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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Of Presumption. |
 | Prison-Pietie |  |
Of Presumption.
If thou'rt a disputant, or proudly wise,If ignorant, yet seemingly precise,
Beware of being busie with God's Word,
To dive into the Secrets of the Lord.
His Closet is his own, and wo to they
Shall pick the lock, when God doth keep the key.
Then be not over-busie; he that will
Be sifting every Cloud to try his skill,
For his presumption he may have the luck,
For daring boldly, to be Thunder-struck.
He that will be familiarly bold
With Heavens mysteries, them to unsold,
May with his judgment overwhelmed be,
As Adam was with his unhappy Tree.
The Beth Lemites must pry into the Ark;
God's Judgment was serene, though theirs was dark.
For their presumption this became their gain,
They by the Lord had Fifty thousand slain.
Then hover not about this flame which brings
Soul-fatal falls, by scorching of its wings:
I will improve by what we have reveal'd,
Not strive to know what God would have conceal'd.
Lord, to preserve me from the Devil's gins,
Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins.
| Prison-Pietie | |