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 Lazarus. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
On Lazarus.
The wicked Worldling spends his time in laughter,Having his Heaven here, his Hell hereafter.
Contrarywise, the good man whilst he's here
Lives as in Hell, to sigh, and shed his tear;
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God wipes away all tears from off his eyes.
Though here he suffer scorn, the worlds annoy,
Yet He that sows in tears, shall reap in joy.
The Rich man hath his good things in this life,
Lazarus evil things, slights, scorn, and strife;
But meets at last, with what he here doth miss,
Eternal joy: it is the poor mans bliss,
Whilst Dives lies, as if with Scorpions stung,
Wishing for Lazarus to cool his tongue;
That Lazarus who whilome lay before
The gilded Postern of the rich mans door,
Begging some mean remainings of his table.
Dives, rapt up in Silks and costly Sable,
Glutted with sumptuous food and choice of wine,
Hath neither time nor ear for them that pine.
The very (kinder) Dogs, in pity, then
Licked his Sores, thereby instructing men
To Love and Charity. Observe the end;
Angels upon the Begger did attend:
He dies, and they to Abraham's bosom fly,
Leaving him there to all Eternity;
Whilst Dives, striving others to excell
When here, tormented is in flames of Hell.
Thus Worldlings ride in pomp to Hell's hot Nest,
And Penitents in Tears swim to their Rest.
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