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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Meditations on Persecution.
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 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
Meditations on Persecution.
Gold-hungry Seamen, tho' they oft endureDay-dark'ning Storms & Tempests, to procure
The winged Treasures of this fading World;
Altho' they run the hazard to be hurl'd
On wrecking Rocks, or quick-devouring Sands,
Or cast as Captives on some foreign Lands,
To spend their wretched Days in Misery,
Instead of what they sought for to enjoy,
Abounding Wealth, if to their wished Shoar
They safe arrive; venture again, yet more
Undaunted than at first, in hopes to be
With more success, kept from those Dangers free.
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In Isr'el's Camp, that ought of right to fear
None but the Lord! Can any doubt, that have
The Word of an Almighty King, to save
Them to the uttermost? What! Tho' he seem
To tarry long, his own Appointed Time
Is always best; in greatest Straights, we do
Wholly depend on, and acknowledge too,
Salvation only from above; for then
We find, 'tis vain to hope for help from Men.
Ah! was not Isr'el thus beset? Could they
Encounter furious Pharaoh's Host, or th'Sea?
Yet was Deliverance near; the Sea must be
A Path to them, a Grave to th'Enemy:
Pharaoh might follow, to his own Destruction;
Whilst Israel is prov'd, to gain Instruction:
That these may learn whom they should chiefly fear,
And whom to trust, when Tribulation's near.
Ah, then in this our Gospel-Dispensation,
Why should the Children of this Generation
Seem so far Wiser, or more Valiant, than
The sacred Off-spring of Jerusalem?
Those hazard Life for Transitory Toys;
And shall not these, for Everlasting Joys,
Resign up Visibles, yea, Life and all,
To Him that gave it, if he please to call
To such a Trial? Can we baulk the Way
Wherein he leads, except we run astray?
We must through Exercises overcome,
And bear the Cross, (if we would wear the Crown)
And fully follow him: The Recompence
Will far exceed, when we are parted hence.
But who art thou, that art so loath to give
Up an Estate? A Thief may soon deprive
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Some suffer more by Carelesness and Fires;
Which justly Heav'n permits, to let them see
How vain these poor, these trifling Treasures be.
Or dost thou fear Confinement? Heav'n may send
Grievous Diseases, which Physitians Hand
Cannot remove, and to th'uneasie Bed
Make thee a Pris'ner, when thy Health is fled.
But if thou be confin'd for Jesus sake,
He will a Prison much more pleasant make,
Than any Spacious Palace: For He'll be
Fulness of Joy, and Saving Health to thee.
Now, tho' some shun the Cross, as Worldly Wise,
And from the Path of Truth apostatize,
And yet the Judgments do not soon ensue,
(Altho' they be in dreadful Vengeance due)
So that the Wicked did of old aver,
Surely the Lord his Coming doth defer:
Yet shall they not have Peace, but feel the Rod
Of a Displeased, of a Jealous GOD;
Whose Word can never fail, altho' he try
Some with Long-suffering, and great Clemency.
Ah, Kiss the Son, lest that his Anger be
Incens'd! For He alone can comfort thee:
And let not any faint, or start aside,
Heav'n will support his Faithful Ones when try'd.
1684.
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