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 Contentation. |
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On Contentation.
Cyneas asking Pyrrhus his intent,What he would do after his hazard spent
In many Victories, Pyrrhus did reply,
He'd take his ease, and then live merrily.
To whom Cyneas, That you might have done
Before, were you contented with your own.
'Tis not the largeness of the Cage doth bring
Notes to the Bird, instructing him to sing.
Moreover, though a Bird hath little eye,
Yet he hath wings by which he soars on high,
Can see far wider, and abundance better
Than may an Ox, although his eye be greater.
'Tis not the great Estate that brings Content,
But Piety, the Christian's Ornament.
The Righteous having little, no promotion;
Yet what he hath, when joyned with Devotion,
May feel more comfort, more enjoy God's bounty
Than he whose Incomes may command a County.
But few can be content with what they have;
He that hath hundreds, still for more doth crave:
If his Possessions be in Houses, Land,
He grasps at more, and with a ready hand
Omits no mischief that his Craft can nurse,
To fill his Coffer, or enlarge his Purse.
The greatest thing in little compass can
Be comprehended, is Content in man.
And this great Vertue hath its safe abode
Only in him that is a Childe of God;
Who sees, and to his brethren cries, Content ye,
Enough's a feast, and Piety hath plentie.
As when a Traveller comes to his Inn,
He for a Lodging-room does first begin
T'enquire; but if he cannot please his minde,
He is content with such as he shall finde,
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Well knowing that it is but for a night:
So is it with the Christian Pilgrim; he
Can use a large Estate, if it should be
God's will to bless him with it, yet his mind
To Heaven's pleasure alway is confin'd.
A little of the Creatures will asswage
Hunger and Thirst in Christian Pilgrimage:
For let his Journeying be sweet or rough,
He knows his Father's house hath bread enough;
Therefore as sweetly feeds, in going home,
As Sampson did upon his Honey-comb.
Let no man's mind on Earthly things be bent;
But Having food and rayment, be content.
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