University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The Citizens Flight

With their Recall; To which is added Englands Tears and Englands Comforts: By John Quarles

expand section

My Muse is grown melodious and it sings
We need not fear our flight when Heaven gives wings;
Angelick plumes can neither flag nor tire
No air so pow'rful as a good desire;

5

A good desire is like a Chymick heat
Constant and fervent, not to small, nor great;
For if it be not constant, it retards
Putrefaction; and he's happy that regards
The end of his beginning; he that begins
In Mercy, is to blame to end in Sins:
He sins indeed that sins against the light
Of his own knowledge, let perpetual might
Be still intayl'd on him that will not say
He knows a difference betwixt night and day;
Yet sin and ignorance makes all things dark,
Light though contain'd in the smallest spark
Is light enough to let our darkness know
There is a God, whose goodness did bestow
These lights upon us; a dark Lanthorn may
Be light to others, yet to me 'tis day:
Though heaven himself did oftentimes appear
And speak in Clouds, yet was his language clear;
Though he appear'd in fire, he checkt the flame,
The bush was unconsum'd; though Moses came
To see his face; yet he was glad at heart
To know his fore-side, by his hinder part;
I'm sure oh Lord thou hast no other face,
But what I want; and what is that? 'tis grace
Lord I am satisfy'd, and I will be
Content to feel the thing I cannot see,
And let my last experience make it good,
Thy hand is seal'd with my Redeemers blood;
I hope the Bond's uncancel'd; if it be
Lord thou art paid, I hope, and I am free;
I mean from my Original; but Lord
I must confess, I've lately past my word,

6

And I have broke my promise, Lord the Gaol
Must be my refuge, for I have no Bail
Except thy Mercy, which I have so oft
Abused, Lord, and at thy Judgements scoft;
That should I now presume to make a tryal,
I 'Justly might expect thy just denial:
Yet why shouldst thou deny me? had the Thief
His pardon, and shall I have no relief?
Lord, pardon this my rashness, how dare I
Expostulate with thee; or ask a why
My lips are sealed, yet oh Lord, I dare?
Give me but Grace, to open them by Prayer;
As thou hast given Prayer for my heart,
So give my heart for prayer; let me not part
Till I am answer'd; nay, I will (if prayer)
Has any power, extenuate my care,
On purpose to enlarge it; I will be
An Orator, till thy Divinitie
Shall melt, as Clouds drop fruitful showers of Rain,
And make me only fit to beg again:
All other Judgments wispers, this cries loud;
Let's Judge the tempest, by th' approching cloud;
Oh how unhappy is that purblind Land
That takes the little Finger for the Hand?
Judgment will make us tremble by degrees,
Reader, remember great Belshazars knees;
Needs must that woful Nation be acurst,
(Suspect Religion) when Divines flie first;
They have forgot what was the Israelites hap,
When powerful Moses sentenell'd the gap:
Will Moses fly from Aaron, oh hard-heart!
'Tis a bad sign when loving Brothers part.

7

How shall poor hungry Infants get their bread
When their hard-hearted Nurses all are fled;
Oh cruel tyranny! what can be worse,
When the poor Infant's murther'd by the Nurse?
Hard-hearted Nurse; that can be so unkind,
To fly away and leave her Babe behinde;
Fly Nurses, fly, to any secret place,
But be so kind to leave the Babe of grace;
I mean, your Charities; and then we shall
By our Diseases thrive, when you will fall,
By your dispair; endeavour to be true,
Then praise your God with soul and body too;
For he that made them both, hath the same power
To save them both from an unhappy hour;
Be careful, and amidst your cares be just,
There is no greater sin then sad distrust:
Distrust invites a Plague, when humble zeal,
Can palliate by degrees th' infected weal.
Prayers, Sighs, and Tears, being well composed, can
Cure all distempers incident to man.