Divine poems :: :: University of Virginia Library

To breathe, 's a necessary gift of nature,
Whereby we may discerne a living Creature
From plants, or stones: 'Tis but a meere degree
From Vegetation; and this, hath shee
Like equally shar'd out to brutish beasts
With man, who lesse observes her due behests
(Sometimes) than they; and oft, by accident,
Doe lesse improve the gift in the event:
But man, whose organs are more fairely drest,
To entertaine a farre more noble Guest,
Hath, through the excellence of his Creation,
A Soule Divine; Divine by inspiration;
Divine through likenesse to that pow'r Divine,
That made and plac'd her in her fleshly shrine;
From hence we challenge lifes prerogative;
Beasts onely breath; 'Tis man alone doth live;
One end of mans Creation, was Societie,
Mutuall Communion, and friendly Piety:
The man that lives unto himselfe alone,
Subsists and breaths, but lives not; Never one
Deserv'd the moity of himselfe, for hee
That's borne, may challenge but one part of three;
Triparted thus; his Country clames the best;
The next his Parents; and himselfe the least.
He husbands best his life, that freely gives
It for the publike good; he rightly lives,

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That nobly dyes: 'tis greatest mastery,
Not to be fond to live, nor feare to dye
On just occasion; He that (in case) despises
Life, earnes it best; but he that over-prizes
His dearest blood, when honour bids him die,
Steales but a life, and lives by Robbery.

O sweet Redeemer of the world, whose death
Deserv'd a world of lives! Had Thy deare breath
Be one deare to Thee; Oh had'st Thou but deny'd
Thy precious Blood, the world for e'r had dy'd:

O spoile my life, when I desire to save it,
By keeping it from Thee, that freely gave it.