University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Silex Scintillans

or Sacred Poems and Priuate Eiaculations: By Henry Vaughan

collapse section 
  
  
  
expand section 
collapse section 
Day of Judgement.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Day of Judgement.

When through the North a fire shall rush
And rowle into the East,
And like a firie torrent brush
And sweepe up South, and West,
When all shall streame, and lighten round
And with surprizing flames
Both stars, and Elements confound
And quite blot out their names,
When thou shalt spend thy sacred store
Of thunders in that heate
And low as ere they lay before
Thy six-dayes-buildings beate,

14

When like a scrowle the heavens shal passe
And vanish cleane away,
And nought must stand of that vast space
Which held up night, and day,
When one lowd blast shall rend the deepe,
And from the wombe of earth
Summon up all that are asleepe
Unto a second birth,
When thou shalt make the Clouds thy seate,
And in the open aire
The Quick, and dead, both small and great
Must to thy barre repaire;
O then it wilbe all too late
To say, What shall I doe?
Repentance there is out of date
And so is mercy too;
Prepare, prepare me then, O God!
And let me now begin
To feele my loving fathers Rod
Killing the man of sinne!
Give me, O give me Crosses here,
Still more afflictions lend,
That pill, though bitter, is most deare
That brings health in the end;
Lord, God! I beg nor friends, nor wealth
But pray against them both;
Three things I'de have, my soules chief health!
And one of these seme loath,
A living FAITH, a HEART of flesh,
The WORLD an Enemie,
This last will keepe the first two fresh,
And bring me, where I'de be.

15

Now the end of all things is at hand, be you therefore sober, and watching in prayer.

1 Pet. 4. 7.