Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
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The Sixth Epistle to Cousin F. R.
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 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
The Sixth Epistle to Cousin F. R.
Can I but frequently remember thee,Endeared Friend, when I such dangers see,
That daily meet the Travellers that set
Their Faces Sion-ward? Can I forget
To Recommend thee to that Arm of Power,
That keeps Worm Jacob, as a Fenced Tower?
Nay, nay; Can any Heart but break or bleed,
To view th'Affliction of the holy Seed,
Which in that Careless City is oppress'd,
Like to a tender Babe kept from the Breast?
Ah! Dreadful is the State of those, that lay
Such Stumbling-Blocks, to hinder from the Way
That leads to Life, and by a bare Profession
Discourage them that seek the true Possession.
O! Can Luke-warm Laodicea be
So Justify'd? No, no, the firm Decree,
Without Repentance, may not be Repeal'd;
What's done in Secret, soon shall be Reveal'd:
70
A Caution, but no Stumbling-Block to thee!
Wait in the Deep, to know Love's Streams distil,
Like the refreshing Dew of Hermon's Hill:
Then, as thou travell'st in the Valleys low,
Where Shiloh's sacred Rivolet doth flow,
Thou may'st be, by its quick'ning Influence,
Preserved in an holy Living Sense
Of Heav'nly Things: Which blessed Priviledge,
The Rage or Strength of Men can ne'er abridge
Us of. Nor yet can I unmindful be
Of my own State, whilst I admonish thee;
But, sensible of Weakness, pity those
Whom great Offences frequently oppose,
To hinder them, if possible, that they
Might not persist to travel Sion's Way.
And as the wicked Spies, that falsly told
Discouragements to Israel of old,
Excluded both themselves, and likewise those
That, with them, did by Unbelief oppose
The Heav'nly Promise; tho' the Faithful were
Conducted safe, and took Possession there,
Ev'n in the Land that did with Sweetness flow;
So do the Sloathful and the Careless now
Raise Doubtings, and Distrust of Victory,
In all that do not, with true Fervency,
Press forward Cheerfully, with holy Fear,
Knowing their Captain of Salvation near.
O let the Love, which set the Heart on Fire
To follow him, increase a true Desire
In thee, to persevere unto the End;
For Isr'el's King for ever will defend
All that upon Him faithfully depend.
1679.
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