Divine poems Containing The History of Ionah. Ester. Iob. Sampson. Sions Sonets. Elegies. Written and newly augmented, by Fra: Quarles |
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 | Divine poems |  |
Meditat. 18.
O glorious Light! A light unapprehended
By mortall eyes! O Glory, never ended,
Nor ere created, whence all Glory springs
In heavenly bodyes, and in earthly things!
O power Immense, derived from a Will
Most just and able to doe all, but ill!
O Essence pure, and full of Majesty!
Greatnesse (it selfe) and yet no quantity;
Goodnesse, and without quality; producing
All things from out of Nothing, and reducing
All things to nothing; past all comprehending
Both first and Last, and yet without an ending,
Or yet beginning; filling every Creature,
And not (it selfe) included; above Nature,
Yet not excluded; of it selfe subsisting,
And with it selfe all other things, assisting;
Divided, yet without division;
A perfect three, yet Three, entirely one;
Both One in Three, and Three in One, together;
Begetting, and begotten, and yet neither;
The Fountaine of all Arts, confounding Art;
Both all in All, and all in every part;
Still seeking Glory, and still wanting none;
Though just, yet reaping, where thou ne'r hast sown.
By mortall eyes! O Glory, never ended,
Nor ere created, whence all Glory springs
In heavenly bodyes, and in earthly things!
O power Immense, derived from a Will
Most just and able to doe all, but ill!
O Essence pure, and full of Majesty!
Greatnesse (it selfe) and yet no quantity;
Goodnesse, and without quality; producing
All things from out of Nothing, and reducing
All things to nothing; past all comprehending
Both first and Last, and yet without an ending,
Or yet beginning; filling every Creature,
And not (it selfe) included; above Nature,
Yet not excluded; of it selfe subsisting,
And with it selfe all other things, assisting;
Divided, yet without division;
A perfect three, yet Three, entirely one;
Both One in Three, and Three in One, together;
Begetting, and begotten, and yet neither;
The Fountaine of all Arts, confounding Art;
Both all in All, and all in every part;
258
Though just, yet reaping, where thou ne'r hast sown.
Great Majestie, since Thou art every where,
O, Why should I misdoubt thy Presence here?
I long have sought thee, but my ranging heart
Ne'r quests, and cannot see thee where thou art:
There's no Defect in thee, thy light hath shin'd,
Nor can be hid (great God) but I am blind.
O cleare mine eyes, and with thy holy fire
Inflame my brest, and edge my dull desire:
Wash me with Hysope, clense my stained thoughts,
Renew my spirit, blurre forth my secret faults;
Thou tak'st no pleasure in a Sinners death,
For thou art Life, thy Mercy's not beneath
Thy sacred Iustice: Give thy servant power
To seeke aright, and (having sought) discover
Thy glorious Presence; Let my blemisht Eye
See my Salvation yet before I die.
O, then my Dust, that's bowell'd in the ground,
Shall rise with Triumph at the welcome sound
Of my Redeemers earth-awaking Trumpe,
Vnfrighted at the noyse; no sullen Dumpe
Of selfe-confounding Conscience shall affright me,
For he's my Iudge, whose dying blood shal quite me.
O, Why should I misdoubt thy Presence here?
I long have sought thee, but my ranging heart
Ne'r quests, and cannot see thee where thou art:
There's no Defect in thee, thy light hath shin'd,
Nor can be hid (great God) but I am blind.
O cleare mine eyes, and with thy holy fire
Inflame my brest, and edge my dull desire:
Wash me with Hysope, clense my stained thoughts,
Renew my spirit, blurre forth my secret faults;
Thou tak'st no pleasure in a Sinners death,
For thou art Life, thy Mercy's not beneath
Thy sacred Iustice: Give thy servant power
To seeke aright, and (having sought) discover
Thy glorious Presence; Let my blemisht Eye
See my Salvation yet before I die.
O, then my Dust, that's bowell'd in the ground,
Shall rise with Triumph at the welcome sound
Of my Redeemers earth-awaking Trumpe,
Vnfrighted at the noyse; no sullen Dumpe
Of selfe-confounding Conscience shall affright me,
For he's my Iudge, whose dying blood shal quite me.
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