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 Perfection. |
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On Perfection.
In Humane life there no perfection canBe said to be an attribute of man.
Lust and the Senses have a constant Jar;
The Flesh and Spirit do maintain a War
Against each other: man may make his moan,
He perfect is in Imperfection.
None but the Lord that Badge of Honour wears;
But man may gain it with his Prayers and Tears;
Cannot enjoy it here, but he must fly
Where it is crowned with Felicity.
They are Cœlestial plants or flowers, both
Of Paradise, not of Terrestrial growth.
The best in this his Pilgrimage doth hault,
Like Jacob with one leg, 'tis Natures fault.
Though we have many tongues, as Paul, are apt
To climb like him, till i'th' third Heaven wrapt;
Though we, with Moses, have in Egypt sought
For all the Learning the Egyptians taught;
Though we (as Ezra did) should understand;
Each Article of every Command.
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In Scripture as Apollos, we indent
Too far with Sin and Satan, that our care
Hath no perfection, but a perfect snare.
We are but Scholars here, to use our Arts
In pious duties to improve our parts.
The clearest Christian hath some soil or spot:
Noah with Drinking did himself besot.
Peter with Perjury eclips'd his fame:
And with Dissimulation Abraham.
With loud Contention Paul and Barnabas.
The Psalmist truly doth express the case:
The sons of men are so profusely prone,
None perfect are, nor none good, no not one.
The Vertue that a just man hath, doth lie
In Pious works, and in Humilitie.
The Author to the Hebrews quotes the name
Of many Worthies blemish'd in their fame.
Gideon an Ephod made, and that let in
Idolatry; he Israel made to sin:
Had many Wives, to nourish his designe
Of Lust, and with those Wives a Concubine.
Barak, although a Souldier, waxed faint.
Sampson, a strong and a couragious Saint,
Defil'd himself with Strumpets. Wretched fate
Made Jepthe rash and inconsiderate.
David was tainted with two horrid sins,
Murther, Adultery, as if two twins
Or brethren; both have his great honour checkt.
Samuel observ'd his Children with neglect.
No Prince or Prophet but his weakness had,
Virtues have opposites in things are bad;
Yet they were men that did with God accord,
And were most highly honour'd by the Lord;
Faithful to God, obedient to his Law:
That Chrystal perfect is that hath no flaw.
Shew me a Garden that's without its weeds,
I'll yield man perfect by his words and deeds.
Yet let us not upon their errours play;
The Righteous man offendeth every day:
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It plainly shews whole Nature is deprav'd.
Wouldst thou of a Perfection have thy share,
Repent, like them; for now they perfect are.
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