THESAURO-PHULAKION[Greek]: or, A treasury of divine raptures ::

THESAURO-PHULAKION[Greek]: or, A treasury of divine raptures

Consisting of Serious Observations, Pious Ejaculations, Select Epigrams. Alphabetically rank'd and fil'd by a Private Chaplain to the Illustrious and Renowned Lady Urania The Divine and Heavenly Muse. The first part [by Nicholas Billingsley]

Billingsley, Nicholas (1633-1709)

[section]

TO THE READER

TO THE Truly Honorable and Religious, The Lady MARY VAUGHAN,

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE SIR EDWARD HARLEY KNIGHT OF THE BATH

TO THE RIGHT WORSHIPFULL Sr TREVIR WILLIAMES KNIGT AND BARRONET

The Invocation.

To his much honored Friend JOHN BIRCH, Esq;

To the Right Worshipful, The Company of HABERDASHERS in LONDON, &c.

A TREASURY OF DIVINE RAPTURES.

The Post-script to the Reader.

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169

317. On Contemplation.

Felicity, the Stagarite assign'd
To the high contemplation of the mind;
By contemplation the Souls pow'rs are prest
To act upon (this most perfect object) Rest:
The Nursery of Piety it is,
St. Herom stiled it his Paradise;
It's a friend to the Graces, contemplation
Helps very much to water the Plantation:
A Treasury it is, where all the Graces
Are locked up, this a Prospective-Glass is,
By which the Saints see things not to be seen
By mortal eyes; this Portal lets us in
To glory, and puts us in heav'n before
Our times, King Davids thought were evermore,
Travelling towards the Jerusalem
Above, which made him things below contemn:
A devout Soul in contemplation,
Is never loss alone; then when alone
By good desires, in the best company,
Even with his God and Saints it loves to be.

University of Virginia Library

317. On Contemplation.