The synagogue, or, the shadow of the temple Sacred poems, and private ejaculations. In imitation of Mr George Herbert [by Christopher Harvey] |
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Inmates. |
 | The synagogue, or, the shadow of the temple |  |
15
Inmates.
A house I had (a heart I mean) so wide
And full of spatious roomes on every side,
That viewing it I thought I might doe well
(Rather then keep it voide and make no gaine
Of what I could not use) to entertaine
Such guests as came. I did. But what befell
Me quickly in that course, I sigh to tell.
And full of spatious roomes on every side,
That viewing it I thought I might doe well
(Rather then keep it voide and make no gaine
Of what I could not use) to entertaine
Such guests as came. I did. But what befell
Me quickly in that course, I sigh to tell.
A guest I had (alas! I have her still)
A great big bellyed guest, enough to fill
The vast content of hell, Corruption:
By entertaining her, I lost my right
To more then all the world hath now in sight;
Each day, each houre almost she brought forth one,
Or other base begot, Transgression.
A great big bellyed guest, enough to fill
The vast content of hell, Corruption:
By entertaining her, I lost my right
To more then all the world hath now in sight;
Each day, each houre almost she brought forth one,
Or other base begot, Transgression.
The charge grew great. I, that had lost before,
All that I had, was forced now to score,
For all the charges of their maintenance,
In doomes-day book: who ever knew't would say,
The least summe there was more then I could pay,
When first 'twas due; beside continuance,
Which could not choose but much the debt enhance.
All that I had, was forced now to score,
For all the charges of their maintenance,
In doomes-day book: who ever knew't would say,
The least summe there was more then I could pay,
When first 'twas due; beside continuance,
Which could not choose but much the debt enhance.
To ease me, first I wisht her to remove;
But she would not. I sued her then above,
And begg'd the Court of heaven, but in vaine,
To cast her out. No, I could not evade
The bargaine, which she pleaded I had made;
That whilest both lived, I should entertaine
At mine own charge both her and all her traine.
But she would not. I sued her then above,
And begg'd the Court of heaven, but in vaine,
To cast her out. No, I could not evade
The bargaine, which she pleaded I had made;
That whilest both lived, I should entertaine
At mine own charge both her and all her traine.
16
No helpe then, but or I must die or she;
And yet my death of no availe would be:
For one death I had died already then,
When first she liv'd in me; and now to die
Another death againe, were but to tye
And twist them both into a third; which, when
It once hath seized on, never looseth men.
And yet my death of no availe would be:
For one death I had died already then,
When first she liv'd in me; and now to die
Another death againe, were but to tye
And twist them both into a third; which, when
It once hath seized on, never looseth men.
Her death might be my life; but her to kill
I of my selfe had neither power, nor will.
So desperate was my case. Whil'st I delayd,
My guest still teem'd, my debts still greater grew;
The lesse I had to pay, the more was due:
The more I knew, the more I was affraid;
The more I mus'd, the more I was dismaid.
I of my selfe had neither power, nor will.
So desperate was my case. Whil'st I delayd,
My guest still teem'd, my debts still greater grew;
The lesse I had to pay, the more was due:
The more I knew, the more I was affraid;
The more I mus'd, the more I was dismaid.
At last I learnt, there was no way but one,
A friend must doe it for me. He alone,
That is the Lord of life, by dying can
Save men from death, and kill Corruption:
And many yeers agoe the deed was done;
His heart was pierc'd, out of his side there ran
Sinnes corrasives, restoratives for man.
A friend must doe it for me. He alone,
That is the Lord of life, by dying can
Save men from death, and kill Corruption:
And many yeers agoe the deed was done;
His heart was pierc'd, out of his side there ran
Sinnes corrasives, restoratives for man.
This precious balme I begg'd, for pities sake,
At Mercies gate: where Faith alone may take,
What Grace and Truth doe offer liberally.
Bountie said, Come. I heard it, and beleeved
None ever there complain'd but was relieved.
Hope waiting upon Faith, said instantly,
That henceforth I should live, Corruption dye.
At Mercies gate: where Faith alone may take,
What Grace and Truth doe offer liberally.
Bountie said, Come. I heard it, and beleeved
None ever there complain'd but was relieved.
Hope waiting upon Faith, said instantly,
That henceforth I should live, Corruption dye.
17
And so she dy'd, I live. But yet, alas!
We are not parted. She is where she was;
Cleaves fast unto me, still looks through mine eies
Speaks in my tongue, and muses in my minde,
Works with my hands: her body's left behinde,
Although her soule be gone. My miseries
All flow from hence; from hence my woes arise.
We are not parted. She is where she was;
Cleaves fast unto me, still looks through mine eies
Speaks in my tongue, and muses in my minde,
Works with my hands: her body's left behinde,
Although her soule be gone. My miseries
All flow from hence; from hence my woes arise.
I loath my selfe, because I leave her not;
Yet cannot leave her. No, she is my lot
Now being dead, that living was my choice;
And still though dead, she both conceives and beares
Many faults daily, and as many feares:
All which for vengeance call with a loud voice,
And drown my comforts with their deadly noise.
Yet cannot leave her. No, she is my lot
Now being dead, that living was my choice;
And still though dead, she both conceives and beares
Many faults daily, and as many feares:
All which for vengeance call with a loud voice,
And drown my comforts with their deadly noise.
Dead bodies kept unburied quickly stink,
And putrifie: how can I then but think
Corruption noysome, even mortify'd?
Though such she were before, yet such to me
She seemed not: Kind fooles can never see,
Or will not credit, untill they have try'd,
That friendly lookes oft false intents doe hide.
And putrifie: how can I then but think
Corruption noysome, even mortify'd?
Though such she were before, yet such to me
She seemed not: Kind fooles can never see,
Or will not credit, untill they have try'd,
That friendly lookes oft false intents doe hide.
But mortified Corruption lyes unmaskt,
Blabs her own secret filthynesse unaskt,
To all that understand her. That doe none,
In whom she lives embraced with delight:
She first of all deprives them of their sight;
Then dote they on her as upon their owne,
And she to them seems beautifull alone.
Blabs her own secret filthynesse unaskt,
To all that understand her. That doe none,
In whom she lives embraced with delight:
She first of all deprives them of their sight;
Then dote they on her as upon their owne,
And she to them seems beautifull alone.
18
But woe is me! one part of me is dead,
The other lives. Yet that which lives, is led,
Or rather carry'd captive unto sinne,
By the dead part. I am a living grave,
And a dead body I within me have.
The worse part of the better oft doth win;
And when I should have ended, I begin.
The other lives. Yet that which lives, is led,
Or rather carry'd captive unto sinne,
By the dead part. I am a living grave,
And a dead body I within me have.
The worse part of the better oft doth win;
And when I should have ended, I begin.
The sent would choak me, were it not that grace
Sometimes vouchsafeth to perfume the place
With odors of the spirit, which doe ease me,
And counterpoise Corruption. Blessed spirit,
Although eternall torments be my merit,
And of my self Transgressions onely please me,
Adde grace enough being reviv'd to raise me.
Sometimes vouchsafeth to perfume the place
With odors of the spirit, which doe ease me,
And counterpoise Corruption. Blessed spirit,
Although eternall torments be my merit,
And of my self Transgressions onely please me,
Adde grace enough being reviv'd to raise me.
Challenge thine own: Let not intruders hold
Against thy right, what to my wrong I sold.
Having no state my selfe but tenancy,
And tenancy at will, what could I grant
That is not voided, if thou say avaunt?
O speak the word, and make these inmates flee;
Or which is one, take me to dwell with thee.
Against thy right, what to my wrong I sold.
Having no state my selfe but tenancy,
And tenancy at will, what could I grant
That is not voided, if thou say avaunt?
O speak the word, and make these inmates flee;
Or which is one, take me to dwell with thee.
| The synagogue, or, the shadow of the temple | |