Midnights Meditations of Death With Pious and Profitable Observations, and Consolations [by Edward Buckler]: Perused by Francis Quarles A little before his Death |
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| III. | PART III. Of Deaths suddennesse.
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 | Midnights Meditations of Death |  |
III. PART III. Of Deaths suddennesse.
Though sometimes Death doth stay till it be late
At night, untill our most decrepit years,
And when he comes, doth (like a King) in state
Send harbingers before; yet Death appears
Sometimes unlook'd for early in the morning,
And takes us up before he gives us warning.
At night, untill our most decrepit years,
And when he comes, doth (like a King) in state
Send harbingers before; yet Death appears
Sometimes unlook'd for early in the morning,
And takes us up before he gives us warning.
When at full tide our youthfull bloud doth flow
In every vein, and when our pulses dance
A healthfull measure, when our stomachs know
No qualms at all, as we would say by chance
Snatch'd are our bodies to their longest homes,
And Death is past before a sicknesse comes.
In every vein, and when our pulses dance
A healthfull measure, when our stomachs know
No qualms at all, as we would say by chance
Snatch'd are our bodies to their longest homes,
And Death is past before a sicknesse comes.
How many sleepie mortals go to bed
With healthful bodies, and do rise no more!
How many hungry mortals have been fed
Contentedly at dinner? yet before
Against a second meal they whet their knives
Death steals away their stomachs and their lives.
With healthful bodies, and do rise no more!
How many hungry mortals have been fed
Contentedly at dinner? yet before
Against a second meal they whet their knives
Death steals away their stomachs and their lives.
How many in the morning walk abroad
For to be breath'd on by the keener air?
Perhaps to clarifie their grosser bloud,
Or else to make their rougher cheeks look fair.
But e'r they tread a furlong in the frost,
Death nips them: so their former labour's loft.
For to be breath'd on by the keener air?
Perhaps to clarifie their grosser bloud,
Or else to make their rougher cheeks look fair.
But e'r they tread a furlong in the frost,
Death nips them: so their former labour's loft.
Nature is parsimonious: Man may live
With little: but alas with how much lesse
A man may die! There's nothing but may give
A mortall blow: small matters may undresse
Our souls of clay. A thousand wayes we have
To send our crazie bodies to the grave.
With little: but alas with how much lesse
A man may die! There's nothing but may give
A mortall blow: small matters may undresse
Our souls of clay. A thousand wayes we have
To send our crazie bodies to the grave.
The elements confeder how they may
Procure our Death: the Air we suck to live
It self hath poi'sned thousands in a day,
And made such havock that the slain did strive
For elbow-room in Church-yards: houses were
Good cheap, and onely shrowds and coffins dear.
Procure our Death: the Air we suck to live
It self hath poi'sned thousands in a day,
And made such havock that the slain did strive
For elbow-room in Church-yards: houses were
Good cheap, and onely shrowds and coffins dear.
If we could come to speak with Pharaoh's ghost,
'T would tell how many met with sudden graves
Beneath the water; that a mighty host
Was slain and buried by the surly waves,
Except a few which surfeted with store
The crop-sick sea did vomit on the shore.
'T would tell how many met with sudden graves
Beneath the water; that a mighty host
Was slain and buried by the surly waves,
Except a few which surfeted with store
The crop-sick sea did vomit on the shore.
Sometimes our mother Earth, as if she were
So hunger-bitten that she needs must eat
Her children, gapes as for some toothsome cheer,
And multitudes one swallow down doth let;
Which either in her womb she doth bestow,
Or else doth send them to the world below.
So hunger-bitten that she needs must eat
Her children, gapes as for some toothsome cheer,
And multitudes one swallow down doth let;
Which either in her womb she doth bestow,
Or else doth send them to the world below.
That usefull creature Fire, whose light and heat
Doth comfort, and, when Earth doth penance, warm us,
Whose cookerie provides us wholesome meat;
Yet mortally this element doth harm us.
One morning sent from heav'n such dreadfull flashes
As did intomb five cities in their ashes.
Doth comfort, and, when Earth doth penance, warm us,
Whose cookerie provides us wholesome meat;
Yet mortally this element doth harm us.
One morning sent from heav'n such dreadfull flashes
As did intomb five cities in their ashes.
We may remember some that have been kill'd
By falls of buildings; some, by drunken swords.
By beasts both wild and tame our bloud is spill'd.
There's not a creature but a death affords.
'Bove fourtie childrens limbs God's anger tears
In pieces with the teeth of savage bears.
By falls of buildings; some, by drunken swords.
By beasts both wild and tame our bloud is spill'd.
There's not a creature but a death affords.
'Bove fourtie childrens limbs God's anger tears
In pieces with the teeth of savage bears.
But there's some likelyhood that sudden Death
By means like these may easily befall us:
But many times we mortalls lose our breath
By wayes lesse probable. The Lord doth call us
Upon a sudden hence by petty things:
Sometimes the meanest means Death's errand brings.
By means like these may easily befall us:
But many times we mortalls lose our breath
By wayes lesse probable. The Lord doth call us
Upon a sudden hence by petty things:
Sometimes the meanest means Death's errand brings.
Our staff of life may kill: a little crumb
Of bread may choke us going down awry.
A small hair in their drink hath caused some
To breath their last. By any thing we die.
Sometimes a sudden grief or sudden joy
Have might enough to take our souls away.
Of bread may choke us going down awry.
A small hair in their drink hath caused some
To breath their last. By any thing we die.
Sometimes a sudden grief or sudden joy
Have might enough to take our souls away.
Meditation 1.
How weak's the thread of life, that any thing
How weak so e'r can break it by and by!
How short's the thread of life, that Death can bring
Both ends of it together suddenly!
Well may the scriptures write the life of man
As weak as water and as short's a span.
How weak so e'r can break it by and by!
How short's the thread of life, that Death can bring
Both ends of it together suddenly!
Well may the scriptures write the life of man
As weak as water and as short's a span.
How soon is water spilt upon the ground!
Once spilt, what hand can gather 't up again?
Fome that doth rise to day is seldome found
Floting to morrow. When the wanton rain
Gets bubbles to make sport with on the water,
A minute breaks them into their first matter.
Once spilt, what hand can gather 't up again?
Fome that doth rise to day is seldome found
Floting to morrow. When the wanton rain
Gets bubbles to make sport with on the water,
A minute breaks them into their first matter.
Such is our life. How soon doth Death uncase
Our souls? and when they once are fled away,
Who can return them? As upon the face
Of thirstie ground when water's shed to day,
The morrow sees it not: so when we die
None can revive us; as we fall, we lie.
Our souls? and when they once are fled away,
Who can return them? As upon the face
Of thirstie ground when water's shed to day,
The morrow sees it not: so when we die
None can revive us; as we fall, we lie.
Our life's a vapour. Vapours do arise
Sometimes indeed with such a seeming power,
As if they would eclipse the glorious skies,
And muffle up the world, but in an houre
Or two at most these vapours are blown o'r,
And leave the air as clear as 't was before.
Sometimes indeed with such a seeming power,
As if they would eclipse the glorious skies,
And muffle up the world, but in an houre
Or two at most these vapours are blown o'r,
And leave the air as clear as 't was before.
We look big here a little while and bristle,
And shoulder in the smiling world, as though
There were no dancing but as we would whistle,
So strangely domineer we here below.
But as a vapour in a sun-shine day
We vanish on a sudden quite away.
And shoulder in the smiling world, as though
There were no dancing but as we would whistle,
So strangely domineer we here below.
But as a vapour in a sun-shine day
We vanish on a sudden quite away.
Our life is like the smoke of new-made fire:
As we in age and stature upward tend,
Our dissolution is so much the nigher.
Smoke builds but castles in the air: ascend
Indeed it doth aloft, but yet it must
At high'st dissolve, we vanish into dust.
As we in age and stature upward tend,
Our dissolution is so much the nigher.
Smoke builds but castles in the air: ascend
Indeed it doth aloft, but yet it must
At high'st dissolve, we vanish into dust.
What is a shadow? Nothing. Grant it were
A thing that had a name and being too,
Yet let a cloud 'twixt us and heav'n appear,
Its turn'd into its former nothing. Do
Our shadows vanish? surely so do we:
At noon a man, at night a corps we see.
A thing that had a name and being too,
Yet let a cloud 'twixt us and heav'n appear,
Its turn'd into its former nothing. Do
Our shadows vanish? surely so do we:
At noon a man, at night a corps we see.
Our life's a cloud, and from varietie
Of vapours are created diverse sorts:
The stronger last a time, the weaker flie
With lesse ado; yet half a day transports
Both strong'st and weakest hence, and in their flight
Their nimble speed outrunnes the quickest sight.
Of vapours are created diverse sorts:
The stronger last a time, the weaker flie
With lesse ado; yet half a day transports
Both strong'st and weakest hence, and in their flight
Their nimble speed outrunnes the quickest sight.
Some men are healthfull, merrie, lustie, strong;
Some crazy, weak, sad, sickly, drooping: both
Post hence with winged speed: we may not wrong
Life's footmanship; for sure with greater sloth
Clouds through the air the strongest wind doth send,
Then frail mans life doth gallop to its end.
Some crazy, weak, sad, sickly, drooping: both
Post hence with winged speed: we may not wrong
Life's footmanship; for sure with greater sloth
Clouds through the air the strongest wind doth send,
Then frail mans life doth gallop to its end.
With greater sloth? A man that now is here,
Perhaps an houre, yea half a minute hence,
That man may in another world appear.
Our life moves faster then those things which sense
Acquaint us with, faster then ships by farre,
Or birds, or bullets that do plow the air.
Perhaps an houre, yea half a minute hence,
That man may in another world appear.
Our life moves faster then those things which sense
Acquaint us with, faster then ships by farre,
Or birds, or bullets that do plow the air.
All flesh is grasse: how suddenly that fades!
Grasse in the morning standeth proudly green,
E'r night the husbandmen prepare their blades
To cut it down, and not a leaf is seen
But e'r the morrow's wither'd into hay,
That in its summer-suit was cloth'd to day.
Grasse in the morning standeth proudly green,
E'r night the husbandmen prepare their blades
To cut it down, and not a leaf is seen
But e'r the morrow's wither'd into hay,
That in its summer-suit was cloth'd to day.
We grow and flourish in the world a space,
Our dayes with ease, mirth, health, strength, heav'n doth crown:
But 't is not long we run this happy race,
Death cometh with his sithe and mows us down,
When we are apt to say, for ought we know
As yet we have an age of dayes to grow.
Our dayes with ease, mirth, health, strength, heav'n doth crown:
But 't is not long we run this happy race,
Death cometh with his sithe and mows us down,
When we are apt to say, for ought we know
As yet we have an age of dayes to grow.
Our life's a flower that groweth in the field.
A garden-flower is but a fading thing,
Though it hath hedges, banks, and walls to shield
It self from cropping: long 't is e'r the spring
Doth bring it forth; three quarters of a yeare
Are gone before its beauty doth appear.
A garden-flower is but a fading thing,
Though it hath hedges, banks, and walls to shield
It self from cropping: long 't is e'r the spring
Doth bring it forth; three quarters of a yeare
Are gone before its beauty doth appear.
And when it shineth in its fairest pride,
One hand or other will be sure to pluck it.
But let's suppose all snatching fingers ty'd,
And grant withall that never Bee doth suck it
To blemish it a jote, yet will the breath
Of winter blow the fairest flower to death.
One hand or other will be sure to pluck it.
But let's suppose all snatching fingers ty'd,
And grant withall that never Bee doth suck it
To blemish it a jote, yet will the breath
Of winter blow the fairest flower to death.
'T is long before we get us very farre
Into the world: for after generation
There is a time when lifelesse lumps we are,
And have not bodies of a humane fashion:
Such as we have both life and motion want,
And when we live we live but like a plant.
Into the world: for after generation
There is a time when lifelesse lumps we are,
And have not bodies of a humane fashion:
Such as we have both life and motion want,
And when we live we live but like a plant.
A while we do but grow: then like a beast
We have our senses: next indeed we live
The life of him that lives to be a feast
For despicable worms. The womb doth give
No passage to us yet; we are (like corn
Sown lately) fit to be but are not born.
We have our senses: next indeed we live
The life of him that lives to be a feast
For despicable worms. The womb doth give
No passage to us yet; we are (like corn
Sown lately) fit to be but are not born.
When born, 't is long before we can procure
Our legs or understandings to assist us:
And then 't is long before we grow mature:
And all this while if sudden Death hath mist us,
Yet in the hoary winter of our age
Our part is ended and we quit the stage.
Our legs or understandings to assist us:
And then 't is long before we grow mature:
And all this while if sudden Death hath mist us,
Yet in the hoary winter of our age
Our part is ended and we quit the stage.
Lord, what is man? Lord, rather what am I?
I cannot tell my self unlesse thou teach me:
From thee came Know thy self down through the skie
To mortalls here. Thy servant doth beseech thee
To make me know, though it be to my shame,
How vanishing, how weak, and frail I am.
I cannot tell my self unlesse thou teach me:
From thee came Know thy self down through the skie
To mortalls here. Thy servant doth beseech thee
To make me know, though it be to my shame,
How vanishing, how weak, and frail I am.
Meditation 2.
VVhat would I do if I were sure to die
Within this houre? sure heartily repent,
My sinfull couch should never more be drie
But drown'd in tears, sad grones my heart should rent,
And my sorrow still increase
With repenting till I die,
That once reconciled I
Might be found of God in peace.
Within this houre? sure heartily repent,
My sinfull couch should never more be drie
But drown'd in tears, sad grones my heart should rent,
And my sorrow still increase
With repenting till I die,
That once reconciled I
Might be found of God in peace.
Then presently I'll set about it, for
My time's uncertain, and for ought I know
God may not leave my soul a minute more
To animate my body here below.
Deep-fetch'd sighs and godly sorrow
Shall possesse my heart to day:
'T is a foolish sinne to say
That I will repent to morrow.
My time's uncertain, and for ought I know
God may not leave my soul a minute more
To animate my body here below.
Deep-fetch'd sighs and godly sorrow
Shall possesse my heart to day:
'T is a foolish sinne to say
That I will repent to morrow.
What if I die before? just as the tree
Doth fall it lies. When I am in the grave
I cannot grieve for sinne, nor can I be
Converted unto God, nor pardon crave.
Had I breath and grace to crave it,
Yet God's time of mercie's gone:
'T is giv'n in this life alone,
In the next I cannot have it.
Doth fall it lies. When I am in the grave
I cannot grieve for sinne, nor can I be
Converted unto God, nor pardon crave.
Had I breath and grace to crave it,
Yet God's time of mercie's gone:
'T is giv'n in this life alone,
In the next I cannot have it.
What would I leave undone if ghastly Death
Stood at my elbow? sure I would not wallow
In those pollutions that reigne here beneath;
No lewd and wicked courses would I follow.
I should tremble at a thought
Of uncleannesse, if I were
Sure that dreadfull time were near
When I must to earth be brought.
Stood at my elbow? sure I would not wallow
In those pollutions that reigne here beneath;
No lewd and wicked courses would I follow.
I should tremble at a thought
Of uncleannesse, if I were
Sure that dreadfull time were near
When I must to earth be brought.
Why should I sinne at all? for in the act
Of my next sinne a sudden Death may catch me.
(A town secure is much the sooner sack'd)
What know I but God setteth Death to watch me,
That when any lust hath press'd me
For his service, that I may
Down to hell without delay,
Death may presently arrest me?
Of my next sinne a sudden Death may catch me.
(A town secure is much the sooner sack'd)
What know I but God setteth Death to watch me,
That when any lust hath press'd me
For his service, that I may
Down to hell without delay,
Death may presently arrest me?
If we did well, still should we fear to meet
Death in those places where we use to sinne,
And as we enter think we heare the feet
Of Death behind us coming softly in?
We should fear when sinnes delight us,
When we swallow any crime,
Lest that very point of time
Justice should send Death to smite us.
Death in those places where we use to sinne,
And as we enter think we heare the feet
Of Death behind us coming softly in?
We should fear when sinnes delight us,
When we swallow any crime,
Lest that very point of time
Justice should send Death to smite us.
I know whatever is on this side hell,
Is mercie all: that we were not sent thither
When we sinn'd last, is mercie. What befell
Zimri and Cozbi as they lay together?
Phinehas zealous spear did thrust
Both to death, and bored holes
To let out those guilty souls,
Which were melted into lust.
Is mercie all: that we were not sent thither
When we sinn'd last, is mercie. What befell
Zimri and Cozbi as they lay together?
Phinehas zealous spear did thrust
Both to death, and bored holes
To let out those guilty souls,
Which were melted into lust.
Help me, O Lord, to do and leave undone
What thou command'st, for sudden Death prepare me,
That at what time soe'r my glasse is run
Thy holy Angels may to heav'n bear me.
Give thy servant grace, that I
May so fear the face of sinne
As a serpents, lest that in
Th'unrepented act I die.
What thou command'st, for sudden Death prepare me,
That at what time soe'r my glasse is run
Thy holy Angels may to heav'n bear me.
Give thy servant grace, that I
May so fear the face of sinne
As a serpents, lest that in
Th'unrepented act I die.
Meditation 3.
Doth Death come suddenly? so much the better:
If I am readie and do daily die,
So much the sooner 't will my soul unfetter
T'enjoy the best degree of libertie.
And if Death will send me where
I shall evermore remain,
I will never care how vain,
Or how frail my life is here.
If I am readie and do daily die,
So much the sooner 't will my soul unfetter
T'enjoy the best degree of libertie.
And if Death will send me where
I shall evermore remain,
I will never care how vain,
Or how frail my life is here.
My life is like the wind: but when this puff
Is pass'd I shall eternally enjoy
A place in heav'n, where all is calm enough,
Where never blast is felt that brings annoy,
Where is everlasting ease,
Not a storm nor tempest there,
Nor a jote of trouble, where
All is quietnesse and peace.
Is pass'd I shall eternally enjoy
A place in heav'n, where all is calm enough,
Where never blast is felt that brings annoy,
Where is everlasting ease,
Not a storm nor tempest there,
Nor a jote of trouble, where
All is quietnesse and peace.
My life is like a vapour: but assoon
As this thin mist, this vapour, is dispersed,
My day shall be an undeclining noon,
Whose glorious brightnesse cannot be rehearsed,
Which will shew me (for so clear
And so shining is that place)
God immortall face to face,
Whom I saw but darkly here.
As this thin mist, this vapour, is dispersed,
My day shall be an undeclining noon,
Whose glorious brightnesse cannot be rehearsed,
Which will shew me (for so clear
And so shining is that place)
God immortall face to face,
Whom I saw but darkly here.
My life is water spilt and cast away
Upon the ground: but after it is shod,
In stead thereof I shall a stream injoy,
As Crystall clear, which from the throne of God
And the Lamb of God proceedeth.
Water 't is of life, and lasteth
Ever, which a soul that tasteth
Once no more refreshing needeth.
Upon the ground: but after it is shod,
In stead thereof I shall a stream injoy,
As Crystall clear, which from the throne of God
And the Lamb of God proceedeth.
Water 't is of life, and lasteth
Ever, which a soul that tasteth
Once no more refreshing needeth.
My life is like a shadow that doth vanish:
But whensoe'r this shadow's vanish'd quite,
Substantiall glories will my soul replenish,
And solid joyes will crown it with delight.
The worlds are but fading joyes;
Shadows we all purchase here:
Never untill Death appear
Have we true and reall joyes.
But whensoe'r this shadow's vanish'd quite,
Substantiall glories will my soul replenish,
And solid joyes will crown it with delight.
The worlds are but fading joyes;
Shadows we all purchase here:
Never untill Death appear
Have we true and reall joyes.
My life's a flower: but when it withers here
It is transplanted into paradise,
Where all things planted flourish all the year,
Where Boreas never breaths a cake of ice.
With sweet air the place is blest;
There is an eternall spring:
Thither, Lord, thy servant bring.
Here my homely Muse doth rest,
It is transplanted into paradise,
Where all things planted flourish all the year,
Where Boreas never breaths a cake of ice.
With sweet air the place is blest;
There is an eternall spring:
Thither, Lord, thy servant bring.
Here my homely Muse doth rest,
Nor another flight will make
Till she see how this will take.
Till she see how this will take.
| Midnights Meditations of Death | |