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Divine Fancies

Digested into Epigrammes, Meditations, and Observations. By Fra: Quarles
  
  
  

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59. On a great Battaile.

When my rebellious Flesh doth disagree
With my resisting Spirit; me thinks, I see
Two mighty Princes draw into the Field,
Where one must win the Day; the other, yeeld:
They both prepare; Both strike up their Alarmes;
Both march; Both well appointed in their Armes;

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They both advance their Banners: T'one displayes
A bloody Crosse: The other Colours blaze
A Globe terrestriall: Nature carries one;
And Grace, the other: Each by's Ensigne's knowne:
They meet; encounter; blowes exchange for blowes;
Dart is returnd for Dart: They grapple; Close;
Their Fortune's hurryed with unequall Sailes;
Somtimes the Crosse; somtimes, the Globe prevailes.
We are that Field; And they that strive to win us,
Are God and Sathan; Those, that warre within vs,
The Flesh the Spirit: No parting of the Fray,
Till one shall win; the other, lose the Day:
My God, O weaken this rebellious Flesh,
That dares oppose: O, quicken and refresh
My dull and coward Spirit, that would yeeld,
And make proud Sathan Master of the Field:
Deare Lord, the Field's thy own; thou thoughtst it good
To purchas't with my dying Saviours Blood:
'Tis thine, Great God, by title, and by right;
Why shouldst thou question, what's thy owne, by fight?
Lord, keepe possession thou, and let th'accurst
And base Vsurper doe his best, his worst.