Prison-Pietie or, Meditations Divine and Moral. Digested into Poetical Heads, On Mixt and Various Subjects. Whereunto is added A Panegyrick to The Right Reverend, and most Nobly descended, Henry, Lord Bishop of London. By Samuel Speed, Prisoner in Ludgate, London |
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On the Pharisee and the Publican. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
On the Pharisee and the Publican.
Two men into the Temple went to pray;The one a Pharisee, who thus did say,
I thank thee, God, I am no common man,
No unjust person, As this Publican;
Twice in the week I fast from my excess,
And I give tythes of all that I possess.
The humble Publican at distance stood,
With head and eyes dejected, as if food,
Or heavenly Manna then was to be found
Carelessly scatter'd on the dusty ground:
But as in bitterness of Soul distrest,
He with his hand smote on his troubled breast,
Of his Petition this was the beginner,
O God be merciful to me a sinner:
The other shew'd (rather than Zeal) his pride,
But the poor Publican went justifi'd.
God doth delight the proud look to abase,
And on Humility bestows his grace.
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