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 Knowledge. |
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On Knowledge.
This precious Jewel, Knowledge, may compareTo those the Israelites of old did wear:
For if our Knowledge be improv'd but half
Of that, like them we but erect a Calf.
Their Gold was precious, all that while commodious;
But in an Idol cast, it then grew odious.
So the pure Wit of man, well understood,
Was in the days of Innocencie good;
But when corruption seizes on his age,
He becomes vicious that before was sage.
Or it resembles an untilled field
That barren lies, and nothing else doth yield
But Brambles, Thorns, unnecessary Weeds,
Till Grace manures it with its growing seeds.
The best of Minerals their poysons have
Until extracted. Flowers sweet and brave,
Their fæces do possess, till art and skill,
By separation takes away the ill.
So the best Wits have folly, until Grace
Plucks up its roots and groweth in the place.
In things that do spiritually relate,
The Understanding when it's tried by weight,
Will like Belshazzar much too light be found,
Lighter than Vanity or Verbal sound.
Then let not wise men glory in their parts,
But hoard their Wisdome in unspotted hearts:
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'Bove that of Rubies, or of mans device:
For he that getteth wisdom loves his Soul,
Dare oppose dangers, feareth no controul.
It excels Folly as a glorious Star,
And better is than weapons us'd in War.
'Tis profitable to instruct, direct,
Teacheth the Ignorant be circumspect.
Wherefore if any one do Wisdom lack,
Ask of the Lord, for he will not be slack.
It is the gift of God, and he alone
Can Wisdom fix within a heart of stone.
Why are we dayly by our sins decoy'd?
For want of Knowledge people are destroy'd.
With Knowledge put on practice: Satan's brood
Have Knowledge, but it does more harm thad good.
To Apprehensive Knowledge must conjoyn
Affective Knowledge: if those two combine,
They give a Christian courage. No retreat
Is needful when a Saint is arm'd compleat.
When as God's holy Spirit takes in hand
To teach the Scholar soon doth understand.
To a good Soul nothing's of higher prize
Than is the knowledge of deep mysteries.
Austin of God desir'd no worldly pelf,
But only to know God, and know himself.
Knowledge and Love must both accord, for why?
Knowledge puffs up, but Love doth edifie.
Foolish were they that Knowledge did despise
Because it puffeth up: Rather than wise,
They were resolv'd continue ignorant
And humble, Pride and Arrogance to want.
Knowledge puffs up, but Grace gives an allay;
For Knowledge can command, and can obey:
But those were like Democritus, half wise,
To shun Uncleanness pluck'd out both his eyes.
Though Knowledge nimbly on our Senses dance,
It's greatest part's the least of Ignorance:
Yet we are apt to think, though can't discern't,
That we know all that can by man be learnt.
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All would be Leaders, none Commanders please:
And Epicurus spoke but as a youth,
Boasting he was the first discover'd Truth;
For he in many things exprest his minde
Not as a man, but as a Beetle blinde.
Aratus the Astrologer did vent
His brags, he knew all Stars i'th' Firmament.
Laurentius Vella gloried there was none
Writ Logick worth the reading, but his own.
Nestorius the Heretick could boast,
That he alone, on the European coast,
Did understand the Scriptures; when he came,
The World awakned was with his great name.
Well saith th'Apostle, and 'tis truly so,
Man knoweth nothing as he ought to know.
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