Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
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On the Vanity of the World.
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On the Vanity of the World.
How long shall empty Toys possess the Mind,Which should to solid Joys be more inclin'd!
What true Content can spring t'Immortal Souls
From Riches, that take Wings, or lurk in Holes?
Thereby deluding those who seem t' possess
Them; but excluding from the Happiness,
Which, in right use of them, might be enjoy'd;
So in th'abuse their Hearts are more imploy'd,
Hoping to find therein a true Content
Unto the Mind: Yet nothing permanent
Can e'er be found in fading Vanity;
Such Hopes are crown'd at last with Misery.
Shall then the seeming Beauty of this thing
So dis-ingage from Duty to the King
Of Glory, who alone should rule in Man?
The Heart should be his Throne: Shall these things then
So sway the Mind, that Mortals should thereby
Be thus inclin'd to dote on Vanity,
Rather than to adore their Maker, and
Fall down before him, at his just Command.
May He be their Delight and Joy alone,
For Everlasting Life in Him is known:
Whereas the Love of transient Objects here,
Doth often prove a Soul-deluding Snare,
To hold them fast, as in Captivity;
Until at last, for their Iniquity,
They come to find themselves in this sad State;
Their Minds tormented, and their Joys t'abate.
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To gain a fading Toy, and lose the Favour
Of his Creator! Who, with tender Love,
Doth, as a Father, visit from above,
And gently call unto himself, that He
Might Ransom all to perfect Liberty.
Yet might we use needful Enjoyments here,
Without abuse, in holy Dread and Fear.
These outward things should not possess the Mind,
That to the King of Kings should be resign'd:
And he perswades to leave things transitory,
Yea, freely leads to never-fading Glory;
Come then, embrace the Crown that's set before ye.
1677.
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