Poetical fragments heart-employment with God and it selfPoetical fragments heart-imployment with God and it self

Thy Mercy did my younger Studies guide: Sweet leisure and meet Books thou didst provide; And that I might thy Love the better see, My Tutor thou thy self wast pleased to be: As Honey-combs are made by patient Bees, Who fetch the matter home by slow degrees, In many days, and from a thousand Flowers, Not perfecting their work in a few hours: So taughtest thou me to wait the Learning time, Not reaching first at matters too sublime; ⟨p. 30⟩Few to maturity of Knowledge grow, Who think they know, before indeed they know. Thou didst improve the thirsty love of Truth, Which thou hadst given me even in my youth. My Labours thou madest easy by delight: Each days success, did to the next invite. But O the happy Method of thy Grace! Which gave my own Salvation the first place! And first resolved me of the utmost end, Which all my after Studies must intend: Showing me first, Why, and For What I must Lay out my Studies, that they be not lost: Unhappy men! who follow base designs, And are not Christians, when they are Divines! O that an Impious Divine were rare! Although the terms a contradiction are. Alas in what a blind or trembling State, Should I all day have at my Studies sate, And with how little joy, or hope of gains, If I had studied still in Satan's chains? O foolish Studies! to consider how The Earth is fixed, and the Plants do grow? What is each creatures specifying cause? And what are all their Orders and their Laws? When thy own saving Change is to begin! And thou hast yet no pardon of thy sin? When all the while thou art a Son of Wrath, Who to Eternal Life no title hath? When in thy flowering Studies thou mayest dye, And be undone to all Eternity? ⟨p. 31⟩Who would be playing at a childish game, While his own House is in a burning flame? What if I knew whether the Earth or Sun So swift and unperceived a course doth run? Or knew the course and order of the spheres? Or were best skilled in numbering past years? Knew all the Houses of the starry Sky? And things that are for common wits too high? What if I knew all these never so well? And knew not how to scape the flames of Hell? What gain or pleasure would my knowledge be? If I the face of God must never see? Or what if I could fool away my time, In smooth and well composed idle Rhyme? Or dreaming Lovers Fancies could rehearse, In the most lofty and adorned verse?

Thy Mercy did my younger Studies guide: Sweet leisure and meet Books thou didst provide; And that I might thy Love the better see, My Tutor thou thy self wast pleas'd to be: As Honey-combs are made by patient Bees, Who fetch the matter home by slow degrees, In many daies, and from a thousand Flowers, Not perfecting their work in a few hours: So taughtst thou me to wait the Learning time, Not reaching first at matters too sublime;