Divine emblems Embellished with etchings on copper, after the fashion of Master Francis Quarles. Designed and written by, Johann Abricht [i.e. Jonathan Birch |
 |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. | EMBLEM VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Divine emblems |  |
41
EMBLEM VI.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
PROV. 26, v. 11.
[Touch it no more, fond Boy!]
I
Touch it no more, fond Boy!But think thyself well loose
From such a load!—employ
Thy senses to a better use!
For all thy toil, what dost possess of its possessions?
Disease! from revel nights—and hollow false professions
42
II
Sickness doth sometimes proveA good; and works a change—
So thine may mercy move,
And thee from earth estrange;
Thy ague-stricken limbs, oppressed by mammon weight
Have toppled off their load—thy worse than worthless freight.
III
How thou hast puff'd, and blow'd,And vainly spent thy breath,
And stagger'd with thy load,
And gasp'd as one in death!
Know Boy! thy hot-cold malady is earth begot,
And wilt thou strive again, to gain so foul a lot?
43
IV
Thou hast escap'd—unhurt—Without a crick—fond Boy!
Dost woo again the flirt,
The gilded cheating toy?
'Tis full of bubbles, bawbles, snares, and turpitude
Give it no more thy love—thy willing servitude.
V
Hast thou ambition? riseFrom earth to things above,—
To heaven thy downcast eyes,
And choose a nobler love—
There may'st thou rest from toil—and loads oppressing
In realms of joy, 'midst treasures worth possessing.
44
O you that dote upon the world, for what victory do ye fight? Your hopes can be crowned with no greater reward than the world can give; and what is the world but a brittle thing full of dangers, wherein we travel from lesser to greater perils? Oh, let all her vain, light, and momentary glory perish with herself, and let us be conversant with more eternal things.
S. AUGUST., lib. Confess.
Vanity of vanities; saith the preacher, vanity of vanities, all is vanity. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
ECCL., chap. 1, v. 2, 14.
For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
LUKE, chap. 9, v. 25.
EPIG.
[One paradox the Moth and Man entangles]
One paradox the Moth and Man entangles:She burns her legs off—and still seeks the candles:
So thoughtless he, bilk'd, cross'd, and wounded, daily teazed;
Still wooes the swindling world—as were his brain diseased.
| Divine emblems | |