 | [Poems in two Parts] |  |
17
Doubt 7.
From spiritual unfruitfulness.
SOUL.But my heart is a barren soil: that lays
My comforts dead; did I fill up my days,
Place and Relations; ah! did I find
A fruitful soul, I should not faint in mind.
I cannot weep, yet if my work went on,
Were this my straitned heart enlarg'd to run
The ways of Gods Commandments, then my peace
Would like a river be, and still increase.
Abundant fruits of holiness would be
Proofs of my love to God, Gods love to me.
God justly doth expect from every one
Returns of love and duty. There is none
Deserves a servants name, unless he do
Perform the work his master sets him to.
God likes not idle drones, that drink and eat
At others cost, and live on others sweat.
His people are industrious, and can say,
Lord we our work have finisht in our day.
Whereas mine lieth dead upon my hand,
While time flies swiftly, I do idle stand.
Many commands before me present are,
But where's obedience? if I compare
My life with God's law, I most plainly see,
Of much that should, little is done by me.
18
Then sit down sighing, when I think all lost.
FAITH.
Suppose it true, that little fruit is found
Upon thy branches; thou dost not abound
In service; though thy reck'ning-day doth haste,
Yet days for working do run out to waste.
The best of servants oft have cause to say,
I have not done a days-work in a day.
But what's thy duty now? sure not to throw
All hope away, and utterly undo
Thy precious high-born soul by black despair;
Rather mend former faults by future care.
Is one day gone, and yet its work not done?
Then if thou canst, do two days work in one.
And having been too too remiss before,
Double thy diligence, and strive the more.
Didst sleep away thy golden morning hours?
Then in the afternoon call up the pow'rs
Of soul and body, working each amain,
Not leaving till thy losses thou regain.
This doth become a Christian, not to sit
Doubting and drooping only in a fit
Of Melancholy, which his comfort kills,
And him with spiritual distempers fills.
But is't a just charge which thou dost put in
Against thy self, poor soul! O do not sin
In false-accusing; act not Satan's part
To make him all the sport, thy self the smart.
19
Be thankful for some fruit, the tree's not dead
That hath one cluster. Though more would do well,
Out of that one thou mai'st a blessing spell.
Acknowledg what thy God to thee hath been,
And overlook not thy returns to him.
Thankfully own receipts of Grace; withall
Do not disown thy gracious acts, though small.
There's no day thou dost all thy work; but pray
Dost not do something for God ev'ry day?
Canst thou pass one without an holy thought,
And thankful mindfulness of him that brought
Thee up from th' womb? canst for the world be free
Without some intercourse 'twixt God & thee?
Tell me the truth; where hast bestow'd thy love,
Unless upon thy dearest friends above?
Whom dost desire? whose absence dost bemoan,
Like that of God, who is thine only one?
In Ordinances thou dost most delight;
And would'st do all thy duties with thy might.
Now springs a sigh, then drops a pearly tear;
Here's grief for sin, longings for God be there.
Call this good fruit; thou hast not barren been,
Something thou findest, more remains unseen.
All Saints do not improve alike; some yield
A larger crop than others. Every field
Bears not an equal burden. Some Saints prove
More fertile than their Brethren, and their love
Being stronger is more active; ne'rtheless
Not one doth know a total barrenness.
20
Truly in Jesus, so that none doth miss
Wholly of bearing. And if now small store
Of holy fruit, there may next year be more.
Besides thou readest, Christians life is hid;
So are their vital acts sometimes. Who did
Discover ought in David, while the fall
Of leaf was on him: ah! how sadly all
His graces lay for dead! the sap in's root
Yet rose again, and brought forth precious fruit.
Be not discourag'd, God will not despise
A day of small things. In his gracious eyes
Blossoms are acceptable; if there be
One little cluster, Oh! how sweetly he
Doth smile upon it! 'tis his holy will,
It should not be destroyed, because still
There is a blessing in it. If God do
Own poor beginnings, see thou own them too.
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