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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Degrees of Love. |
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Degrees of Love.
If I a Creature love, it may not knowThe Channel whence my flood of Love doth flow:
But God knows all mens hearts, and will approve
Of love to him; for God himself is Love.
If I a Creature love, it no regard
May have to make amends; God doth reward.
But when my kinde affections do intrude,
The Creature answers with ingratitude.
If I a Creature love, that Creature may
Be captious, peevish, making me its prey.
The love of God exceeds the love of men;
For loving him, I've love for love agen.
A humour too, may make a Creature fly me;
But loving God, I have him always by me.
If I a Creature love, that very thing
On which I dote, may prove to me a sting.
But to love God, brings comfort, joy, and ease;
For he's the everlasting Prince of Peace.
If I a Creature love, my care must be
For that; but God will Angels charge with me.
If I a Creature love, my hearts desire
Is all inflam'd but with Terrestrial fire;
But loving God, my Soul and Senses feel
The holy flames of a Cœlestial Zeal.
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That moves; God dwells in me, and I in him.
If I a Creature love, it doth not know
All my affairs; God knows whate're I do.
If I a Creature love, it doth deceive me;
If I love God, he's ready to relieve me.
If I a Creature love, much pain and grief
Attend; but loving God, I finde relief.
If I a Creature love, we both must die;
But God gives life to all eternitie.
If I a Creature love, I oft behold
Those slights and faults, which make my love grow cold;
But if on God I firmly fix my love,
The love of God doth make my love improve.
He is so good, so noble, rich, sweet, fair,
Mighty and wise, so exquisitly rare,
I'll court his love (as he hath taught) with Prayer.
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