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93
Verses on the twelvth Chapter of Ecclesiastes.
All Earthly Glories to theyr periods post,
As those that do possesse them may behold,
Who therfore should not be at too much cost
With that which fades so soon, dies & growes old
But rather minde him in their youthfull dayes,
Who can give glory which shall last alwayes.
As those that do possesse them may behold,
Who therfore should not be at too much cost
With that which fades so soon, dies & growes old
But rather minde him in their youthfull dayes,
Who can give glory which shall last alwayes.
Ere Light of Sun or Moon or Stars expire,
Before the outward sence eclipsed be,
VVhich doth direct the heart for to admire
These works of God which obvious are to see,
The Fabrick of the Earth, the Heavens high,
Are to the mind discoverd by the eye.
Before the outward sence eclipsed be,
VVhich doth direct the heart for to admire
These works of God which obvious are to see,
The Fabrick of the Earth, the Heavens high,
Are to the mind discoverd by the eye.
Again, before the strong men, low shall bow,
And they that keep the house shall tremble sore
Ere natures force be spent, or quite out-flow;
And wonted courage shall be found no more,
VVhen weaknesse shall each part emasculate
And make the stoutest heart effeminate.
And they that keep the house shall tremble sore
Ere natures force be spent, or quite out-flow;
And wonted courage shall be found no more,
VVhen weaknesse shall each part emasculate
And make the stoutest heart effeminate.
94
Moreover, ere the grinders shall be few
VVhich for concoction doth the food prepare,
And Dames of musick shall be brought so low
That for their melody none much shall care;
Harsh and unpleasant, then the voyce shall bee
The breast being not from obstructions free.
VVhich for concoction doth the food prepare,
And Dames of musick shall be brought so low
That for their melody none much shall care;
Harsh and unpleasant, then the voyce shall bee
The breast being not from obstructions free.
Also before that, causlesse feares arise,
By reason of much imbecility,
Conceit of harmes will in the way surprise
Such feeble ones, which would from shadowes fly
VVhen chilling Frost of sad decrepid age,
The force of vitall vigour shall aswage.
By reason of much imbecility,
Conceit of harmes will in the way surprise
Such feeble ones, which would from shadowes fly
VVhen chilling Frost of sad decrepid age,
The force of vitall vigour shall aswage.
The Almond Tree shall blossoms then declare,
Gray hairs presage to them the end is nigh,
Naturall heat having no more repaire,
Desires fayle, as flames wanting fuell, dy,
Nothing remayning wherby strength's suppli'd
The marrow wasted, and the moysture dri'd.
Gray hairs presage to them the end is nigh,
Naturall heat having no more repaire,
Desires fayle, as flames wanting fuell, dy,
Nothing remayning wherby strength's suppli'd
The marrow wasted, and the moysture dri'd.
And ere the silver cord be loose and weak,
Before the veins be stopt, and sinews shrink
And ere the golden Bowl or Pitcher break,
Before the heart for want of spirit shrink
The head whereas the animals reside,
Now full of maladies, and stupyfide.
Before the veins be stopt, and sinews shrink
And ere the golden Bowl or Pitcher break,
Before the heart for want of spirit shrink
The head whereas the animals reside,
Now full of maladies, and stupyfide.
95
The Body thus out-worn and quite decayd,
The dust returneth to the Earth again;
To God who gave it, is the Soul convayd.
VVho doth with it as he did preordain,
However som to vent their falacy
Conclude the Soul doth with the Body dy.
The dust returneth to the Earth again;
To God who gave it, is the Soul convayd.
VVho doth with it as he did preordain,
However som to vent their falacy
Conclude the Soul doth with the Body dy.
VVhich if were truth why did our Saviour say?
Feare him not which the Body kils alone,
And hath no might the Soul for to destray,
It with the one the other must be gone;
But that they may declare impostors skill
Twixt Soul and Spirit they distinguish will.
Feare him not which the Body kils alone,
And hath no might the Soul for to destray,
It with the one the other must be gone;
But that they may declare impostors skill
Twixt Soul and Spirit they distinguish will.
The Soul (say they) doth with the Body dy,
Then there's a third part which they Spirit call,
VVho doth return to God immediatly
Leaving the Dead till judgment-generall,
And then returning breathing doth infuse
In Soul and Body, wherby life ensues.
Then there's a third part which they Spirit call,
VVho doth return to God immediatly
Leaving the Dead till judgment-generall,
And then returning breathing doth infuse
In Soul and Body, wherby life ensues.
For which they have no Scripture (I suppose)
Save what they wrest unto theyr own Perdicion,
As this, where 'tis said, the word with power goes
Twixt Soul & Spirit by divine commission.
Twixt joynts and marow it doth penetrate,
Facing all secrets, heart can meditate.
Save what they wrest unto theyr own Perdicion,
As this, where 'tis said, the word with power goes
Twixt Soul & Spirit by divine commission.
Twixt joynts and marow it doth penetrate,
Facing all secrets, heart can meditate.
96
The joynts and marrow of the Body be
Not sev'rall species, but of kind the same,
The Body to support, each part agree,
And ev'ry member hath its sev'rall name;
So Soul and Spirit is one entire thing,
Immortall by the vertu of its Spring.
Not sev'rall species, but of kind the same,
The Body to support, each part agree,
And ev'ry member hath its sev'rall name;
So Soul and Spirit is one entire thing,
Immortall by the vertu of its Spring.
More texts of Scripture these Deceivers wrest,
Which should be answered, Truth for to defend;
But seeing here I have so long digrest,
What I begun, I hasten now to end,
Which is to stir up youth their God to mind,
Before effects of evill dayes they find
Which should be answered, Truth for to defend;
But seeing here I have so long digrest,
What I begun, I hasten now to end,
Which is to stir up youth their God to mind,
Before effects of evill dayes they find
All here is vanity the Preacher sayes,
Yea use of many books are wearisome,
If cheifly don for self-respect or prayse
It doubtlesse will to such a snare become:
Of all the matter, then the End let's hear,
Keep Gods commandements with son-like fear.
Yea use of many books are wearisome,
If cheifly don for self-respect or prayse
It doubtlesse will to such a snare become:
Of all the matter, then the End let's hear,
Keep Gods commandements with son-like fear.
FINIS.
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