Solomon's recantation Intituled Ecclesiastes, paraphras'd. With A Soliloquy or Meditation Upon Every Chapter. By Francis Quarles |
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 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XII. |
 | CHAP. XI. Solomon's recantation |  |
Upon the Waters let thy Bread be cast,
And thou shalt find it when some Days are past.
Give lib'ral Alms, for it's unknown to thee
How full of Wants thy after Days shall be.
If Clouds be full, will they deny to pour
Their fruitful Blessings in a lib'ral Show'r?
Or North, or South, or wheresoe'er the Tree
Shall fall, no question it shall fall to thee.
He that observes the Wind shall never sow:
Who marks the Clouds shall never reap nor mow.
Like as the Embryo's growth within their Wombs,
Is strange to thee, and how the Soul becomes
The Body's Inmate; e'en so all the rest
Of Heav'ns high Works are Strangers to thy Breast.
Cast thou thy morning Seed upon the Land,
And at the Evening hold not back thy Hand;
For who is he can tell thee which of these
Shall prosper best, or bring thee best Increase?
'Tis true, the Light is sweet, and every one
Takes pleasure in the World-rejoycing Sun:
But who lives many joyful Years, if he
But count how long his after Shades shall be
In Earths dark Bosom, how can he refrain
To think these short-liv'd flattering Pleasures vain?
Rejoyce O young Man in thy youthful Ways;
Let thy Heart cheer thee in thy youthful Days,
Delight thine Eyes, thy Heart, and take thy Way;
But know that Heavens Account will find a Day.
Then banish false-ey'd Mirth: Be dispossest
Of those lewd Fires that so enflame thy Breast;
For Childhood, Youth, and all their Joys remain
But for a Season, and they all are vain.
And thou shalt find it when some Days are past.
Give lib'ral Alms, for it's unknown to thee
How full of Wants thy after Days shall be.
If Clouds be full, will they deny to pour
Their fruitful Blessings in a lib'ral Show'r?
Or North, or South, or wheresoe'er the Tree
Shall fall, no question it shall fall to thee.
He that observes the Wind shall never sow:
Who marks the Clouds shall never reap nor mow.
Like as the Embryo's growth within their Wombs,
Is strange to thee, and how the Soul becomes
The Body's Inmate; e'en so all the rest
Of Heav'ns high Works are Strangers to thy Breast.
Cast thou thy morning Seed upon the Land,
And at the Evening hold not back thy Hand;
For who is he can tell thee which of these
Shall prosper best, or bring thee best Increase?
'Tis true, the Light is sweet, and every one
Takes pleasure in the World-rejoycing Sun:
But who lives many joyful Years, if he
But count how long his after Shades shall be
In Earths dark Bosom, how can he refrain
To think these short-liv'd flattering Pleasures vain?
Rejoyce O young Man in thy youthful Ways;
Let thy Heart cheer thee in thy youthful Days,
Delight thine Eyes, thy Heart, and take thy Way;
But know that Heavens Account will find a Day.
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Of those lewd Fires that so enflame thy Breast;
For Childhood, Youth, and all their Joys remain
But for a Season, and they all are vain.
| CHAP. XI. Solomon's recantation | |