University of Virginia Library

An Holie Man, 48.

His heart is Heavenly, and his Hopes are hie,
Ev'r over-mounting all Mortalitie.
Things that's corrupt, hee doth contemne, and hold
All Mammons Meanes, bot Mucke, Goods, Treasure, Gold.
No Honours heere, nor Pleasure hee respects,
Bot thinks they are of Fancies, frayle Effects.
The Soli-loquies of his Soule are sweet,
His Mouth and Mynde in Meditation meet.
Natures Perfection, is an Holie Man,
And the best Good that Shee exhibite can.
For what hath Earth more perfect than that Spright,
In Sanctitie that serues his GOD aright?
Yet Nature perfects no such Peace alone,
But Grace and Fayth their working there-vpon.
The Holy Man, is only hee that's wyse,
For only Heav'n hee holds before his Eyes.
And what is heere Below, and Earthly, hee
That vses only for Necessitie.
And so, as that they finde him and afford,
To serue his Needs, while that hee serues his LORD.
His Senses so hee tempreth and commands,
That they t'obey his Spirit readie stands.
Which in an Orbe Æthereall doth moue,
Stirr'd by a Strength and Power from Aboue.
And by observing Natures Course and Lawes,
The Arte of Reason, hee acquires, and knawes.
And Treadson on the th'Earth, and trav'ling, doth remaine,
While hee turne Earth; and bee trod on againe.
Altho his Soule, inlarg'd from Carnall Stryfe,
Doe liue in Heav'n, that gaue his Senses Lyfe:
Vntill the Resurrection of the Flesh,
That from the Earth shall ryse, refynd, and fresh:
When all the World is waltring vp-syde-downe:
When Fortune fawnes, or when the Fates doe frowne:
Hee happie doth his Sprite possesse in Peace,
Because supported with the Power of Grace.
His Charitie, and librall Handes declare,
Of Others Want, his kynde and Christian Care.
Hee gladlie giues, of what his GOD hath given,
Which shall to him redoubled bee in Heaven.
To liue to GOD, his Practise all doth proue:
Heaven is through Fayth, his Hope; the LORD, his Loue.
His Exercise is Prayer, his Studies bee
Into the Volumes of Divinitie:
And There hee meditates, admiring most,
Th'Vnit' of the Father, Sonne, and Holie Ghost:
VVhich nev'r in all the numbers of his Dayes,
Enough can hee admire, extoll, and prayse.
His Heart, (to watch his Eye) hee ordaines it:
And to his Mouth a Doore hee makes his Wit.
And both hee ordaines ev'r, and doth direct,
His Sprite from sinfull Pleasure to protect.
Hee liues not lyke a VVorldlie VVorme, that does
For Permanent, Things perishing, heere choose.
No, no, his Loue is set on Thinges vnseene,
And ravished with VVares that are Divine.
His Loue is Heavenlie, Holie, and doth hold
No Holie Dayes with Loue of Mundane Mold.
VVherefore hee's lyable to manie Losses,
And oft incurres and combred is with Crosses.
Yet Heavenlie Helps, and Hope vp-holds him so,
That Losse no Losse, nor Crosse hee counteth no.