Emblems With elegant figures newly published. By J. H. [i.e. John Hall] |
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 | Emblems With elegant figures |  |
29
[Vain curiosity! yee lead]
The unlearned rise and take heaven by violence; and we with our learning
without affection, behold! where we wallow in flesh and bloud!
Aug. Conf. lib. 8. cap. 8.
Vain curiosity! yee lead
The mind in mazes, make her tread
A-side, while that she toyles and is not fed.
The mind in mazes, make her tread
A-side, while that she toyles and is not fed.
O empty searchings! do I care
If I can slice yon burning sphere
To the least atoms, and yet near come there.
If I can slice yon burning sphere
To the least atoms, and yet near come there.
Though I can number every flame
That fleets within that glorious frame;
Yet do not look on him that can them name.
That fleets within that glorious frame;
Yet do not look on him that can them name.
Though I can in my travell'd mind
The earth and all her treasures find
Yet leaving pride swolne into hills behind.
The earth and all her treasures find
Yet leaving pride swolne into hills behind.
Though I can plum the sea, and try
What monsters in her womb do lie;
Yet n'ere a drop fall from my frozen eye.
What monsters in her womb do lie;
Yet n'ere a drop fall from my frozen eye.
Am I the better, though I could
All wisdome with a breath unfold,
And a heart boundless as the Ocean hold?
All wisdome with a breath unfold,
And a heart boundless as the Ocean hold?
No not a whit unless that he
By whom these glorious wonders be
Lead me and teach mine eyes himself to see.
By whom these glorious wonders be
Lead me and teach mine eyes himself to see.
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Yet may a modest ignorance
Unto so great an height advance,
And of such sparkling beauties gain a glance.
Unto so great an height advance,
And of such sparkling beauties gain a glance.
He that's all wisdom do'es not care
How full our teeming fancies are
Of touring notions if our hearts be clear!
How full our teeming fancies are
Of touring notions if our hearts be clear!
They are but wildfires that remain
With rouling flashes in the brain
If that the heart thereby no heat doth gain.
With rouling flashes in the brain
If that the heart thereby no heat doth gain.
He is the wisest that doth know
To whom he doth allegiance ow,
To whom his rebell passions ought to bow.
To whom he doth allegiance ow,
To whom his rebell passions ought to bow.
Who with a rude yet heedy eye
His maker finds in every flie,
And Treads to heaven by humilitie.
His maker finds in every flie,
And Treads to heaven by humilitie.
Who with a watchfull heediness
An omnipresence doth confess;
And not by cobweb Theorems express.
An omnipresence doth confess;
And not by cobweb Theorems express.
Let others seek to know, they shall
But into greater blindness fall;
And ere their course be run know nought at all.
But into greater blindness fall;
And ere their course be run know nought at all.
Since what we know is but a gleam,
That ow's its lustre to a beam,
Which from that inf'nite spring of light doth stream.
That ow's its lustre to a beam,
Which from that inf'nite spring of light doth stream.
31
Epigram 8.
Each minute learn, and by that learning knowThe more thou clim'st, the more thou art below:
Still let thy brain strength to thy heart dispence,
And think the greatest wisdom's Innocence:
| Emblems With elegant figures | |