Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
Medit. 14.
God is the God of peace: And if my brother
Strike me on one cheeke, must I turn the other?
God is the God of mercy; And his childe
Must be as he his, Mercifull and milde;
God is the God of Love: But sinner know,
His love abus'd, hee's God of vengeance too.
Is God the God of vengeance? And may none
Revenge his private wrongs, but he alone?
What meanes this franticke Nazarite to take
Gods office from his hand, and thus to make
His wrongs amends? Who warranted his breath
To threaten ruine, and to thunder death?
Strike me on one cheeke, must I turn the other?
God is the God of mercy; And his childe
Must be as he his, Mercifull and milde;
God is the God of Love: But sinner know,
His love abus'd, hee's God of vengeance too.
Is God the God of vengeance? And may none
Revenge his private wrongs, but he alone?
What meanes this franticke Nazarite to take
Gods office from his hand, and thus to make
His wrongs amends? Who warranted his breath
To threaten ruine, and to thunder death?
Curious Inquisitor; when God shall strike
By thy stout arme, thy arme may doe the like:
His Patent gives him power to create
A deputie; to whom he doth collate
Assistant power, in sufficient measure,
To exercise the office of his pleasure;
A lawfull Prince is Gods Lieutenant here:
As great a Maiesty as flesh can beare,
He is endued with all; In his bright eye
(Cloath'd in the flames of Majesty) doth lie
Both life and death; into his royall heart
Heaven doth inspire, and secretly impart
The treasure of his Lawes; Into his hand
He thrusts his sword of Iustice and Command:
He is Gods Champion; where his voice bids, kill,
He must not feare t'imbrew his hands, and spill,
Abundant bloud; Who gives him power to doe,
Will finde him guiltlesse, and assist him too:
O, but let flesh and bloud take heed, that none
Pretend Gods quarrell, to revenge his owne;
Malice and base Revenge must step aside,
When heavens uprighter Battels must be tride.
By thy stout arme, thy arme may doe the like:
His Patent gives him power to create
A deputie; to whom he doth collate
Assistant power, in sufficient measure,
To exercise the office of his pleasure;
A lawfull Prince is Gods Lieutenant here:
As great a Maiesty as flesh can beare,
He is endued with all; In his bright eye
335
Both life and death; into his royall heart
Heaven doth inspire, and secretly impart
The treasure of his Lawes; Into his hand
He thrusts his sword of Iustice and Command:
He is Gods Champion; where his voice bids, kill,
He must not feare t'imbrew his hands, and spill,
Abundant bloud; Who gives him power to doe,
Will finde him guiltlesse, and assist him too:
O, but let flesh and bloud take heed, that none
Pretend Gods quarrell, to revenge his owne;
Malice and base Revenge must step aside,
When heavens uprighter Battels must be tride.
Where carnall glory, or ambitious thurst
Of simple conquest, or revenge, does burst
Vpon a neighbouring Kingdome; there to thrust
Into anothers Crowne, the warre's not just;
'Tis but a private quarrell; and bereft
Of lawfull grounds; 'Tis but a Princely theft:
But where the ground's Religion; to defend
Abused faith, let Princes, there, contend,
With dauntles courage: May their acts be glorious;
Let them goe, prosperous; and returne victorious:
What if the grounds be mixt? Feare not to goe;
Were not the grounds of Sampsons Combate so?
Goe then with double courage and renowne,
When God shall mixe thy quarrels with his owne:
'Tis a brave conflict; and a glorious Fray,
Where God and Princes shall divide the Prey.
Of simple conquest, or revenge, does burst
Vpon a neighbouring Kingdome; there to thrust
Into anothers Crowne, the warre's not just;
'Tis but a private quarrell; and bereft
Of lawfull grounds; 'Tis but a Princely theft:
But where the ground's Religion; to defend
Abused faith, let Princes, there, contend,
With dauntles courage: May their acts be glorious;
Let them goe, prosperous; and returne victorious:
What if the grounds be mixt? Feare not to goe;
Were not the grounds of Sampsons Combate so?
Goe then with double courage and renowne,
When God shall mixe thy quarrels with his owne:
'Tis a brave conflict; and a glorious Fray,
Where God and Princes shall divide the Prey.
| Divine poems | |