 | Divine Songs and Meditacions |  |
59
Another Song.
[Having restrained Discontent]
Having restrained Discontent,
The onely Foe to Health and Witt,
I sought by all meanes to prevent
The causes which did nourish it.
Knowing that they who are judicious
Have alwaies held it most pernicious.
The onely Foe to Health and Witt,
I sought by all meanes to prevent
The causes which did nourish it.
Knowing that they who are judicious
Have alwaies held it most pernicious.
Looking to outward things, I found
Not that which Sorrow might abate,
But rather cause them to abound
Then any Greife to mitigate
Which made me seek by supplicacion
Internall Peace and Consolacion
Not that which Sorrow might abate,
But rather cause them to abound
Then any Greife to mitigate
Which made me seek by supplicacion
Internall Peace and Consolacion
Calling to mind their wretchednesse
That seem to be in happy case
Having externall happinesse
But therewithall no inward grace;
Nor are their minds with knowledg pollisht
In such all vertues are abolisht
That seem to be in happy case
Having externall happinesse
But therewithall no inward grace;
Nor are their minds with knowledg pollisht
In such all vertues are abolisht
For where the mind's obscure and dark
There is no vertu resident,
Of goodnesse there remaines no spark
Distrustfullnesse doth there frequent
For Ignorance the cause of error
May also be the cause of terror
There is no vertu resident,
Of goodnesse there remaines no spark
Distrustfullnesse doth there frequent
For Ignorance the cause of error
May also be the cause of terror
60
As doth the Sun-beames beutify
The Sky, which else doth dim appeare
So Knowledg doth exquisitly
The Mind adorn, delight and cleare
Which otherwise is most obscure,
Full of enormities impure.
The Sky, which else doth dim appeare
So Knowledg doth exquisitly
The Mind adorn, delight and cleare
Which otherwise is most obscure,
Full of enormities impure.
So that their Soules polluted are
That live in blockish Ignorance,
Which doth their miseries declare
And argues plainly that their wants
More hurtfull are then outward Crosses
Infirmities, Reproach, or Losses.
That live in blockish Ignorance,
Which doth their miseries declare
And argues plainly that their wants
More hurtfull are then outward Crosses
Infirmities, Reproach, or Losses.
Where saving Knowledg doth abide,
The peace of Conscience also dwels
And many Vertues more beside
Which all obsurdities expels,
And fils the Soule with joy Celestiall
That shee regards not things Terrestiall.
The peace of Conscience also dwels
And many Vertues more beside
Which all obsurdities expels,
And fils the Soule with joy Celestiall
That shee regards not things Terrestiall.
Sith then the Graces of the Mind
Exceeds all outward Happinesse,
What sweet Contentment do they find
Who are admitted to possesse
Such matchlesse Pearles, so may we call them
For Precious is the least of all them.
Exceeds all outward Happinesse,
What sweet Contentment do they find
Who are admitted to possesse
Such matchlesse Pearles, so may we call them
For Precious is the least of all them.
VVhich when I well considered
My greife for outward crosses ceast,
Being not much discouraged
Although afflictions still encreast,
Knowing right well that Tribulacion
No token is of Reprobacion.
My greife for outward crosses ceast,
Being not much discouraged
61
Knowing right well that Tribulacion
No token is of Reprobacion.
| Divine Songs and Meditacions | |