Midnights Meditations of Death With Pious and Profitable Observations, and Consolations [by Edward Buckler]: Perused by Francis Quarles A little before his Death |
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| 1. | Sect. 1. Riches cannot protect us from the stroke of Death.
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 | Midnights Meditations of Death |  |
Sect. 1. Riches cannot protect us from the stroke of Death.
Of richest men in holy writ I read,
Whose basket & whose store the Lord had blest,
And in the land exceedingly increas'd
Their wealthy substance; yet they all are dead.
Riches do not immortalize our nature:
The richest dyes as well's the poorest creature.
Whose basket & whose store the Lord had blest,
And in the land exceedingly increas'd
Their wealthy substance; yet they all are dead.
Riches do not immortalize our nature:
The richest dyes as well's the poorest creature.
'Bove all, the wealth of Solomon did passe;
Ne'r was man master of a greater store:
He went beyond all Kings that went before.
Silver as stones, and purest gold as brasse,
Adorn'd Jerusalem: a glorious thing!
Yet death strikes into dust this wealthy King.
Ne'r was man master of a greater store:
He went beyond all Kings that went before.
Silver as stones, and purest gold as brasse,
Adorn'd Jerusalem: a glorious thing!
Yet death strikes into dust this wealthy King.
Meditation 1.
If 'gainst Death's stroke my riches cannot arm me,
Nor comfort me a jote when I am dying:
I'll take a care these witches do not harm me
Whilst I do live. I know they will be trying
To do me any mischief; as before
And now they mischief all the whole world o're.
Nor comfort me a jote when I am dying:
I'll take a care these witches do not harm me
Whilst I do live. I know they will be trying
To do me any mischief; as before
And now they mischief all the whole world o're.
Some riches hurt with that old sinne of pride:
Rich men extremely swell; most commonly
This sinne and wealth both in one house abide:
Poore men are loo'kd on with a scornfull eye.
Strangely is his heart puft up with pride's bellows
That hath a fatter fortune then his fellows.
Rich men extremely swell; most commonly
This sinne and wealth both in one house abide:
Poore men are loo'kd on with a scornfull eye.
Strangely is his heart puft up with pride's bellows
That hath a fatter fortune then his fellows.
His words are big, looks lofty, mind is high;
He with his purse will needs drive all before him:
He ever looks for the precedency;
And vext he is if men do not adore him:
He bears the sway: another man must be,
If not so rich, not half so good as he.
He with his purse will needs drive all before him:
He ever looks for the precedency;
And vext he is if men do not adore him:
He bears the sway: another man must be,
If not so rich, not half so good as he.
Some men wealth doth infect with churlishnesse:
They answer roughly: they are crabbed misers.
(Course bread yields hardest crust) This is a dresse
Wherewith wealth decks our accidentall risers.
Since Nabals death a thousand rich men be
In every point as very hogs as he.
They answer roughly: they are crabbed misers.
(Course bread yields hardest crust) This is a dresse
Wherewith wealth decks our accidentall risers.
Since Nabals death a thousand rich men be
In every point as very hogs as he.
Some wealth makes prodigalls: there's no excesse
But they runne into. Back and belly strive
Which shall spend most: belly, with drunkennesse
And gormandizing: back, for to contrive
New stuffs and fashions. This excessive crue
Have wayes to spend that Dives never knew.
But they runne into. Back and belly strive
Which shall spend most: belly, with drunkennesse
And gormandizing: back, for to contrive
New stuffs and fashions. This excessive crue
Have wayes to spend that Dives never knew.
Observe these Caterpillers: One man puts
Into his throat a cellar full of drink:
Another makes a shambles of his guts.
The back is not behind; you would not think,
How for themselves, and for their curious dames,
One suit of clothes a good fat manour lames.
Into his throat a cellar full of drink:
Another makes a shambles of his guts.
The back is not behind; you would not think,
How for themselves, and for their curious dames,
One suit of clothes a good fat manour lames.
Some wealth makes idle: like so many drones
They suck what others sweat for, and do hate
All good imployments. Many wealthy ones
Have neither callings in the Church nor State;
And during life do nothing day by day
But sit to eat and drink, and rise to play.
They suck what others sweat for, and do hate
All good imployments. Many wealthy ones
Have neither callings in the Church nor State;
And during life do nothing day by day
But sit to eat and drink, and rise to play.
These mischiefs are in wealth and many more:
It throws men into many a foolish lust.
But if Gods bounty multiply my store,
I'll drain these vices from 't: For when I must
Grone on my death-bed, these sinnes will displease me
And fright my soul, but riches cannot ease me.
It throws men into many a foolish lust.
But if Gods bounty multiply my store,
I'll drain these vices from 't: For when I must
Grone on my death-bed, these sinnes will displease me
And fright my soul, but riches cannot ease me.
Lord, either keep me poore, or make me rich
In grace as well as goods: my wealth undresse
(If I have any) of those vices which
Are wont to clothe it; so shall I possesse
Riches without those sinnes that riches bring,
That when death comes they sharpen not his sting.
In grace as well as goods: my wealth undresse
(If I have any) of those vices which
Are wont to clothe it; so shall I possesse
Riches without those sinnes that riches bring,
That when death comes they sharpen not his sting.
Meditation 2.
Though God doth blesse me all my time along
With best of blessings, make my courses thrive,
Fill full my garners, make my oxen strong
To labour; and although his bountie give
As much to me as to a thousand more;
Though I am rich and all my neighbours poore;
With best of blessings, make my courses thrive,
Fill full my garners, make my oxen strong
To labour; and although his bountie give
As much to me as to a thousand more;
Though I am rich and all my neighbours poore;
Though Fortune fanne me with a courteous wing;
Though gold be at my beck; though I have sail'd
With prosp'rous gales; though not an adverse thing
Did e're betide me; though I never fail'd
Of good successe in any undertaking:
Yet am I still one of the common making;
Though gold be at my beck; though I have sail'd
With prosp'rous gales; though not an adverse thing
Did e're betide me; though I never fail'd
Of good successe in any undertaking:
Yet am I still one of the common making;
A piece of dust and clay: and I may go
Into my grave as soon's a poorer man.
Our mold's alike; God at first made us so:
He makes the rich mans life but like a span;
And so the beggers is; just both alike:
And both fall when impartiall Death doth strike.
Into my grave as soon's a poorer man.
Our mold's alike; God at first made us so:
He makes the rich mans life but like a span;
And so the beggers is; just both alike:
And both fall when impartiall Death doth strike.
When they are fallen both alike they lie;
Both breathlesse, noisome, livelesse, senselesse, cold:
Both like the grasse are withered, dead and drie;
And both of them are ghastly to behold.
The ods is this, The poore man 'mongst the croud
Of buried mortalls hath the coursest shroud.
Both breathlesse, noisome, livelesse, senselesse, cold:
Both like the grasse are withered, dead and drie;
And both of them are ghastly to behold.
The ods is this, The poore man 'mongst the croud
Of buried mortalls hath the coursest shroud.
Why sinne the foolish sonnes of men for gain?
Why doth the Land-lord rack? the Us'rer bite?
Why doth the Judge with bribes his conscience stain?
Why doth the bauling Lawyer take delight
In spinning causes to a needlesse length,
Untill his clients purse hath lost its strength?
Why doth the Land-lord rack? the Us'rer bite?
Why doth the Judge with bribes his conscience stain?
Why doth the bauling Lawyer take delight
In spinning causes to a needlesse length,
Untill his clients purse hath lost its strength?
Why are Gods Ministers become men-pleasers?
And why are Patrones simoniacall?
Why are our Advocates such nippy teasers
Of honest causes? why the devil and all
Do Misers scrape? and why do Tradesmen rear
Their price, yet sell time dearer then their ware?
And why are Patrones simoniacall?
Why are our Advocates such nippy teasers
Of honest causes? why the devil and all
Do Misers scrape? and why do Tradesmen rear
Their price, yet sell time dearer then their ware?
Sure these bad courses cannot choose but hurt us;
They make Deaths looks more ghastly, and his sting
More piercing: but our wealth cannot support us
'Gainst smallest pains and fears that Death will bring.
Riches do promise much but do deceive us:
When we have need of succour then they leave us.
They make Deaths looks more ghastly, and his sting
More piercing: but our wealth cannot support us
'Gainst smallest pains and fears that Death will bring.
Riches do promise much but do deceive us:
When we have need of succour then they leave us.
Anoint me, Lord, with eye-salve, to discern
What poore contents the world affords at best.
Instruct me, Lord, and I shall quickly learn
That without thee there's no condition blest.
Bad wayes of gaining into hell will drive me:
But all my wealth will not from Death reprive me.
What poore contents the world affords at best.
Instruct me, Lord, and I shall quickly learn
That without thee there's no condition blest.
Bad wayes of gaining into hell will drive me:
But all my wealth will not from Death reprive me.
Meditation 3.
Some therefore sinne because they do aboundIn store of wealth: this is the onely ground
Of many sinnes. Gods laws they do transgresse;
They wrong their equals, and the poore oppresse;
They tread religion and civilitie
Both under foot; all kind of tyrannie
Nothing can keep them in; they make a breach
Through all those fenses which at the beginning
God set to keep rebellious man from sinning:
They will be revellers, whoremongers, swearers,
Drunkards, oppressours, liers, and forbearers
Of no impiety: this is the reason,
Great men they are, and rich. 'T is petty treason,
Though in a modest way, for to reprove
Those sinfull courses which our betters love.
If we dare do it, though we have a calling
To do it boldly, we are tax'd for bawling
And saucie fellows; and another day
Sure we shall smart for 't. Lord, I'll never say,
I'll sinne because I'm rich; unlesse that I
Could say, I'm rich, and therefore will not die.
Meditation 4.
If from Deaths stroke my riches cannot shield me,
Nor on my death-bed any comfort give;
Then I will take a care that they shall yield me
Some joy and comfort whilst I am alive,
And never shall a jote my sinnes increase,
Nor hinder me from going hence in peace.
Nor on my death-bed any comfort give;
Then I will take a care that they shall yield me
Some joy and comfort whilst I am alive,
And never shall a jote my sinnes increase,
Nor hinder me from going hence in peace.
I'll get them well: my calling shall be lawfull;
My brows or brains shall sweat for what I have:
And I will use my calling with an awfull
Regard of God and conscience; nor will crave
What I have not a right to. They do eat
Scarce their own bread whose faces never sweat
My brows or brains shall sweat for what I have:
And I will use my calling with an awfull
Regard of God and conscience; nor will crave
What I have not a right to. They do eat
Scarce their own bread whose faces never sweat
Unlesse they sweat with eating. Nor can I
Find any warrant for those wayes of gain
Which many men do get their livings by:
To keep a needlesse Alehouse to maintein
An idle familie: to be a Pander,
A Fortune-teller, or an Apes commander:
Find any warrant for those wayes of gain
Which many men do get their livings by:
To keep a needlesse Alehouse to maintein
An idle familie: to be a Pander,
A Fortune-teller, or an Apes commander:
A purblind Crowder, or a Rogue that canteth;
A Cuckold by consent for ready pay:
A sturdy Begger that not one limb wanteth:
Or one that borrows money on the way:
A Us'rer, who whether 't shine or rain,
If the Sunne stand not still, is sure of gain.
A Cuckold by consent for ready pay:
A sturdy Begger that not one limb wanteth:
Or one that borrows money on the way:
A Us'rer, who whether 't shine or rain,
If the Sunne stand not still, is sure of gain.
For these I find no warrant: nor for dealing
Deceitfully in selling or in buying.
To take more then what's sold is worth, is stealing;
Or to give lesse: the art of multiplying
Our lands, or gold, or silver, by subtracting
From other mens, or by unjust exacting
Deceitfully in selling or in buying.
To take more then what's sold is worth, is stealing;
Or to give lesse: the art of multiplying
Our lands, or gold, or silver, by subtracting
From other mens, or by unjust exacting
What is not ours. Better (in my opinion)
It were to feed on barley-bread and pottage
Made of salt, water, and an onion:
To wear a thred-bare coat, and in a cottage
Smoke-bound and rusty pennylesse to dwell,
Then to get wealth unlesse I get it well.
It were to feed on barley-bread and pottage
Made of salt, water, and an onion:
To wear a thred-bare coat, and in a cottage
Smoke-bound and rusty pennylesse to dwell,
Then to get wealth unlesse I get it well.
And when 't is justly gotten, every thought
That I'll bestow upon it shall be such
As it deserves: If heav'ns full hand hath brought
Plenty into my bosome, if as much
I have as I could wish, my care shall be
To think of't all as of a vanity.
That I'll bestow upon it shall be such
As it deserves: If heav'ns full hand hath brought
Plenty into my bosome, if as much
I have as I could wish, my care shall be
To think of't all as of a vanity.
A vanity that, for ought I do know,
May take its flight and in an houre leave me.
As God had many wayes for to bestow
His bounty on me, he hath to bereave me
As many more: as moveables I'll deem it
From me, or with me; and I will esteem it
May take its flight and in an houre leave me.
As God had many wayes for to bestow
His bounty on me, he hath to bereave me
As many more: as moveables I'll deem it
From me, or with me; and I will esteem it
A strong temptation unto many a sinne,
That never will perform what it doth promise:
That wealths fair books when we are deepest in
The greater reck'ning God exacteth from us.
I'll not afford my wealth a better thought:
And I do think I think on 't as I ought.
That never will perform what it doth promise:
That wealths fair books when we are deepest in
The greater reck'ning God exacteth from us.
I'll not afford my wealth a better thought:
And I do think I think on 't as I ought.
And as I ought I'll use 't: Not to be fewel
For any lust, nor to maintein my riot;
Not to be prodigall, vainglorious, cruel;
Nor yet to make my potent purse disquiet
My poorer brother: but from thence I'll raise
My neighbours profit and my Makers praise.
For any lust, nor to maintein my riot;
Not to be prodigall, vainglorious, cruel;
Nor yet to make my potent purse disquiet
My poorer brother: but from thence I'll raise
My neighbours profit and my Makers praise.
Where there is need, I'll ready be to give,
Glad to distribute: naked ones I'll cover:
Hungry and thirsty souls I will relieve:
Widows distress'd in me shall find another
Husband: to orphanes I will be in stead
Of parents to provide their daily bread.
Glad to distribute: naked ones I'll cover:
Hungry and thirsty souls I will relieve:
Widows distress'd in me shall find another
Husband: to orphanes I will be in stead
Of parents to provide their daily bread.
I'll never empty send the poore away:
The Church shall ever find my purse unty'd:
The King shall have his due without delay:
The Common-wealth shall never be deny'd.
Thus shall my wealth be common unto many,
If ever God be pleas'd to send me any.
The Church shall ever find my purse unty'd:
The King shall have his due without delay:
The Common-wealth shall never be deny'd.
Thus shall my wealth be common unto many,
If ever God be pleas'd to send me any.
Riches so justly gotten, and imploy'd
So piously, although they cannot make
A man immortall, that he should avoid
The grave and rottennesse; yet do not shake
The soul with terrours and such desperate fears,
As what's ill gotten doth, when Death appears.
So piously, although they cannot make
A man immortall, that he should avoid
The grave and rottennesse; yet do not shake
The soul with terrours and such desperate fears,
As what's ill gotten doth, when Death appears.
Make me a faithfull Steward, holy Father,
Of what thou hast intrusted me withall.
Where I straw'd not grant I may never gather;
Nor sinne in spending: Then send Death to call
Me to account, Lord, when thou wilt, and I
Shall entertein the message joyfully.
Of what thou hast intrusted me withall.
Where I straw'd not grant I may never gather;
Nor sinne in spending: Then send Death to call
Me to account, Lord, when thou wilt, and I
Shall entertein the message joyfully.
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