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 Gospel. |
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On the Gospel.
The Gospel ancient as Moses is,Nay Adam, it was preacht in Paradise.
'Tis true, before the Gospel came the Law,
Yet from the Gospel we most vertue draw.
Likewise before the Day, appear'd the Night,
Yet above Darkness we esteem the Light.
And before Man was made, all Creatures were,
Yet he excells them, they his servants are.
He that before his Lord the Sword doth bear,
Is not suppos'd superiour to the Mayor.
All things which in this world we splendid see,
Are not esteem'd by their priority.
Saith John, There comes one after me, whose shooes
I am unworthy, too low, to unloose.
The Law is most compos'd of forms of fears;
But in the Gospel streams of love appears.
The Law makes God our foe with pointing—thus;
The Gospel cries, Emanuel, God with us.
The office of the Law is to accuse;
That of the Gospel is to heal a bruise.
The Law a killing letter's stil'd by merit;
But th'holy Gospels is a quickning Spirit.
Besides, the Gospel is the bell whereby
We all are called to Eternity.
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