Fons Lachrymarum or a fountain of tears: From whence doth flow Englands Complaint, Jeremiahs Lamentations paraphras'd with Divine Meditations and an elegy Upon that Son of Valor Sir Charles Lucas. Written by John Quarles |
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Surgit post nubila Phœbus.
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 | Fons Lachrymarum |  |
93
Surgit post nubila Phœbus.
When
gloomy clouds surround the lofty skie,
It is an argument a storm is nigh:
But when the Sun's eclipsed from our sight,
We must not judg an everlasting night
Will then ensue: 'Tis danger to distrust
A God that is so merciful, so just.
The greatest sin that Satan can declare
Against a guilty soul is sad despair:
What though the clouds of earth shall interpose
Betwixt a Soul and Heaven? the wind blows
Not always in one place; one happy hour
May breed a calm, and qualifie a showre.
It is an argument a storm is nigh:
But when the Sun's eclipsed from our sight,
We must not judg an everlasting night
Will then ensue: 'Tis danger to distrust
A God that is so merciful, so just.
The greatest sin that Satan can declare
Against a guilty soul is sad despair:
What though the clouds of earth shall interpose
Betwixt a Soul and Heaven? the wind blows
Not always in one place; one happy hour
May breed a calm, and qualifie a showre.
Some greedy Lawyers, when their Clyents stock
Is almost spent, rewards him with a mock:
The Counsellor of Heav'n gives more content
To a poor sinner, when his breath is spent:
Accepts the will, although his tongue be mute;
He seldom keeps him seven years in a suite:
He's free in mercy, and he takes delight
To end a suite, when sorrow makes it right:
God is not like to them that take a pride
In others griefs: when tears begin to slide,
His mercy falls; he cannot brook delay,
But meets a sinners language half the way.
His ears are always open to let in
A sinners prayers, when he lets out his sin.
What thogh I have transgrest? what tho my crimes
Appear like mountains? mountains oftentimes
Sink lower; nay and God can pardon all
As well as one: for be they great or small,
They all are sins: shrubs grow as well as trees,
Gods mercy will admit of no degrees.
He that distrusts his God shall always find
A clouded conscience, and a stormy mind.
Is almost spent, rewards him with a mock:
The Counsellor of Heav'n gives more content
To a poor sinner, when his breath is spent:
Accepts the will, although his tongue be mute;
He seldom keeps him seven years in a suite:
He's free in mercy, and he takes delight
To end a suite, when sorrow makes it right:
God is not like to them that take a pride
In others griefs: when tears begin to slide,
His mercy falls; he cannot brook delay,
But meets a sinners language half the way.
His ears are always open to let in
A sinners prayers, when he lets out his sin.
94
Appear like mountains? mountains oftentimes
Sink lower; nay and God can pardon all
As well as one: for be they great or small,
They all are sins: shrubs grow as well as trees,
Gods mercy will admit of no degrees.
He that distrusts his God shall always find
A clouded conscience, and a stormy mind.
Seven days had run before God had attyr'd
The World with order, yet he was not tyr'd:
And shall we then expect to climbe so high
As Heav'n, in half an hour, or else deny
So blest a labor? No, perhaps to day
We keep the road, to morrow lose the way.
The World with order, yet he was not tyr'd:
And shall we then expect to climbe so high
As Heav'n, in half an hour, or else deny
So blest a labor? No, perhaps to day
We keep the road, to morrow lose the way.
| Fons Lachrymarum | |