Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision Or A melancholy vision upon diuers Theames Englarged: Which by seuerall Arguments ensuinge is showed His gaudie musa tenebris: By H. M. [i.e. Humphrey Mill] |
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THE FADING CONDITION, OF EARTHLY THINGS.
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 | Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision |  |
THE FADING CONDITION, OF EARTHLY THINGS.
With the Application of it.
The World passeth away, and the Lust thereof.
1 John, 2. 17.
The fashion of this World passeth away.
1 Cor. 7. 31.
The Vanity of earthly things,
appeareth on this wise,
False joy true discontent it brings,
who could them not despise?
appeareth on this wise,
False joy true discontent it brings,
who could them not despise?
What are the Nobles of the earth,
but honoured clodds of clay?
Though they are made so great by birth,
such time consumes away.
but honoured clodds of clay?
Though they are made so great by birth,
such time consumes away.
What are the learned'st here below,
but reverend heapes of dust?
Also the wisest that I know,
dissolved be they must.
but reverend heapes of dust?
Also the wisest that I know,
dissolved be they must.
What are the richest of the time?
ere growne they fade away?
So doe the greatest in their prime,
euen fade till quite decay.
ere growne they fade away?
So doe the greatest in their prime,
euen fade till quite decay.
What are the fairest of this age?
but skin thicke beauties found?
Must not the stoutest though they rage,
lye even with the ground?
but skin thicke beauties found?
Must not the stoutest though they rage,
lye even with the ground?
And must not poore and lowly too,
at last be lower brought?
All of all sorts, though much adoe,
ere long must turne to naught.
at last be lower brought?
All of all sorts, though much adoe,
ere long must turne to naught.
If Nobles be, though honoured,
so mortall in their kinde?
Ile be content, though meaner bred,
and comming thus behinde.
so mortall in their kinde?
Ile be content, though meaner bred,
and comming thus behinde.
Shall finde as much respect with death,
the wormes, and eke the grave,
As truly honoured Nobles, sith,
they there no Lordships have.
the wormes, and eke the grave,
As truly honoured Nobles, sith,
they there no Lordships have.
If learning will not much availe,
when time begins to close,
Though they are like, when they prevaile,
the Lilly and the Rose.
when time begins to close,
Though they are like, when they prevaile,
the Lilly and the Rose.
The learning of the truth shall be,
the thing I most intend,
When all things changed thus shall be,
my comfort shall not end.
the thing I most intend,
When all things changed thus shall be,
my comfort shall not end.
If worldly wisedome, doth no good,
to helpe in time of need,
Ile not adore the serpents brood,
nor run with them to speed.
to helpe in time of need,
Ile not adore the serpents brood,
nor run with them to speed.
My wisedome for to know my God,
his Christ, through his good grace,
My selfe, my sins, and eke Gods rod,
'twill make me mend apace.
his Christ, through his good grace,
My selfe, my sins, and eke Gods rod,
'twill make me mend apace.
If rich men, and their riches are,
thus subject all to fade,
O pitty them, that with much care,
their gods of them hath made.
thus subject all to fade,
O pitty them, that with much care,
their gods of them hath made.
My care shall be, to be as rich,
in God I may or can,
To bring my selfe up to the pitch,
to feare nor flatter man.
in God I may or can,
To bring my selfe up to the pitch,
to feare nor flatter man.
What cannot greatnesse death withstand?
nor shun his mortall dart?
Let no man thinke to take in hand,
to free him from that smart.
nor shun his mortall dart?
Let no man thinke to take in hand,
to free him from that smart.
My care shall be, to frame my life
and daily die to sinne,
And living may, thus free from strife,
a heavenly life begin.
and daily die to sinne,
And living may, thus free from strife,
a heavenly life begin.
Nor cannot beauty with her smiles,
once charme deaths frowning face?
Who then so hardy thinkes his wiles,
can turne his common trace
once charme deaths frowning face?
Who then so hardy thinkes his wiles,
can turne his common trace
I love the beautie that's within
and in the heart doth lye,
It's fresh in heaven, being freed from sin,
when death it selfe shall die.
and in the heart doth lye,
It's fresh in heaven, being freed from sin,
when death it selfe shall die.
Cannot the man, that is so stout,
himselfe free from the dread?
What is the man, that goes about
redemption from the dead?
himselfe free from the dread?
What is the man, that goes about
redemption from the dead?
I desire to take away the sting,
from death, and him disarme,
Being done by faith, to God ile sing,
his praise, thus fre'd from harme.
from death, and him disarme,
Being done by faith, to God ile sing,
his praise, thus fre'd from harme.
And why must poore, and lowly men,
lye lower in the dust?
It's so decreed, I say agen,
that all men living must.
lye lower in the dust?
It's so decreed, I say agen,
that all men living must.
Poore be content, for you shall see,
the rich for all their store,
As low interr'd, in earth shall be,
though men doe them adore.
the rich for all their store,
As low interr'd, in earth shall be,
though men doe them adore.
Let low in heart, rejoyce that have
a Kingdome for their owne,
The King of Kings will all them save,
when proud are overthrowne.
a Kingdome for their owne,
The King of Kings will all them save,
when proud are overthrowne.
Let's all prepare our selves for change,
We must not long stay here,
That God to us may not be strange,
then come thou King of feare.
We must not long stay here,
That God to us may not be strange,
then come thou King of feare.
Not noble birth, nor learning high,
nor wise, nor rich, nor great,
Nor faire, nor stout, poore, nor lowly,
but all must be wormes meat,
nor wise, nor rich, nor great,
Nor faire, nor stout, poore, nor lowly,
but all must be wormes meat,
Come downe proud hearts, for thus I say,
that death hath no remorse:
O bend to God, and to him pray
lest thou be broke by force.
that death hath no remorse:
O bend to God, and to him pray
lest thou be broke by force.
Then farewell all contents below,
all must to judgement come:
How they have liv'd, so shall they know,
for to receive their doome.
all must to judgement come:
How they have liv'd, so shall they know,
for to receive their doome.
FINIS.
| Poems Occasioned by a melancholy vision | |