Bush This homely bush doth to mine eyes exposeA very fair, yea, comely ruddy rose. This homely bush doth to mine eyes exposeA very fair, yea, comely ruddy rose.This rose doth also bow its head to me,Saying, Come, pluck me, I thy rose will be; Yet offer I to gather rose or […]
Of the Love of Christ
Of the Love of Christ The love of Christ, poor I! may touch upon;But ’tis unsearchable. O! there is none The love of Christ, poor I! may touch upon;But ’tis unsearchable. O! there is noneIts large dimensions can comprehendShould they dilate thereon world without end. When we had sinned, in his zeal he swore,That he […]
Meditations upon an Egg
Meditations upon an Egg The egg’s no chick by falling from the hen;Nor man a Christian, till he’s born again. 1. The egg’s no chick by falling from the hen;Nor man a Christian, till he’s born again.The egg’s at first contained in the shell;Men, afore grace, in sins and darkness dwell. The egg, when laid, […]
Meditation upon the Day Before the Sun Rising
Meditation upon the Day Before the Sun Rising But all this while, where’s he whose golden raysDrives night away and beautifies our days? But all this while, where’s he whose golden raysDrives night away and beautifies our days? Where’s he whose goodly face doth warm and heal,And show us what the darksome nights conceal? Where’s […]
How Graces Are to Be Obtained
How Graces Are to Be Obtained The next word that I would unto thee say,Is how thou mayst attain without delay, The next word that I would unto thee say,Is how thou mayst attain without delay, Those blessed graces, and that holinessThou dost with so much godly zeal express Thy love to, and thy longing […]
From Mount Gerizzim
From Mount Gerizzim Besides what I said of the Four Last Things,And of the weal and woe that from them springs; Besides what I said of the Four Last Things,And of the weal and woe that from them springs; An after-word still runneth in my mind,Which I shall here expose unto that wind That may […]
A Boy and Watchmaker
A Boy and Watchmaker Boy: This watch my father did on me bestow,A golden one it is, but ’twill not go,Unless it be at an uncertainty:But as good none as one to tell a lie. When ’tis high day my hand will stand at nine;I think there’s no man’s watch so bad as mine.Sometimes ’tis […]