 | Manuductio ad Coelum. A Poem. In Two Parts. I. Of Joy and Sadness. How a good Man ought to rejoice. He that looks before him is not cast down. Several Antidotes against Sorrow. II. Of Patience: The Occasions and Effects of it. The Signs of it. An Exhortation to it; with Instructions how to behave our selves in Adversity. The necessity of Perseverance. Extracted out of the Writings of the Holy Fathers and Ancient Philosophers, by John Bona [i.e. Sir James Chamberlayne] a Cistertian Abbot: and turned into Verse by James Chamberlayne |  |
VII.
Of all our Virtues Constancy's the Crown,
And the Perfection. The Reward alone
Is promis'd to beginners, yet 'tis ne're
Deliver'd but to those that persevere.
Wherefore above all other things let's be
Masters of a resolved Constancie.
And the Perfection. The Reward alone
Is promis'd to beginners, yet 'tis ne're
Deliver'd but to those that persevere.
Wherefore above all other things let's be
Masters of a resolved Constancie.
In the ascending to the lofty Top
Of a steep Mountain, if we once but stop,
In stead of standing on its slipp'ry side,
We down again unto the bottom slide.
First let's resolve on what we are to do,
And then with fervour let us that pursue;
For none but he that is not in his Wits,
Will trifle's business off to do't by fits.
Of a steep Mountain, if we once but stop,
In stead of standing on its slipp'ry side,
We down again unto the bottom slide.
First let's resolve on what we are to do,
And then with fervour let us that pursue;
For none but he that is not in his Wits,
Will trifle's business off to do't by fits.
It is a weakness of the mind to be
Roving, and seeking of fresh Company,
New sports, new places, when the fault of this
Wholly in us, not in the Climate is,
Or other Circumstances which we are
Willing to charge with all our Follies here.
The tender Plant by oft removing dies,
And oftentimes the change of Remedies
Plungeth the Patient (which would else do well)
Into a Sickness that's incurable.
If the Divine Apostle at a loss
I'th' Contemplation of his Duty was,
What will become of us, frail Creatures here,
Whose Virtues scarcely comparable are
Ev'n to his Imperfections, whereof he
So much complain'd in his Mortalitie.
Roving, and seeking of fresh Company,
New sports, new places, when the fault of this
Wholly in us, not in the Climate is,
Or other Circumstances which we are
Willing to charge with all our Follies here.
21
And oftentimes the change of Remedies
Plungeth the Patient (which would else do well)
Into a Sickness that's incurable.
If the Divine Apostle at a loss
I'th' Contemplation of his Duty was,
What will become of us, frail Creatures here,
Whose Virtues scarcely comparable are
Ev'n to his Imperfections, whereof he
So much complain'd in his Mortalitie.
The love of Learning endless is, nor can
Extinguish'd be, while there remains a Man.
The love of Riches never is to be
Suffic'd, although we heaps on heaps do see.
And the fond love of fading Honour ne're
Will be allay'd, while we Corruption bear.
So that we must this certain truth confess,
That there's no end of all our greediness
After the things, which in their Nature are
So short-liv'd found, and so uncertain here.
Extinguish'd be, while there remains a Man.
The love of Riches never is to be
Suffic'd, although we heaps on heaps do see.
And the fond love of fading Honour ne're
Will be allay'd, while we Corruption bear.
So that we must this certain truth confess,
That there's no end of all our greediness
After the things, which in their Nature are
So short-liv'd found, and so uncertain here.
But when we come unto that all Divine
And lasting Wisdom, which would make us shine
Among the Blest, and give us endless Joys,
Then the least touch and relish of it Cloys.
But this is not according to his known
And sacred Precept, that commands each one
To be as perfect as the God of Bliss,
Our good and Heav'nly Father, perfect is.
And lasting Wisdom, which would make us shine
Among the Blest, and give us endless Joys,
Then the least touch and relish of it Cloys.
But this is not according to his known
And sacred Precept, that commands each one
To be as perfect as the God of Bliss,
Our good and Heav'nly Father, perfect is.
He that looks up but with a willing Mind
To that Example, shall not fail to find
A copious place for the encrease of each
Virtue of his, till he Perfection reach.
To that Example, shall not fail to find
A copious place for the encrease of each
Virtue of his, till he Perfection reach.
| Manuductio ad Coelum. A Poem. In Two Parts. I. Of Joy and Sadness. How a good Man ought to rejoice. He that looks before him is not cast down. Several Antidotes against Sorrow. II. Of Patience: The Occasions and Effects of it. The Signs of it. An Exhortation to it; with Instructions how to behave our selves in Adversity. The necessity of Perseverance. Extracted out of the Writings of the Holy Fathers and Ancient Philosophers, by John Bona [i.e. Sir James Chamberlayne] a Cistertian Abbot: and turned into Verse by James Chamberlayne | |