Emblemes (1635) and Hieroglyphikes (1638) :: :: University of Virginia Library

How is the anxious soule of man befool'd
In his desire,
That thinks a Hectick Fever may be cool'd
In flames of fire,
Or hopes to rake full heapes of burnisht gold
From nasty myre!
A whining Lover may as well request
A scornefull brest
To melt in gentle teares, as woo the world for rest.

2

Let wit, and all her studied plots effect
The best they can;
Let smiling Fortune prosper, and perfect
What wit began;
Let earth advise with both, and so project
A happy man;
Let wit, or fawning Fortune vie their best;
He may be blest
With all that earth can give; but earth can give no Rest.

3

Whose Gold is double with a carefull hand,
His cares are double;
The Pleasure, Honour, Wealth of Sea and Land
Bring but a trouble;
The world it selfe, and all the worlds Command
Is but a Bubble:
The strong desires of mans insatiate brest
May stand possest
Of all that earth can give; but earth can give no Rest.

4

The world's a seeming Par'dise, but her owne
And Mans Tormentor;
Appearing fixt, yet but a rolling Stone,
Without a Tenter;
It is a vast Circumference, where none
Can find a Center:
Of more than earth, can earth make none possest;
And he that least
Regards this restlesse world, shall in this world find Rest.

5

True Rest consists not in the oft revying
Of worldly drosse;
Earths myry Purchase is not worth the buying;
Her gaine is losse;
Her Rest, but giddy toyle, if not relying
Upon her Crosse;
How worldlings droyle for trouble! That fond brest
That is possest
Of earth without a Crosse, has earth without a Rest.

CASS. in Ps.

The Crosse is the invincible Sanctuary of the humble: The dejection of the proud; the victory of Christ: the destruction of the Divell; the confirmation of the faithfull; the death of the unbeleever; the life of the just.

DAMASCEN.

The Crosse of Christ is the key to Paradise; the weake mans staffe; the Converts Convoy, the upright mans perfection: the soule and bodies health; the prevention of all evill, and the procurer of all Good.