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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A MEDITATION.
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A MEDITATION.
How long will Man forget himself,
And be so much inclin'd
To Treasure up that sordid Pelf,
Which he must leave behind?
And be so much inclin'd
To Treasure up that sordid Pelf,
Which he must leave behind?
And seek these Vanities on Earth,
Which quickly come to nought;
A little Jollity and Mirth
Is often dearly bought:
Which quickly come to nought;
A little Jollity and Mirth
Is often dearly bought:
Fools for the Belly sell away
Their Birth-right to the Wise;
What's this Inheritance? Cry they:
Thus they for Trash despise
Their Birth-right to the Wise;
What's this Inheritance? Cry they:
Thus they for Trash despise
That Treasure, which no Thief can steal,
No Canker-worm nor Rust
Can e'er corrupt: And 'tis by Seal
Confirmed to the Just;
No Canker-worm nor Rust
Can e'er corrupt: And 'tis by Seal
Confirmed to the Just;
Who, tho' they here may suffer Loss,
It shall become their Gain,
If patiently they bear the Cross,
They shall the Crown obtain.
It shall become their Gain,
If patiently they bear the Cross,
They shall the Crown obtain.
But those that choose their Portion here,
Shall wail in Misery,
Because such would not lend an Ear
To th'Voice of Wisdom's Cry;
Shall wail in Misery,
Because such would not lend an Ear
To th'Voice of Wisdom's Cry;
Who call'd, to lead them in the way,
Where no Destroyer's found,
Nor any hurtful Beast of Prey
Can tread this holy Ground:
Where no Destroyer's found,
Nor any hurtful Beast of Prey
Can tread this holy Ground:
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The Vult'rous Eye here cannot spy;
But yet the humble Mind,
That seeks in true Simplicity,
This pleasant Path may find;
But yet the humble Mind,
That seeks in true Simplicity,
This pleasant Path may find;
And, though Unlearned, cannot err,
Led by a sacred Guide,
Unto a Habitation, where
True Comforts are enjoy'd.
Led by a sacred Guide,
Unto a Habitation, where
True Comforts are enjoy'd.
Then why should Men unmindful be
Of their more Noble Part,
The Off-spring of Eternity,
As wholly to invert
Of their more Noble Part,
The Off-spring of Eternity,
As wholly to invert
The sole use of their Intellects,
To gain a fading Toy,
This Faithless World; while they reject
True Everlasting Joy?
To gain a fading Toy,
This Faithless World; while they reject
True Everlasting Joy?
They snatch at Shadows here, and slight
The Substance that remains
For ever: Thus they, in the Night,
Walk on to endless Pains;
The Substance that remains
For ever: Thus they, in the Night,
Walk on to endless Pains;
If they persist to wander there,
And carelesly contemn
The springing Light, that doth appear
Thence to deliver them:
And carelesly contemn
The springing Light, that doth appear
Thence to deliver them:
Then why, alas, should they destroy
Their Hopes of lasting Treasures,
And rest contented, sordidly
To share with Beasts in Pleasures?
Their Hopes of lasting Treasures,
And rest contented, sordidly
To share with Beasts in Pleasures?
Since Wisdom hath prepar'd a Feast,
Her Table's furnished,
That Fools may now become her Guests,
And feed on Heav'nly Bread.
Her Table's furnished,
That Fools may now become her Guests,
And feed on Heav'nly Bread.
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Indeed the Wise in their own Eyes,
Are fill'd with vain Conceit;
Such will the Honey-comb despise,
Yet shall the Hungry eat,
Are fill'd with vain Conceit;
Such will the Honey-comb despise,
Yet shall the Hungry eat,
Till satisfy'd, and with delight
Walk on in Wisdom's Way;
Knowing the Light expels the Night,
And brings in perfect Day;
Walk on in Wisdom's Way;
Knowing the Light expels the Night,
And brings in perfect Day;
Whereby they see things as they be,
And so are taught to choose
Eternal Life in Purity,
But Sin and Death refuse.
And so are taught to choose
Eternal Life in Purity,
But Sin and Death refuse.
There's no abiding City here;
Seek one that shall remain:
To Wisdom's Counsel lend an Ear;
True Godliness is gain:
Seek one that shall remain:
To Wisdom's Counsel lend an Ear;
True Godliness is gain:
Where the Contented Mind is known,
There is a sweet Increase
Of Solace, where the Soul lies down
In Everlasting Peace;
There is a sweet Increase
Of Solace, where the Soul lies down
In Everlasting Peace;
True Peace and Joy, not to be found
In vain Terrestrial Things:
Pure holy Praises then abound
Unto the King of Kings;
In vain Terrestrial Things:
Pure holy Praises then abound
Unto the King of Kings;
Who from on High, with tender Eye,
Look'd down, and pleas'd to send
Wisdom to Call, whose Voice and Cry
Doth unto all extend.
Look'd down, and pleas'd to send
Wisdom to Call, whose Voice and Cry
Doth unto all extend.
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