Chapter 6

NOrhath He given these blessings for a day,That the Soul is immortal, and cannot die.Nor made them on the Body's life depend,The Soul, though made in Time, survives for Aye;And though it hath beginning, sees no end!Her only end, in never-ending bliss;Which is, th'eternal face of GOD to see:Who Last of Ends and First of Causes is,And to do this, She must Eternal be!How senseless then, and dead a Soul hath he,Which thinks his soul doth with his body die:Or thinks not so, but so would have it be,That he might sin with more security!For though these light and vicious persons say,"Our Soul is but a smoke! or airy blast!Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play;And when we die, doth turn to wind at last!"Although they say, "Come, let us eat, and drink!Our life is but a spark, which quickly dies!"Though thus theysay, they know not what tothink,But in their minds, ten thousand doubts arise.Therefore no heretics desire to spreadTheir light opinions, like these Epicures;For so their staggering thoughts are comforted,And other men's assent, their doubt assures.Yet though these men against their conscience strive,There are some sparkles in their flinty breasts,Which cannot be extinct, but still revive,That (though they would) they cannot, quite be beasts!But whoso makes a Mirror of his Mind;And doth, with patience, view himself therein;His Soul'seternityshall clearly find,Though th'other beauties be defaced with sin.1Reason. Drawn from the Desire of Knowledge.First, In man's mind, we find an appetiteTo Learn and Know the Truth of everything:Which is connatural, and born with it;And from the essence of the Soul doth spring.With this Desire, She hath a native Might,To find out every truth, if She had timeTh'innumerable effects to sort aright;And, by degrees, from cause to cause to climb!But since our life so fast away doth slide!(As doth a hungry eagle through the wind,Or as a ship transported with the tide;Which in their passage, leave no print behind.)Of which swift little time, so much we spend,While some few things, we, through the Sense, do strain;That our short race of life is at an end,Ere we, the Principles of Skill attain:Or GOD (which to vain ends, hath nothing done)In vain, this Appetite and Power hath given;Or else our knowledge, which is here begun,Hereafter must be perfected in heaven.GOD never gave a Power to one whole Kind;But most of that Kind did use the same!Most eyes have perfect sight! though some be blind;Most legs can nimbly run! though some be lame.But in this life,noSoul, the Truth can knowSo perfectly, as it hath power to do!If then perfection be not found below,A higher place must make her mount thereto.2Reason. Drawn from the motion of the Soul.Again, how can She but immortal be?When with the motions of both Will and Wit,She still aspireth to Eternity,And never rests, till she attain to it.Water in conduit pipes can rise no higherThan the well head, from whence it first doth spring!Then since to eternal GOD, She doth aspire;She cannot be but an eternal thing."All moving things to other things do moveOf the same kind," which shows their natures such;So earth falls down, and fire doth mount above,Till both their proper Elements do touch.The soul compared to a river.And as the moisture which the thirsty earthSucks from the sea, to fill her empty veins;From out her womb at last doth take a birth,And runs, a Nymph! along the grassy plains:Long doth she stay, as loath to leave the land,From whose soft side, she first did issue make:She tastes all places! turns to every hand!Her flow'ry banks unwilling to forsake:Yet Nature, so her streams doth lead and carry,As that her course doth make no final stayTill she, herself unto the Ocean marry;Within whose watry bosom first she lay.Even so the Soul, which in this earthy mould,The Spirit of GOD doth secretly infuse;Because, at first, She doth the earth behold,And only this material world She views!At first, our Mother Earth, She holdeth dear!And doth embrace the World, and worldly things!She flies close by the ground, and hovers here!And mounts not up with her celestial wings!Yet, under heaven, She cannot light on ought,That with her heavenly nature doth agree:She cannot rest! She cannot fix her thought!She cannot in this world contented be!For who did ever yet in Honour, Wealth,Or Pleasure of the Sense, contentment find?Who ever ceased towish, when he had Health?Or having Wisdom, was notvext in mind?Then as a bee, which among weeds doth fall,Which seem sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay;She lights on that! and this! and tasteth all;But pleased with none, doth rise and soar away!So, when the Soul finds here no true content,And, likeNoah'sdove, can no sure footing take;She doth return from whence She first was sent,And flies to Him, that first her wings did make!Wit seeking Truth, from Cause to Cause ascends;And never rests, till it the First attain;Will seeking Good, finds many middle Ends,But never stays, till it the Last do gain.Now, GOD, the Truth! and First of Causes is!GOD is the Last Good End! which lasteth still:BeingAlphaandOmeganamed for this,Alphato Wit!Omegato the Will!Since then, her heavenly kind She doth bewray,In that to GOD, She doth directly move:And on no mortal thing can make her stay;She cannot be from hence, but fromabove.And yet this First True Cause and Last Good End,She cannot hear sowell, andtrulysee;For this perfection, She must yet attend,Till to her Maker, She espousèd be.As a King's daughter, being in person soughtOf divers Princes, which do neighbour near;On none of them can fix a constant thought,Though she to all do lend a gentle ear.Yet can she love a foreign Emperor!Whom, of great worth and power, she hears to be;If she be wooed but by Ambassador;Or but his letters, or his picture see.For well she knows, that when she shall be broughtInto the kingdom, where her Spouse doth reign;Her eyes shall see what she conceived in thought,Himself! his State! his glory! and his train!So while the virgin Soul on earth doth stayShe wooed and tempted is, ten thousand ways,By these great Powers, which on the earth bear sway;TheWisdom of the World, Wealth, Pleasure, Praise.With these, sometime, She doth her time beguile.These do, by fits, her Phantasy possess,But She distastes them all, within a while;And in the sweetest, finds a tediousness:But if, upon the world's Almighty King,She once do fix her humble loving thought;Which, by his Picture drawn in everything,And sacred Messages, her love hath sought,Of Him, She thinks She cannot think too much.This honey tasted, still is ever sweet;The pleasure of her ravished thought is such,As almost here, She, with her bliss doth meet.But when in heaven, She shall His Essence see,This is her Sovereign Good! and Perfect Bliss!Her longings, wishings, hopes, all finished be!Her joys are full! her motions rest in this!There, is She crowned with Garlands of Content,There, doth She manna eat, and nectar drink,That Presence doth such high delights present,As never tongue could speak, nor heart could think!3Reason.From contempt of death in the better sort of spirits.For this! the better Souls do oft despiseThe body's death, and do it oft desire;For when on ground, the burdened balance lies;The empty part is lifted up the higher!But if the body's death, the Soul should kill?Then death must needsagainst her naturebe;And were it so, all Souls would fly it still,"For Nature hates, and shuns her contrary."For all things else, which Nature makes to be;Their Being to preserve, are chiefly taught!For though some things desire a change to see,"Yet never thing did long to turn tonought!"If then, by death, the Soul were quenchèd quite,She could not thus against her nature run!Since every senseless thing, by Nature's light,Dothpreservationseek!destructionshun!Nor could the world's best spirits so much err,(If Death took all!) that they shouldallagree,Before this life, their Honour to prefer!For what is praise, to things that nothing be?Again, if by the body's prop, She stand?If on the body's life, her life depend?AsMeleager's on the fatal brand!The body's good, She only would intend!We should not find her half so brave and bold,To lead it to the wars, and to the seas!To make it suffer watchings! hunger! cold!When it might feed with plenty! rest with ease!Doubtless,allSouls have a surviving thought;Therefore of Death, we think with quiet mind;But if we think of beingturned to nought,A trembling horror in our Souls we find!4.Reason.From the fear of death in the wicked souls.And as the better spirit, when She doth bearA scorn of death, doth shew She cannot die;So when the wicked Soul, Death's face doth fear,Even then, She proves her own eternity!For, when Death's form appears, She feareth notAn utter quenching or extinguishment!She would be glad to meet with such a lot!That so She might all future ill prevent.But She doth doubt what after may befall,For Nature's law accuseth her within,And saith, "'Tis true, that is affirmed by all,That after death, there is a pain for sin!"Then She, which hath been hoodwinked from her birth,Doth first herself within Death's Mirror see;And when her body doth return to earth,She first takes care, how She alone shall be.Whoever sees these irreligious men,With burden of a sickness, weak and faint;But hears them talking of religion then,And vowing of their souls to every saint?When was there ever cursed atheist broughtUnto the gibbet, but he did adoreThat blessed Power! which he had set at nought,Scorned, and blasphemed, all his life before?These light vain persons, still are drunk and mad,With surfeitings and pleasures of their youth;But, at their deaths, they are fresh! sober! sad!Then, they discern! and then, they speak the truth!If then, all souls, both good and bad, do teachWith general voice, that souls can never die;'Tis not Man's flattering Gloss, but Nature's Speech,Which, like GOD's Oracle, can never lie.5.Reason.From the general desire of Immortality.Hence, springs thatuniversalstrong desire,Which all men have, of Immortality:Not some few spirits unto this thought aspire,But all men's minds in this, united be.Then this desire of Nature is not vain!"She covets not impossibilities!""Fond thoughts may fall into some idle brain;But one Assent of All, is ever true!"From hence, that general care and study springs,Thatlaunchingandprogressionof the Mind,Which all men have, so much of Future things,As they no joy, do in the Present find.From this desire, that main Desire proceeds,Which all men have, surviving Fame to gain;By tombs, by books, by memorable deeds;For She that this desires, doth still remain.Hence, lastly, springs Care of Posterities!For things, their kind would everlasting make!Hence is it, that old men do plant young trees,The fruit whereof, another age shall take!If we these rules unto ourselves apply,And view them by reflection of the mind;All these True Notes of Immortality,In our hearts' tables, we shall written find!6.Reason.From the very doubt and disputation of immortality.And though some impious wits do questions move,And doubt "if souls immortal be or no?"Thatdoubt, their immortality doth prove!Because they seem immortal things to know.For he which reasons, on both parts doth bring,Doth some things mortal, some immortal call;Now if himself were but a mortal thing;He could not judge immortal things,at all!For when we judge, our Minds we Mirrors make,And as those glasses, which material be,Forms of material things do only take(For Thoughts or Minds in them, we cannot see);So when we GOD and Angels do conceive,And think of Truth (which is eternal too),Then do our Minds, immortal Forms receive,Which if they mortal were, they could not do.And as if beasts conceived what Reason were,And that conception should distinctly shew;They should the name ofreasonablebear(For without Reason, none could reason know).So when the Soul mounts with so high a wing,As of eternal things, Shedoubtscan move,She, proofs of her eternity doth bring;Even when She strives the contrary to prove.For even thethoughtof Immortality,Being an act done without the body's aid,Shews, that herself alone could move, and be,Although the body in the grave were laid.And if herself She can so lively move,And never need a foreign help to take,Then must her motion everlasting prove,"Because her self She never can forsake."That the Soul cannot be destroyed."But though Corruption cannot touch the Mind,By any cause, that from itself may spring;Some Outward Cause, Fate hath perhaps designed,Which to the Soul, may utter quenching bring?"Her Cause ceaseth not."Perhaps her Cause may cease, and She may die!"GOD is her Cause! His WORD, her Maker was!Which shall stand fixed for all eternity!When heaven and earth shall like a shadow pass.She hath no contrary."Perhaps something repugnant to her kind,By strong antipathy, the Soul may kill!"But what can be contrary to the Mind,Which holds all contraries in concord still?She lodgeth heat, and cold! and moist, and dry!And life, and death! and peace, and war together:Ten thousand fighting things in her do lie,Yet neither troubleth or disturbeth either.She cannot die for want of food."Perhaps, for want of food, the Soul may pine!"But that were strange! since all things bad and good,Since all GOD's creatures, mortal and divine;Since GOD Himself is her eternal food.Bodies are fed with things of mortal kind,And so are subject to mortality;But Truth, which is eternal, feeds the Mind,The Tree of Life, which will not let her die.Violence cannot destroy her."Yet violence perhaps the Soul destroys,As lightning or the sunbeams dim the sight;Or as a thunder-clap or cannon's noise,The power of hearing doth astonish quite?"But high perfection to the Soul it brings,T'encounter things most excellent and high;For when She views the best and greatest things,They do not hurt, but rather clear the eye.Besides asHomer's gods 'gainst armies stand;Her subtle form can through all dangers slide;Bodies are captive, Minds endure no band,"And Will is free, and can no force abide!"Time cannot destroy her."But lastly, Time perhaps, at last, hath power,To spend her lively powers, and quench her light?"But old godSaturn, which doth all devour,Doth cherish her, and still augment her mightHeaven waxeth old; and all the spheres aboveShall, one day, faint, and their swift motion stay;And Time itself, in time, shall cease to move,Only the Soul survives, and lives for aye.Our bodies, every footstep that they make,March towards death, until at last they die:Whether we work, or play, or sleep, or wake,Our life doth pass, and with Time's wings doth flyBut to the Soul, time doth perfection give,And adds fresh lustre to her beauty still,And makes her in eternal youth to live,Like her which nectar to the gods doth fill.The more She lives, the more She feeds on Truth;The more She feeds, her Strength doth more increase:And what is Strength, but an effect of Youth!Which if Time nurse, how can it ever cease?Objections against the Immortality of the Soul.But now these Epicures begin to smile,And say, "My doctrine is more safe, than true!"And that "I fondly do myself beguile,While these received opinions I ensue."Objection."For what!" they say, "doth not the Soul wax old?How comes it, then, that aged men do dote,And that their brains grow sottish, dull, and cold;Which were in youth, the only spirits of note?""What! are not Souls within themselves corrupted?How can there idiots then by Nature be?How is it that some wits are interrupted,That now they dazzled are, now clearly see?"Answer.These questions make a subtle argumentTo such as think both Sense and Reason one:To whom, nor Agent, from the Instrument;Nor Power of Working, from the Work is knownBut they that know that Wit can show no skill,But when she things in Sense's glass doth view;Do know, if accident this glass do spill,Itnothingsees! or sees thefalsefortrue.For if that region of the tender brain,Wherein th'inward sense of Phantasy should sit,And th'outward senses' gatherings should retain,By Nature, or by chance become unfit.Either at first uncapable it is;And so few things or none at all receives;Or marred by accident which haps amiss,And so amiss it everything perceives;Then as a cunning Prince that useth spies;If they return no news, doth nothing know;But if they make advertisement of lies,The Prince's Council all awry do go.Even so, the Soul, to such a Body knit,Whose inward senses undisposèd be,And to receive the Forms of things unfit;Where nothing is brought in, can nothing see.This makes the Idiot, which hath yet a mind,Able to know the Truth, and choose the Good;If she such figures in the brain did find,As might be found, if it in temper stood.But if a frenzy do possess the brain;It so disturbs and blots the forms of things,As Phantasy proves altogether vain,And to the Wit, no true relation brings.Then doth the Wit, admitting all for true,Build fond conclusions on those idle grounds;Then doth it fly the Good, and Ill pursue,Believing all that this false spy propounds.But purge the humours, and the rage appease;Which this distemper in the Fancy wrought:Then will the Wit, which never had disease,Discourse and judge discreetly, as it ought.So though the clouds eclipse the Sun's fair light,Yet from his face they do not take one beam:So have our eyes their perfect power of sight,Even when they look into a troubled stream.Then these defects in Sense's organs be,Not in the Soul, or in her working might;She cannot lose her perfect Power to See,Though mists and clouds do choke her window light.These imperfections then we must impute,Not to the Agent, but the Instrument;We must not blameApollo, but his Lute,If false accords from her false strings be sentThe Soul, in all, hath one intelligence,Though too much moisture in an infant's brain,And too much dryness in an old man's senseCannot the prints of outward things retain.Then doth the Soul want work, and idle sit:And this we Childishness and Dotage call:Yet hath She then a quick and active Wit,If She had stuff and tools to work withal.For, give her organs fit, and objects fair,Give but the aged man, the young man's sense:Let butMedea,Æson'syouth repair,And straight She shews her wonted excellence.As a good harper, stricken far in years,Into whose cunning hands, the gout is fall:All his old crotchets, in his brain he bears,But on his harp, plays ill, or not at all.But ifApollotake his gout away,That he, his nimble fingers may apply;Apollo'sself will envy at his play,And all the world applaud his minstrelsy!Then Dotage is no weakness of the Mind,But of the Sense; for if the Mind did waste;Inallold men, we should this wasting find,When they some certain term of years had past.But most of them, even to their dying hour,Retain a Mind more lively, quick, and strong,And better use their Understanding Power,Than when their brains were warm, and limbs were young.For though the body wasted be and weak,And though the leaden form of earth it bears;Yet when we hear that half-dead body speak,We oft are ravished to the heavenly spheres.2. Objection.Yet say these men, "If all her organs die,Then hath the Soul no power, her Powers to use!So in a sort her Powers extinct do lie,When into Act She cannot them reduce.""And if her Powers be dead, then what is She?For since from everything, some Powers do spring,And from those Powers some Acts proceeding be:Then kill both Power and Act, and kill the Thing."Answer.Doubtless the Body's death, when once it dies,The Instruments of Sense and Life doth kill;So that She cannot use those faculties,Although their root rest in her substance still.But as, the Body living, Wit and WillCan judge and choose without the Body's aid,Though on such objects, they are working still,As through the Body's organs are conveyed:So, when the Body serves her turn no more,And all her Senses are extinct and gone,She can discourse of what She learned before,In heavenly contemplations all alone.So if one man well on the lute doth play,And have good horsemanship, and learning's skill:Though both his lute and horse we take away;Doth he not keep his former learning still?He keeps it doubtless! and can use it too!And doth both th'other skills, in power retain!And can of both the proper actions do,If with his Lute, or Horse he meet again.So, though the instruments by which we liveAnd view the world, the Body's death doth kill:Yet with the Body, they shall all revive;And all their wonted offices fulfil.3. Objection."Buthow, till then, shall She herself employ?Her spies are dead; which brought home news before:What she hath got and keeps, she may enjoy;But She hath means to understand no more.""Then what do those poor Souls which nothing get?Or what do those which get and nothing keep,Like buckets bottomless, which all out let?Those Souls, for want of exercise, must sleep."Answer.SeehowMan's Soul, against itself doth strive:Why should we not have other means to know?As children, while within the womb they live,Feed by the navel; Here, they feed not so.These children (if they had some use of Sense,And should by chance their mothers talking, hear;That, in short time, they shall come forth from thence)Would fear their birth, more than our death we fear.They would cry out, "If we, this place shall leave,Then shall we break our tender navel strings:How shall we then our nourishment receive,Since our sweet food, no other conduit brings?"And if a man should, to these babes reply,That "Into this fair world they shall be brought,Where they shall see the earth, the sea, the sky,The glorious sun, and all that GOD hath wrought:That there ten thousand dainties they shall meet,Which by their mouths they shall with pleasure take;Which shall be cordial too, as well as sweet,And of their little limbs, tall bodies make!"This, would they think a fable! even as weDo think the story of the Golden Age;Or as some sensual spirits amongst us be,Which hold the World to Come, "a feigned Stage."Yet shall these infants, after, find all true;Though, then, thereof, they nothing could conceive.As soon as they are born, the world they view,And with their mouths, the nurse's milk receive.So when the Soul is born (for Death is noughtBut the Soul's Birth, and so we should it call!)Ten thousand things She sees, beyond her thought;And, in an unknown manner, knows them all.Then doth She see by spectacles no more,She hears not by report of double spies,Herself, in instants, doth all things explore,For each thing present, and before her lies.4. Objection.But still this Crew, with questions me pursues;"If Souls deceased," say they, "still living be",Why do they not return to bring us newsOf that strange world, where they such wonders see?Answer.Fond men! if we believe that men do liveUnder the zenith of both frozen poles;Though none come thence, advertisement to give;Why bear we not the like faith of our Souls?The Soul hath, here on earth, no more to do,Than we have business in our mother's womb;What child doth covet to return thereto?Although all children, first from thence do come!But as Noah's pigeon which returned no more,Did shew she footing found, for all the flood;So when good Souls, departed through death's door,Come not again; it shews their dwelling good.And doubtless such a Soul as up doth mount,And doth appear before her Maker's face,Holds this vile world in such a base account,As She looks down and scorns this wretched place.But such as are detruded down to hell;Either for shame, they still themselves retire,Or tied in chains, they in close prison dwell,And cannot come, although they much desire.5. Objection."Well, well," say these vain spirits, "though vain it isTo think our Souls to heaven or hell do go;Politic men have thought it not amiss,To spread thislie, to make men virtuous so!"Answer.Doyou, then, think this moral Virtue, good?I think you do! even for your private gain;For commonwealths by Virtue ever stood;And common good, the private doth contain.If then this Virtue, you do love so well,Have you no means, her practice to maintain?But you this lie must to the people tell,"That good Souls live in joy, and ill in pain."Must Virtue be preservèd by a lie?Virtue and Truth do ever best agree.By this, it seems to be a verity,Since the effects so good and virtuous be.For as the Devil, father is of lies,So Vice and Mischief do his lies ensue.Then this good doctrine did he not devise,But made this Lie which saith, "It is not true!"The General Consent of all.For how can that be false, which every tongue,Of every mortal man, affirms for true;Which truth hath, in all ages, been so strong,As loadstone-like, all hearts it ever drew.For not the Christian or the Jew alone;The Persian, or the Turk acknowledge this:This mystery to the wild Indian known,And to the Cannibal and Tartar, is.This rich Assyrian drug grows everywhere,As common in the North, as in the East!This doctrine doth not enter by the ear,But, of itself, is native in the breast!None that acknowledge GOD, or Providence,Their Soul's eternity did ever doubt;For all religion takes her root from hence,Which no poor naked nation lives without.For since the world for Man created was,(For only Man, the use thereof doth know)If Man do perish like a withered grass,How doth GOD's wisdom order things below?And if that wisdom still wise ends propound,Why made He Man, of other creatures king?When (if he perish here!) there is not found,In all the world so poor and vile a thing?If Death do quench us quite; we have great wrong;Since for our service, all things else were wrought:That daws, and trees, and rocks should last so long,When we must in an instant pass to nought.But, blest be that Great Power! that hath us blestWith longer life, than heaven or earth can haveWhich hath infused into one mortal breast,Immortal Powers, not subject to the grave.For though the Soul do seem her grave to bear,And in this world is almost buried quick;We have no cause the Body's death to fear,"For when the shell is broke, out comes a chick."Three kinds of Life answerable to the three powers of the Soul.For as the Soul'sessentialPowers are three,The Quick'ning Power, the Power of Sense, and Reason;Three kinds of Life to her designèd be,Which perfect these three Powers, in their due season.The first Life in the mother's womb is spent,Where She her Nursing Power doth only use;Where, when She finds defect of nourishment,Sh' expels her body, and this world She views.This, we call Birth! but if the child could speak,He, Death would call it! and of Nature, 'plainThat She should thrust him out naked and weak;And in his passage, pinch him with such pain.Yet, out he comes! and in this world is placed,Where all his Senses in perfection be;Where he finds flowers to smell, and fruits to taste,And sounds to hear, and sundry forms to see.When he hath passed some time upon this Stage,His Reason, then, a little seems to wake,Which though She spring, when Sense doth fade with age,Yet can She here, no perfect practice make.Then doth th' aspiring Soul, the Body leave,Which we call Death. But were it known to all,What Life our Souls do, by this death, receive;Men would it, Birth! or Gaol Delivery! call.In this third Life, Reason will be so bright,As that her Spark will like the sunbeams shine;And shall, of GOD enjoy the real sight,Being still increased by influence divine.

Orhath He given these blessings for a day,

That the Soul is immortal, and cannot die.

Nor made them on the Body's life depend,

The Soul, though made in Time, survives for Aye;

And though it hath beginning, sees no end!

Her only end, in never-ending bliss;Which is, th'eternal face of GOD to see:Who Last of Ends and First of Causes is,And to do this, She must Eternal be!

Her only end, in never-ending bliss;

Which is, th'eternal face of GOD to see:

Who Last of Ends and First of Causes is,

And to do this, She must Eternal be!

How senseless then, and dead a Soul hath he,Which thinks his soul doth with his body die:Or thinks not so, but so would have it be,That he might sin with more security!

How senseless then, and dead a Soul hath he,

Which thinks his soul doth with his body die:

Or thinks not so, but so would have it be,

That he might sin with more security!

For though these light and vicious persons say,"Our Soul is but a smoke! or airy blast!Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play;And when we die, doth turn to wind at last!"

For though these light and vicious persons say,

"Our Soul is but a smoke! or airy blast!

Which, during life, doth in our nostrils play;

And when we die, doth turn to wind at last!"

Although they say, "Come, let us eat, and drink!Our life is but a spark, which quickly dies!"Though thus theysay, they know not what tothink,But in their minds, ten thousand doubts arise.

Although they say, "Come, let us eat, and drink!

Our life is but a spark, which quickly dies!"

Though thus theysay, they know not what tothink,

But in their minds, ten thousand doubts arise.

Therefore no heretics desire to spreadTheir light opinions, like these Epicures;For so their staggering thoughts are comforted,And other men's assent, their doubt assures.

Therefore no heretics desire to spread

Their light opinions, like these Epicures;

For so their staggering thoughts are comforted,

And other men's assent, their doubt assures.

Yet though these men against their conscience strive,There are some sparkles in their flinty breasts,Which cannot be extinct, but still revive,That (though they would) they cannot, quite be beasts!

Yet though these men against their conscience strive,

There are some sparkles in their flinty breasts,

Which cannot be extinct, but still revive,

That (though they would) they cannot, quite be beasts!

But whoso makes a Mirror of his Mind;And doth, with patience, view himself therein;His Soul'seternityshall clearly find,Though th'other beauties be defaced with sin.

But whoso makes a Mirror of his Mind;

And doth, with patience, view himself therein;

His Soul'seternityshall clearly find,

Though th'other beauties be defaced with sin.

1Reason. Drawn from the Desire of Knowledge.

First, In man's mind, we find an appetiteTo Learn and Know the Truth of everything:Which is connatural, and born with it;And from the essence of the Soul doth spring.

First, In man's mind, we find an appetite

To Learn and Know the Truth of everything:

Which is connatural, and born with it;

And from the essence of the Soul doth spring.

With this Desire, She hath a native Might,To find out every truth, if She had timeTh'innumerable effects to sort aright;And, by degrees, from cause to cause to climb!

With this Desire, She hath a native Might,

To find out every truth, if She had time

Th'innumerable effects to sort aright;

And, by degrees, from cause to cause to climb!

But since our life so fast away doth slide!(As doth a hungry eagle through the wind,Or as a ship transported with the tide;Which in their passage, leave no print behind.)

But since our life so fast away doth slide!

(As doth a hungry eagle through the wind,

Or as a ship transported with the tide;

Which in their passage, leave no print behind.)

Of which swift little time, so much we spend,While some few things, we, through the Sense, do strain;That our short race of life is at an end,Ere we, the Principles of Skill attain:

Of which swift little time, so much we spend,

While some few things, we, through the Sense, do strain;

That our short race of life is at an end,

Ere we, the Principles of Skill attain:

Or GOD (which to vain ends, hath nothing done)In vain, this Appetite and Power hath given;Or else our knowledge, which is here begun,Hereafter must be perfected in heaven.

Or GOD (which to vain ends, hath nothing done)

In vain, this Appetite and Power hath given;

Or else our knowledge, which is here begun,

Hereafter must be perfected in heaven.

GOD never gave a Power to one whole Kind;But most of that Kind did use the same!Most eyes have perfect sight! though some be blind;Most legs can nimbly run! though some be lame.

GOD never gave a Power to one whole Kind;

But most of that Kind did use the same!

Most eyes have perfect sight! though some be blind;

Most legs can nimbly run! though some be lame.

But in this life,noSoul, the Truth can knowSo perfectly, as it hath power to do!If then perfection be not found below,A higher place must make her mount thereto.

But in this life,noSoul, the Truth can know

So perfectly, as it hath power to do!

If then perfection be not found below,

A higher place must make her mount thereto.

2Reason. Drawn from the motion of the Soul.

Again, how can She but immortal be?When with the motions of both Will and Wit,She still aspireth to Eternity,And never rests, till she attain to it.

Again, how can She but immortal be?

When with the motions of both Will and Wit,

She still aspireth to Eternity,

And never rests, till she attain to it.

Water in conduit pipes can rise no higherThan the well head, from whence it first doth spring!Then since to eternal GOD, She doth aspire;She cannot be but an eternal thing.

Water in conduit pipes can rise no higher

Than the well head, from whence it first doth spring!

Then since to eternal GOD, She doth aspire;

She cannot be but an eternal thing.

"All moving things to other things do moveOf the same kind," which shows their natures such;So earth falls down, and fire doth mount above,Till both their proper Elements do touch.

"All moving things to other things do move

Of the same kind," which shows their natures such;

So earth falls down, and fire doth mount above,

Till both their proper Elements do touch.

The soul compared to a river.And as the moisture which the thirsty earthSucks from the sea, to fill her empty veins;From out her womb at last doth take a birth,And runs, a Nymph! along the grassy plains:

The soul compared to a river.

And as the moisture which the thirsty earth

Sucks from the sea, to fill her empty veins;

From out her womb at last doth take a birth,

And runs, a Nymph! along the grassy plains:

Long doth she stay, as loath to leave the land,From whose soft side, she first did issue make:She tastes all places! turns to every hand!Her flow'ry banks unwilling to forsake:

Long doth she stay, as loath to leave the land,

From whose soft side, she first did issue make:

She tastes all places! turns to every hand!

Her flow'ry banks unwilling to forsake:

Yet Nature, so her streams doth lead and carry,As that her course doth make no final stayTill she, herself unto the Ocean marry;Within whose watry bosom first she lay.

Yet Nature, so her streams doth lead and carry,

As that her course doth make no final stay

Till she, herself unto the Ocean marry;

Within whose watry bosom first she lay.

Even so the Soul, which in this earthy mould,The Spirit of GOD doth secretly infuse;Because, at first, She doth the earth behold,And only this material world She views!

Even so the Soul, which in this earthy mould,

The Spirit of GOD doth secretly infuse;

Because, at first, She doth the earth behold,

And only this material world She views!

At first, our Mother Earth, She holdeth dear!And doth embrace the World, and worldly things!She flies close by the ground, and hovers here!And mounts not up with her celestial wings!

At first, our Mother Earth, She holdeth dear!

And doth embrace the World, and worldly things!

She flies close by the ground, and hovers here!

And mounts not up with her celestial wings!

Yet, under heaven, She cannot light on ought,That with her heavenly nature doth agree:She cannot rest! She cannot fix her thought!She cannot in this world contented be!

Yet, under heaven, She cannot light on ought,

That with her heavenly nature doth agree:

She cannot rest! She cannot fix her thought!

She cannot in this world contented be!

For who did ever yet in Honour, Wealth,Or Pleasure of the Sense, contentment find?Who ever ceased towish, when he had Health?Or having Wisdom, was notvext in mind?

For who did ever yet in Honour, Wealth,

Or Pleasure of the Sense, contentment find?

Who ever ceased towish, when he had Health?

Or having Wisdom, was notvext in mind?

Then as a bee, which among weeds doth fall,Which seem sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay;She lights on that! and this! and tasteth all;But pleased with none, doth rise and soar away!

Then as a bee, which among weeds doth fall,

Which seem sweet flowers, with lustre fresh and gay;

She lights on that! and this! and tasteth all;

But pleased with none, doth rise and soar away!

So, when the Soul finds here no true content,And, likeNoah'sdove, can no sure footing take;She doth return from whence She first was sent,And flies to Him, that first her wings did make!

So, when the Soul finds here no true content,

And, likeNoah'sdove, can no sure footing take;

She doth return from whence She first was sent,

And flies to Him, that first her wings did make!

Wit seeking Truth, from Cause to Cause ascends;And never rests, till it the First attain;Will seeking Good, finds many middle Ends,But never stays, till it the Last do gain.

Wit seeking Truth, from Cause to Cause ascends;

And never rests, till it the First attain;

Will seeking Good, finds many middle Ends,

But never stays, till it the Last do gain.

Now, GOD, the Truth! and First of Causes is!GOD is the Last Good End! which lasteth still:BeingAlphaandOmeganamed for this,Alphato Wit!Omegato the Will!

Now, GOD, the Truth! and First of Causes is!

GOD is the Last Good End! which lasteth still:

BeingAlphaandOmeganamed for this,

Alphato Wit!Omegato the Will!

Since then, her heavenly kind She doth bewray,In that to GOD, She doth directly move:And on no mortal thing can make her stay;She cannot be from hence, but fromabove.

Since then, her heavenly kind She doth bewray,

In that to GOD, She doth directly move:

And on no mortal thing can make her stay;

She cannot be from hence, but fromabove.

And yet this First True Cause and Last Good End,She cannot hear sowell, andtrulysee;For this perfection, She must yet attend,Till to her Maker, She espousèd be.

And yet this First True Cause and Last Good End,

She cannot hear sowell, andtrulysee;

For this perfection, She must yet attend,

Till to her Maker, She espousèd be.

As a King's daughter, being in person soughtOf divers Princes, which do neighbour near;On none of them can fix a constant thought,Though she to all do lend a gentle ear.

As a King's daughter, being in person sought

Of divers Princes, which do neighbour near;

On none of them can fix a constant thought,

Though she to all do lend a gentle ear.

Yet can she love a foreign Emperor!Whom, of great worth and power, she hears to be;If she be wooed but by Ambassador;Or but his letters, or his picture see.

Yet can she love a foreign Emperor!

Whom, of great worth and power, she hears to be;

If she be wooed but by Ambassador;

Or but his letters, or his picture see.

For well she knows, that when she shall be broughtInto the kingdom, where her Spouse doth reign;Her eyes shall see what she conceived in thought,Himself! his State! his glory! and his train!

For well she knows, that when she shall be brought

Into the kingdom, where her Spouse doth reign;

Her eyes shall see what she conceived in thought,

Himself! his State! his glory! and his train!

So while the virgin Soul on earth doth stayShe wooed and tempted is, ten thousand ways,By these great Powers, which on the earth bear sway;TheWisdom of the World, Wealth, Pleasure, Praise.

So while the virgin Soul on earth doth stay

She wooed and tempted is, ten thousand ways,

By these great Powers, which on the earth bear sway;

TheWisdom of the World, Wealth, Pleasure, Praise.

With these, sometime, She doth her time beguile.These do, by fits, her Phantasy possess,But She distastes them all, within a while;And in the sweetest, finds a tediousness:

With these, sometime, She doth her time beguile.

These do, by fits, her Phantasy possess,

But She distastes them all, within a while;

And in the sweetest, finds a tediousness:

But if, upon the world's Almighty King,She once do fix her humble loving thought;Which, by his Picture drawn in everything,And sacred Messages, her love hath sought,

But if, upon the world's Almighty King,

She once do fix her humble loving thought;

Which, by his Picture drawn in everything,

And sacred Messages, her love hath sought,

Of Him, She thinks She cannot think too much.This honey tasted, still is ever sweet;The pleasure of her ravished thought is such,As almost here, She, with her bliss doth meet.

Of Him, She thinks She cannot think too much.

This honey tasted, still is ever sweet;

The pleasure of her ravished thought is such,

As almost here, She, with her bliss doth meet.

But when in heaven, She shall His Essence see,This is her Sovereign Good! and Perfect Bliss!Her longings, wishings, hopes, all finished be!Her joys are full! her motions rest in this!

But when in heaven, She shall His Essence see,

This is her Sovereign Good! and Perfect Bliss!

Her longings, wishings, hopes, all finished be!

Her joys are full! her motions rest in this!

There, is She crowned with Garlands of Content,There, doth She manna eat, and nectar drink,That Presence doth such high delights present,As never tongue could speak, nor heart could think!

There, is She crowned with Garlands of Content,

There, doth She manna eat, and nectar drink,

That Presence doth such high delights present,

As never tongue could speak, nor heart could think!

3Reason.From contempt of death in the better sort of spirits.For this! the better Souls do oft despiseThe body's death, and do it oft desire;For when on ground, the burdened balance lies;The empty part is lifted up the higher!

3Reason.From contempt of death in the better sort of spirits.

For this! the better Souls do oft despise

The body's death, and do it oft desire;

For when on ground, the burdened balance lies;

The empty part is lifted up the higher!

But if the body's death, the Soul should kill?Then death must needsagainst her naturebe;And were it so, all Souls would fly it still,"For Nature hates, and shuns her contrary."

But if the body's death, the Soul should kill?

Then death must needsagainst her naturebe;

And were it so, all Souls would fly it still,

"For Nature hates, and shuns her contrary."

For all things else, which Nature makes to be;Their Being to preserve, are chiefly taught!For though some things desire a change to see,"Yet never thing did long to turn tonought!"

For all things else, which Nature makes to be;

Their Being to preserve, are chiefly taught!

For though some things desire a change to see,

"Yet never thing did long to turn tonought!"

If then, by death, the Soul were quenchèd quite,She could not thus against her nature run!Since every senseless thing, by Nature's light,Dothpreservationseek!destructionshun!

If then, by death, the Soul were quenchèd quite,

She could not thus against her nature run!

Since every senseless thing, by Nature's light,

Dothpreservationseek!destructionshun!

Nor could the world's best spirits so much err,(If Death took all!) that they shouldallagree,Before this life, their Honour to prefer!For what is praise, to things that nothing be?

Nor could the world's best spirits so much err,

(If Death took all!) that they shouldallagree,

Before this life, their Honour to prefer!

For what is praise, to things that nothing be?

Again, if by the body's prop, She stand?If on the body's life, her life depend?AsMeleager's on the fatal brand!The body's good, She only would intend!

Again, if by the body's prop, She stand?

If on the body's life, her life depend?

AsMeleager's on the fatal brand!

The body's good, She only would intend!

We should not find her half so brave and bold,To lead it to the wars, and to the seas!To make it suffer watchings! hunger! cold!When it might feed with plenty! rest with ease!

We should not find her half so brave and bold,

To lead it to the wars, and to the seas!

To make it suffer watchings! hunger! cold!

When it might feed with plenty! rest with ease!

Doubtless,allSouls have a surviving thought;Therefore of Death, we think with quiet mind;But if we think of beingturned to nought,A trembling horror in our Souls we find!

Doubtless,allSouls have a surviving thought;

Therefore of Death, we think with quiet mind;

But if we think of beingturned to nought,

A trembling horror in our Souls we find!

4.Reason.From the fear of death in the wicked souls.And as the better spirit, when She doth bearA scorn of death, doth shew She cannot die;So when the wicked Soul, Death's face doth fear,Even then, She proves her own eternity!

4.Reason.From the fear of death in the wicked souls.

And as the better spirit, when She doth bear

A scorn of death, doth shew She cannot die;

So when the wicked Soul, Death's face doth fear,

Even then, She proves her own eternity!

For, when Death's form appears, She feareth notAn utter quenching or extinguishment!She would be glad to meet with such a lot!That so She might all future ill prevent.

For, when Death's form appears, She feareth not

An utter quenching or extinguishment!

She would be glad to meet with such a lot!

That so She might all future ill prevent.

But She doth doubt what after may befall,For Nature's law accuseth her within,And saith, "'Tis true, that is affirmed by all,That after death, there is a pain for sin!"

But She doth doubt what after may befall,

For Nature's law accuseth her within,

And saith, "'Tis true, that is affirmed by all,

That after death, there is a pain for sin!"

Then She, which hath been hoodwinked from her birth,Doth first herself within Death's Mirror see;And when her body doth return to earth,She first takes care, how She alone shall be.

Then She, which hath been hoodwinked from her birth,

Doth first herself within Death's Mirror see;

And when her body doth return to earth,

She first takes care, how She alone shall be.

Whoever sees these irreligious men,With burden of a sickness, weak and faint;But hears them talking of religion then,And vowing of their souls to every saint?

Whoever sees these irreligious men,

With burden of a sickness, weak and faint;

But hears them talking of religion then,

And vowing of their souls to every saint?

When was there ever cursed atheist broughtUnto the gibbet, but he did adoreThat blessed Power! which he had set at nought,Scorned, and blasphemed, all his life before?

When was there ever cursed atheist brought

Unto the gibbet, but he did adore

That blessed Power! which he had set at nought,

Scorned, and blasphemed, all his life before?

These light vain persons, still are drunk and mad,With surfeitings and pleasures of their youth;But, at their deaths, they are fresh! sober! sad!Then, they discern! and then, they speak the truth!

These light vain persons, still are drunk and mad,

With surfeitings and pleasures of their youth;

But, at their deaths, they are fresh! sober! sad!

Then, they discern! and then, they speak the truth!

If then, all souls, both good and bad, do teachWith general voice, that souls can never die;'Tis not Man's flattering Gloss, but Nature's Speech,Which, like GOD's Oracle, can never lie.

If then, all souls, both good and bad, do teach

With general voice, that souls can never die;

'Tis not Man's flattering Gloss, but Nature's Speech,

Which, like GOD's Oracle, can never lie.

5.Reason.From the general desire of Immortality.Hence, springs thatuniversalstrong desire,Which all men have, of Immortality:Not some few spirits unto this thought aspire,But all men's minds in this, united be.

5.Reason.From the general desire of Immortality.

Hence, springs thatuniversalstrong desire,

Which all men have, of Immortality:

Not some few spirits unto this thought aspire,

But all men's minds in this, united be.

Then this desire of Nature is not vain!"She covets not impossibilities!""Fond thoughts may fall into some idle brain;But one Assent of All, is ever true!"

Then this desire of Nature is not vain!

"She covets not impossibilities!"

"Fond thoughts may fall into some idle brain;

But one Assent of All, is ever true!"

From hence, that general care and study springs,Thatlaunchingandprogressionof the Mind,Which all men have, so much of Future things,As they no joy, do in the Present find.

From hence, that general care and study springs,

Thatlaunchingandprogressionof the Mind,

Which all men have, so much of Future things,

As they no joy, do in the Present find.

From this desire, that main Desire proceeds,Which all men have, surviving Fame to gain;By tombs, by books, by memorable deeds;For She that this desires, doth still remain.

From this desire, that main Desire proceeds,

Which all men have, surviving Fame to gain;

By tombs, by books, by memorable deeds;

For She that this desires, doth still remain.

Hence, lastly, springs Care of Posterities!For things, their kind would everlasting make!Hence is it, that old men do plant young trees,The fruit whereof, another age shall take!

Hence, lastly, springs Care of Posterities!

For things, their kind would everlasting make!

Hence is it, that old men do plant young trees,

The fruit whereof, another age shall take!

If we these rules unto ourselves apply,And view them by reflection of the mind;All these True Notes of Immortality,In our hearts' tables, we shall written find!

If we these rules unto ourselves apply,

And view them by reflection of the mind;

All these True Notes of Immortality,

In our hearts' tables, we shall written find!

6.Reason.From the very doubt and disputation of immortality.And though some impious wits do questions move,And doubt "if souls immortal be or no?"Thatdoubt, their immortality doth prove!Because they seem immortal things to know.

6.Reason.From the very doubt and disputation of immortality.

And though some impious wits do questions move,

And doubt "if souls immortal be or no?"

Thatdoubt, their immortality doth prove!

Because they seem immortal things to know.

For he which reasons, on both parts doth bring,Doth some things mortal, some immortal call;Now if himself were but a mortal thing;He could not judge immortal things,at all!

For he which reasons, on both parts doth bring,

Doth some things mortal, some immortal call;

Now if himself were but a mortal thing;

He could not judge immortal things,at all!

For when we judge, our Minds we Mirrors make,And as those glasses, which material be,Forms of material things do only take(For Thoughts or Minds in them, we cannot see);

For when we judge, our Minds we Mirrors make,

And as those glasses, which material be,

Forms of material things do only take

(For Thoughts or Minds in them, we cannot see);

So when we GOD and Angels do conceive,And think of Truth (which is eternal too),Then do our Minds, immortal Forms receive,Which if they mortal were, they could not do.

So when we GOD and Angels do conceive,

And think of Truth (which is eternal too),

Then do our Minds, immortal Forms receive,

Which if they mortal were, they could not do.

And as if beasts conceived what Reason were,And that conception should distinctly shew;They should the name ofreasonablebear(For without Reason, none could reason know).

And as if beasts conceived what Reason were,

And that conception should distinctly shew;

They should the name ofreasonablebear

(For without Reason, none could reason know).

So when the Soul mounts with so high a wing,As of eternal things, Shedoubtscan move,She, proofs of her eternity doth bring;Even when She strives the contrary to prove.

So when the Soul mounts with so high a wing,

As of eternal things, Shedoubtscan move,

She, proofs of her eternity doth bring;

Even when She strives the contrary to prove.

For even thethoughtof Immortality,Being an act done without the body's aid,Shews, that herself alone could move, and be,Although the body in the grave were laid.

For even thethoughtof Immortality,

Being an act done without the body's aid,

Shews, that herself alone could move, and be,

Although the body in the grave were laid.

And if herself She can so lively move,And never need a foreign help to take,Then must her motion everlasting prove,"Because her self She never can forsake."

And if herself She can so lively move,

And never need a foreign help to take,

Then must her motion everlasting prove,

"Because her self She never can forsake."

That the Soul cannot be destroyed."But though Corruption cannot touch the Mind,By any cause, that from itself may spring;Some Outward Cause, Fate hath perhaps designed,Which to the Soul, may utter quenching bring?"

That the Soul cannot be destroyed.

"But though Corruption cannot touch the Mind,

By any cause, that from itself may spring;

Some Outward Cause, Fate hath perhaps designed,

Which to the Soul, may utter quenching bring?"

Her Cause ceaseth not."Perhaps her Cause may cease, and She may die!"GOD is her Cause! His WORD, her Maker was!Which shall stand fixed for all eternity!When heaven and earth shall like a shadow pass.

Her Cause ceaseth not.

"Perhaps her Cause may cease, and She may die!"

GOD is her Cause! His WORD, her Maker was!

Which shall stand fixed for all eternity!

When heaven and earth shall like a shadow pass.

She hath no contrary."Perhaps something repugnant to her kind,By strong antipathy, the Soul may kill!"But what can be contrary to the Mind,Which holds all contraries in concord still?

She hath no contrary.

"Perhaps something repugnant to her kind,

By strong antipathy, the Soul may kill!"

But what can be contrary to the Mind,

Which holds all contraries in concord still?

She lodgeth heat, and cold! and moist, and dry!And life, and death! and peace, and war together:Ten thousand fighting things in her do lie,Yet neither troubleth or disturbeth either.

She lodgeth heat, and cold! and moist, and dry!

And life, and death! and peace, and war together:

Ten thousand fighting things in her do lie,

Yet neither troubleth or disturbeth either.

She cannot die for want of food."Perhaps, for want of food, the Soul may pine!"But that were strange! since all things bad and good,Since all GOD's creatures, mortal and divine;Since GOD Himself is her eternal food.

She cannot die for want of food.

"Perhaps, for want of food, the Soul may pine!"

But that were strange! since all things bad and good,

Since all GOD's creatures, mortal and divine;

Since GOD Himself is her eternal food.

Bodies are fed with things of mortal kind,And so are subject to mortality;But Truth, which is eternal, feeds the Mind,The Tree of Life, which will not let her die.

Bodies are fed with things of mortal kind,

And so are subject to mortality;

But Truth, which is eternal, feeds the Mind,

The Tree of Life, which will not let her die.

Violence cannot destroy her."Yet violence perhaps the Soul destroys,As lightning or the sunbeams dim the sight;Or as a thunder-clap or cannon's noise,The power of hearing doth astonish quite?"

Violence cannot destroy her.

"Yet violence perhaps the Soul destroys,

As lightning or the sunbeams dim the sight;

Or as a thunder-clap or cannon's noise,

The power of hearing doth astonish quite?"

But high perfection to the Soul it brings,T'encounter things most excellent and high;For when She views the best and greatest things,They do not hurt, but rather clear the eye.

But high perfection to the Soul it brings,

T'encounter things most excellent and high;

For when She views the best and greatest things,

They do not hurt, but rather clear the eye.

Besides asHomer's gods 'gainst armies stand;Her subtle form can through all dangers slide;Bodies are captive, Minds endure no band,"And Will is free, and can no force abide!"

Besides asHomer's gods 'gainst armies stand;

Her subtle form can through all dangers slide;

Bodies are captive, Minds endure no band,

"And Will is free, and can no force abide!"

Time cannot destroy her."But lastly, Time perhaps, at last, hath power,To spend her lively powers, and quench her light?"But old godSaturn, which doth all devour,Doth cherish her, and still augment her might

Time cannot destroy her.

"But lastly, Time perhaps, at last, hath power,

To spend her lively powers, and quench her light?"

But old godSaturn, which doth all devour,

Doth cherish her, and still augment her might

Heaven waxeth old; and all the spheres aboveShall, one day, faint, and their swift motion stay;And Time itself, in time, shall cease to move,Only the Soul survives, and lives for aye.

Heaven waxeth old; and all the spheres above

Shall, one day, faint, and their swift motion stay;

And Time itself, in time, shall cease to move,

Only the Soul survives, and lives for aye.

Our bodies, every footstep that they make,March towards death, until at last they die:Whether we work, or play, or sleep, or wake,Our life doth pass, and with Time's wings doth fly

Our bodies, every footstep that they make,

March towards death, until at last they die:

Whether we work, or play, or sleep, or wake,

Our life doth pass, and with Time's wings doth fly

But to the Soul, time doth perfection give,And adds fresh lustre to her beauty still,And makes her in eternal youth to live,Like her which nectar to the gods doth fill.

But to the Soul, time doth perfection give,

And adds fresh lustre to her beauty still,

And makes her in eternal youth to live,

Like her which nectar to the gods doth fill.

The more She lives, the more She feeds on Truth;The more She feeds, her Strength doth more increase:And what is Strength, but an effect of Youth!Which if Time nurse, how can it ever cease?

The more She lives, the more She feeds on Truth;

The more She feeds, her Strength doth more increase:

And what is Strength, but an effect of Youth!

Which if Time nurse, how can it ever cease?

Objections against the Immortality of the Soul.But now these Epicures begin to smile,And say, "My doctrine is more safe, than true!"And that "I fondly do myself beguile,While these received opinions I ensue."

Objections against the Immortality of the Soul.

But now these Epicures begin to smile,

And say, "My doctrine is more safe, than true!"

And that "I fondly do myself beguile,

While these received opinions I ensue."

Objection."For what!" they say, "doth not the Soul wax old?How comes it, then, that aged men do dote,And that their brains grow sottish, dull, and cold;Which were in youth, the only spirits of note?"

Objection.

"For what!" they say, "doth not the Soul wax old?

How comes it, then, that aged men do dote,

And that their brains grow sottish, dull, and cold;

Which were in youth, the only spirits of note?"

"What! are not Souls within themselves corrupted?How can there idiots then by Nature be?How is it that some wits are interrupted,That now they dazzled are, now clearly see?"

"What! are not Souls within themselves corrupted?

How can there idiots then by Nature be?

How is it that some wits are interrupted,

That now they dazzled are, now clearly see?"

Answer.These questions make a subtle argumentTo such as think both Sense and Reason one:To whom, nor Agent, from the Instrument;Nor Power of Working, from the Work is known

Answer.

These questions make a subtle argument

To such as think both Sense and Reason one:

To whom, nor Agent, from the Instrument;

Nor Power of Working, from the Work is known

But they that know that Wit can show no skill,But when she things in Sense's glass doth view;Do know, if accident this glass do spill,Itnothingsees! or sees thefalsefortrue.

But they that know that Wit can show no skill,

But when she things in Sense's glass doth view;

Do know, if accident this glass do spill,

Itnothingsees! or sees thefalsefortrue.

For if that region of the tender brain,Wherein th'inward sense of Phantasy should sit,And th'outward senses' gatherings should retain,By Nature, or by chance become unfit.

For if that region of the tender brain,

Wherein th'inward sense of Phantasy should sit,

And th'outward senses' gatherings should retain,

By Nature, or by chance become unfit.

Either at first uncapable it is;And so few things or none at all receives;Or marred by accident which haps amiss,And so amiss it everything perceives;

Either at first uncapable it is;

And so few things or none at all receives;

Or marred by accident which haps amiss,

And so amiss it everything perceives;

Then as a cunning Prince that useth spies;If they return no news, doth nothing know;But if they make advertisement of lies,The Prince's Council all awry do go.

Then as a cunning Prince that useth spies;

If they return no news, doth nothing know;

But if they make advertisement of lies,

The Prince's Council all awry do go.

Even so, the Soul, to such a Body knit,Whose inward senses undisposèd be,And to receive the Forms of things unfit;Where nothing is brought in, can nothing see.

Even so, the Soul, to such a Body knit,

Whose inward senses undisposèd be,

And to receive the Forms of things unfit;

Where nothing is brought in, can nothing see.

This makes the Idiot, which hath yet a mind,Able to know the Truth, and choose the Good;If she such figures in the brain did find,As might be found, if it in temper stood.

This makes the Idiot, which hath yet a mind,

Able to know the Truth, and choose the Good;

If she such figures in the brain did find,

As might be found, if it in temper stood.

But if a frenzy do possess the brain;It so disturbs and blots the forms of things,As Phantasy proves altogether vain,And to the Wit, no true relation brings.

But if a frenzy do possess the brain;

It so disturbs and blots the forms of things,

As Phantasy proves altogether vain,

And to the Wit, no true relation brings.

Then doth the Wit, admitting all for true,Build fond conclusions on those idle grounds;Then doth it fly the Good, and Ill pursue,Believing all that this false spy propounds.

Then doth the Wit, admitting all for true,

Build fond conclusions on those idle grounds;

Then doth it fly the Good, and Ill pursue,

Believing all that this false spy propounds.

But purge the humours, and the rage appease;Which this distemper in the Fancy wrought:Then will the Wit, which never had disease,Discourse and judge discreetly, as it ought.

But purge the humours, and the rage appease;

Which this distemper in the Fancy wrought:

Then will the Wit, which never had disease,

Discourse and judge discreetly, as it ought.

So though the clouds eclipse the Sun's fair light,Yet from his face they do not take one beam:So have our eyes their perfect power of sight,Even when they look into a troubled stream.

So though the clouds eclipse the Sun's fair light,

Yet from his face they do not take one beam:

So have our eyes their perfect power of sight,

Even when they look into a troubled stream.

Then these defects in Sense's organs be,Not in the Soul, or in her working might;She cannot lose her perfect Power to See,Though mists and clouds do choke her window light.

Then these defects in Sense's organs be,

Not in the Soul, or in her working might;

She cannot lose her perfect Power to See,

Though mists and clouds do choke her window light.

These imperfections then we must impute,Not to the Agent, but the Instrument;We must not blameApollo, but his Lute,If false accords from her false strings be sent

These imperfections then we must impute,

Not to the Agent, but the Instrument;

We must not blameApollo, but his Lute,

If false accords from her false strings be sent

The Soul, in all, hath one intelligence,Though too much moisture in an infant's brain,And too much dryness in an old man's senseCannot the prints of outward things retain.

The Soul, in all, hath one intelligence,

Though too much moisture in an infant's brain,

And too much dryness in an old man's sense

Cannot the prints of outward things retain.

Then doth the Soul want work, and idle sit:And this we Childishness and Dotage call:Yet hath She then a quick and active Wit,If She had stuff and tools to work withal.

Then doth the Soul want work, and idle sit:

And this we Childishness and Dotage call:

Yet hath She then a quick and active Wit,

If She had stuff and tools to work withal.

For, give her organs fit, and objects fair,Give but the aged man, the young man's sense:Let butMedea,Æson'syouth repair,And straight She shews her wonted excellence.

For, give her organs fit, and objects fair,

Give but the aged man, the young man's sense:

Let butMedea,Æson'syouth repair,

And straight She shews her wonted excellence.

As a good harper, stricken far in years,Into whose cunning hands, the gout is fall:All his old crotchets, in his brain he bears,But on his harp, plays ill, or not at all.

As a good harper, stricken far in years,

Into whose cunning hands, the gout is fall:

All his old crotchets, in his brain he bears,

But on his harp, plays ill, or not at all.

But ifApollotake his gout away,That he, his nimble fingers may apply;Apollo'sself will envy at his play,And all the world applaud his minstrelsy!

But ifApollotake his gout away,

That he, his nimble fingers may apply;

Apollo'sself will envy at his play,

And all the world applaud his minstrelsy!

Then Dotage is no weakness of the Mind,But of the Sense; for if the Mind did waste;Inallold men, we should this wasting find,When they some certain term of years had past.

Then Dotage is no weakness of the Mind,

But of the Sense; for if the Mind did waste;

Inallold men, we should this wasting find,

When they some certain term of years had past.

But most of them, even to their dying hour,Retain a Mind more lively, quick, and strong,And better use their Understanding Power,Than when their brains were warm, and limbs were young.

But most of them, even to their dying hour,

Retain a Mind more lively, quick, and strong,

And better use their Understanding Power,

Than when their brains were warm, and limbs were young.

For though the body wasted be and weak,And though the leaden form of earth it bears;Yet when we hear that half-dead body speak,We oft are ravished to the heavenly spheres.

For though the body wasted be and weak,

And though the leaden form of earth it bears;

Yet when we hear that half-dead body speak,

We oft are ravished to the heavenly spheres.

2. Objection.Yet say these men, "If all her organs die,Then hath the Soul no power, her Powers to use!So in a sort her Powers extinct do lie,When into Act She cannot them reduce."

2. Objection.

Yet say these men, "If all her organs die,

Then hath the Soul no power, her Powers to use!

So in a sort her Powers extinct do lie,

When into Act She cannot them reduce."

"And if her Powers be dead, then what is She?For since from everything, some Powers do spring,And from those Powers some Acts proceeding be:Then kill both Power and Act, and kill the Thing."

"And if her Powers be dead, then what is She?

For since from everything, some Powers do spring,

And from those Powers some Acts proceeding be:

Then kill both Power and Act, and kill the Thing."

Answer.Doubtless the Body's death, when once it dies,The Instruments of Sense and Life doth kill;So that She cannot use those faculties,Although their root rest in her substance still.

Answer.

Doubtless the Body's death, when once it dies,

The Instruments of Sense and Life doth kill;

So that She cannot use those faculties,

Although their root rest in her substance still.

But as, the Body living, Wit and WillCan judge and choose without the Body's aid,Though on such objects, they are working still,As through the Body's organs are conveyed:

But as, the Body living, Wit and Will

Can judge and choose without the Body's aid,

Though on such objects, they are working still,

As through the Body's organs are conveyed:

So, when the Body serves her turn no more,And all her Senses are extinct and gone,She can discourse of what She learned before,In heavenly contemplations all alone.

So, when the Body serves her turn no more,

And all her Senses are extinct and gone,

She can discourse of what She learned before,

In heavenly contemplations all alone.

So if one man well on the lute doth play,And have good horsemanship, and learning's skill:Though both his lute and horse we take away;Doth he not keep his former learning still?

So if one man well on the lute doth play,

And have good horsemanship, and learning's skill:

Though both his lute and horse we take away;

Doth he not keep his former learning still?

He keeps it doubtless! and can use it too!And doth both th'other skills, in power retain!And can of both the proper actions do,If with his Lute, or Horse he meet again.

He keeps it doubtless! and can use it too!

And doth both th'other skills, in power retain!

And can of both the proper actions do,

If with his Lute, or Horse he meet again.

So, though the instruments by which we liveAnd view the world, the Body's death doth kill:Yet with the Body, they shall all revive;And all their wonted offices fulfil.

So, though the instruments by which we live

And view the world, the Body's death doth kill:

Yet with the Body, they shall all revive;

And all their wonted offices fulfil.

3. Objection."Buthow, till then, shall She herself employ?Her spies are dead; which brought home news before:What she hath got and keeps, she may enjoy;But She hath means to understand no more."

3. Objection.

"Buthow, till then, shall She herself employ?

Her spies are dead; which brought home news before:

What she hath got and keeps, she may enjoy;

But She hath means to understand no more."

"Then what do those poor Souls which nothing get?Or what do those which get and nothing keep,Like buckets bottomless, which all out let?Those Souls, for want of exercise, must sleep."

"Then what do those poor Souls which nothing get?

Or what do those which get and nothing keep,

Like buckets bottomless, which all out let?

Those Souls, for want of exercise, must sleep."

Answer.SeehowMan's Soul, against itself doth strive:Why should we not have other means to know?As children, while within the womb they live,Feed by the navel; Here, they feed not so.

Answer.

SeehowMan's Soul, against itself doth strive:

Why should we not have other means to know?

As children, while within the womb they live,

Feed by the navel; Here, they feed not so.

These children (if they had some use of Sense,And should by chance their mothers talking, hear;That, in short time, they shall come forth from thence)Would fear their birth, more than our death we fear.

These children (if they had some use of Sense,

And should by chance their mothers talking, hear;

That, in short time, they shall come forth from thence)

Would fear their birth, more than our death we fear.

They would cry out, "If we, this place shall leave,Then shall we break our tender navel strings:How shall we then our nourishment receive,Since our sweet food, no other conduit brings?"

They would cry out, "If we, this place shall leave,

Then shall we break our tender navel strings:

How shall we then our nourishment receive,

Since our sweet food, no other conduit brings?"

And if a man should, to these babes reply,That "Into this fair world they shall be brought,Where they shall see the earth, the sea, the sky,The glorious sun, and all that GOD hath wrought:

And if a man should, to these babes reply,

That "Into this fair world they shall be brought,

Where they shall see the earth, the sea, the sky,

The glorious sun, and all that GOD hath wrought:

That there ten thousand dainties they shall meet,Which by their mouths they shall with pleasure take;Which shall be cordial too, as well as sweet,And of their little limbs, tall bodies make!"

That there ten thousand dainties they shall meet,

Which by their mouths they shall with pleasure take;

Which shall be cordial too, as well as sweet,

And of their little limbs, tall bodies make!"

This, would they think a fable! even as weDo think the story of the Golden Age;Or as some sensual spirits amongst us be,Which hold the World to Come, "a feigned Stage."

This, would they think a fable! even as we

Do think the story of the Golden Age;

Or as some sensual spirits amongst us be,

Which hold the World to Come, "a feigned Stage."

Yet shall these infants, after, find all true;Though, then, thereof, they nothing could conceive.As soon as they are born, the world they view,And with their mouths, the nurse's milk receive.

Yet shall these infants, after, find all true;

Though, then, thereof, they nothing could conceive.

As soon as they are born, the world they view,

And with their mouths, the nurse's milk receive.

So when the Soul is born (for Death is noughtBut the Soul's Birth, and so we should it call!)Ten thousand things She sees, beyond her thought;And, in an unknown manner, knows them all.

So when the Soul is born (for Death is nought

But the Soul's Birth, and so we should it call!)

Ten thousand things She sees, beyond her thought;

And, in an unknown manner, knows them all.

Then doth She see by spectacles no more,She hears not by report of double spies,Herself, in instants, doth all things explore,For each thing present, and before her lies.

Then doth She see by spectacles no more,

She hears not by report of double spies,

Herself, in instants, doth all things explore,

For each thing present, and before her lies.

4. Objection.But still this Crew, with questions me pursues;"If Souls deceased," say they, "still living be",Why do they not return to bring us newsOf that strange world, where they such wonders see?

4. Objection.

But still this Crew, with questions me pursues;

"If Souls deceased," say they, "still living be",

Why do they not return to bring us news

Of that strange world, where they such wonders see?

Answer.Fond men! if we believe that men do liveUnder the zenith of both frozen poles;Though none come thence, advertisement to give;Why bear we not the like faith of our Souls?

Answer.

Fond men! if we believe that men do live

Under the zenith of both frozen poles;

Though none come thence, advertisement to give;

Why bear we not the like faith of our Souls?

The Soul hath, here on earth, no more to do,Than we have business in our mother's womb;What child doth covet to return thereto?Although all children, first from thence do come!

The Soul hath, here on earth, no more to do,

Than we have business in our mother's womb;

What child doth covet to return thereto?

Although all children, first from thence do come!

But as Noah's pigeon which returned no more,Did shew she footing found, for all the flood;So when good Souls, departed through death's door,Come not again; it shews their dwelling good.

But as Noah's pigeon which returned no more,

Did shew she footing found, for all the flood;

So when good Souls, departed through death's door,

Come not again; it shews their dwelling good.

And doubtless such a Soul as up doth mount,And doth appear before her Maker's face,Holds this vile world in such a base account,As She looks down and scorns this wretched place.

And doubtless such a Soul as up doth mount,

And doth appear before her Maker's face,

Holds this vile world in such a base account,

As She looks down and scorns this wretched place.

But such as are detruded down to hell;Either for shame, they still themselves retire,Or tied in chains, they in close prison dwell,And cannot come, although they much desire.

But such as are detruded down to hell;

Either for shame, they still themselves retire,

Or tied in chains, they in close prison dwell,

And cannot come, although they much desire.

5. Objection."Well, well," say these vain spirits, "though vain it isTo think our Souls to heaven or hell do go;Politic men have thought it not amiss,To spread thislie, to make men virtuous so!"

5. Objection.

"Well, well," say these vain spirits, "though vain it is

To think our Souls to heaven or hell do go;

Politic men have thought it not amiss,

To spread thislie, to make men virtuous so!"

Answer.Doyou, then, think this moral Virtue, good?I think you do! even for your private gain;For commonwealths by Virtue ever stood;And common good, the private doth contain.

Answer.

Doyou, then, think this moral Virtue, good?

I think you do! even for your private gain;

For commonwealths by Virtue ever stood;

And common good, the private doth contain.

If then this Virtue, you do love so well,Have you no means, her practice to maintain?But you this lie must to the people tell,"That good Souls live in joy, and ill in pain."

If then this Virtue, you do love so well,

Have you no means, her practice to maintain?

But you this lie must to the people tell,

"That good Souls live in joy, and ill in pain."

Must Virtue be preservèd by a lie?Virtue and Truth do ever best agree.By this, it seems to be a verity,Since the effects so good and virtuous be.

Must Virtue be preservèd by a lie?

Virtue and Truth do ever best agree.

By this, it seems to be a verity,

Since the effects so good and virtuous be.

For as the Devil, father is of lies,So Vice and Mischief do his lies ensue.Then this good doctrine did he not devise,But made this Lie which saith, "It is not true!"

For as the Devil, father is of lies,

So Vice and Mischief do his lies ensue.

Then this good doctrine did he not devise,

But made this Lie which saith, "It is not true!"

The General Consent of all.For how can that be false, which every tongue,Of every mortal man, affirms for true;Which truth hath, in all ages, been so strong,As loadstone-like, all hearts it ever drew.

The General Consent of all.

For how can that be false, which every tongue,

Of every mortal man, affirms for true;

Which truth hath, in all ages, been so strong,

As loadstone-like, all hearts it ever drew.

For not the Christian or the Jew alone;The Persian, or the Turk acknowledge this:This mystery to the wild Indian known,And to the Cannibal and Tartar, is.

For not the Christian or the Jew alone;

The Persian, or the Turk acknowledge this:

This mystery to the wild Indian known,

And to the Cannibal and Tartar, is.

This rich Assyrian drug grows everywhere,As common in the North, as in the East!This doctrine doth not enter by the ear,But, of itself, is native in the breast!

This rich Assyrian drug grows everywhere,

As common in the North, as in the East!

This doctrine doth not enter by the ear,

But, of itself, is native in the breast!

None that acknowledge GOD, or Providence,Their Soul's eternity did ever doubt;For all religion takes her root from hence,Which no poor naked nation lives without.

None that acknowledge GOD, or Providence,

Their Soul's eternity did ever doubt;

For all religion takes her root from hence,

Which no poor naked nation lives without.

For since the world for Man created was,(For only Man, the use thereof doth know)If Man do perish like a withered grass,How doth GOD's wisdom order things below?

For since the world for Man created was,

(For only Man, the use thereof doth know)

If Man do perish like a withered grass,

How doth GOD's wisdom order things below?

And if that wisdom still wise ends propound,Why made He Man, of other creatures king?When (if he perish here!) there is not found,In all the world so poor and vile a thing?

And if that wisdom still wise ends propound,

Why made He Man, of other creatures king?

When (if he perish here!) there is not found,

In all the world so poor and vile a thing?

If Death do quench us quite; we have great wrong;Since for our service, all things else were wrought:That daws, and trees, and rocks should last so long,When we must in an instant pass to nought.

If Death do quench us quite; we have great wrong;

Since for our service, all things else were wrought:

That daws, and trees, and rocks should last so long,

When we must in an instant pass to nought.

But, blest be that Great Power! that hath us blestWith longer life, than heaven or earth can haveWhich hath infused into one mortal breast,Immortal Powers, not subject to the grave.

But, blest be that Great Power! that hath us blest

With longer life, than heaven or earth can have

Which hath infused into one mortal breast,

Immortal Powers, not subject to the grave.

For though the Soul do seem her grave to bear,And in this world is almost buried quick;We have no cause the Body's death to fear,"For when the shell is broke, out comes a chick."

For though the Soul do seem her grave to bear,

And in this world is almost buried quick;

We have no cause the Body's death to fear,

"For when the shell is broke, out comes a chick."

Three kinds of Life answerable to the three powers of the Soul.For as the Soul'sessentialPowers are three,The Quick'ning Power, the Power of Sense, and Reason;Three kinds of Life to her designèd be,Which perfect these three Powers, in their due season.

Three kinds of Life answerable to the three powers of the Soul.

For as the Soul'sessentialPowers are three,

The Quick'ning Power, the Power of Sense, and Reason;

Three kinds of Life to her designèd be,

Which perfect these three Powers, in their due season.

The first Life in the mother's womb is spent,Where She her Nursing Power doth only use;Where, when She finds defect of nourishment,Sh' expels her body, and this world She views.

The first Life in the mother's womb is spent,

Where She her Nursing Power doth only use;

Where, when She finds defect of nourishment,

Sh' expels her body, and this world She views.

This, we call Birth! but if the child could speak,He, Death would call it! and of Nature, 'plainThat She should thrust him out naked and weak;And in his passage, pinch him with such pain.

This, we call Birth! but if the child could speak,

He, Death would call it! and of Nature, 'plain

That She should thrust him out naked and weak;

And in his passage, pinch him with such pain.

Yet, out he comes! and in this world is placed,Where all his Senses in perfection be;Where he finds flowers to smell, and fruits to taste,And sounds to hear, and sundry forms to see.

Yet, out he comes! and in this world is placed,

Where all his Senses in perfection be;

Where he finds flowers to smell, and fruits to taste,

And sounds to hear, and sundry forms to see.

When he hath passed some time upon this Stage,His Reason, then, a little seems to wake,Which though She spring, when Sense doth fade with age,Yet can She here, no perfect practice make.

When he hath passed some time upon this Stage,

His Reason, then, a little seems to wake,

Which though She spring, when Sense doth fade with age,

Yet can She here, no perfect practice make.

Then doth th' aspiring Soul, the Body leave,Which we call Death. But were it known to all,What Life our Souls do, by this death, receive;Men would it, Birth! or Gaol Delivery! call.

Then doth th' aspiring Soul, the Body leave,

Which we call Death. But were it known to all,

What Life our Souls do, by this death, receive;

Men would it, Birth! or Gaol Delivery! call.

In this third Life, Reason will be so bright,As that her Spark will like the sunbeams shine;And shall, of GOD enjoy the real sight,Being still increased by influence divine.

In this third Life, Reason will be so bright,

As that her Spark will like the sunbeams shine;

And shall, of GOD enjoy the real sight,

Being still increased by influence divine.

An acclamation!O ignorant poor Man! what dost thou bear,Locked up within the casket of thy breast;What jewels, and what riches hast thou there.What heavenly treasure in so weak a chest!Look in thy Soul! and thou shall beauties find,Like those which drownedNarcissusin the flood;Honour and Pleasure both are in thy Mind,And all that in the world is counted Good.Think of her worth! and think that GOD did meanThis worthy Mind should worthy things embrace!Blot not her beauties, with thy thoughts unclean;Nor her, dishonour with thy Passions base.Kill not her Quick'ning Power with surfeitings!Mar not her Sense with sensualities!Cast not her serious Wit on idle things!Make not her free Will slave to vanities!And when thou thinkest of her Eternity;Think not that Death against her nature is;Think it a Birth! and, when thou goest to die,Sing like a swan, as if thou wentst to bliss!And if thou, like a child, didst fear before,Being in the dark, when thou didst nothing see;Now I have brought thee Torch-light, fear no more.Now, when thou diest; thou canst not hoodwinked be.And thou, my Soul! which turn'st thy curious eye,To view the beams of thine own form divine;Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly,While thou arecloudedwith this flesh of mine.Take heed ofoverweening! and compareThy peacock's feet, with thy gay peacock's train;Study thebestandhighestthings that are;But of thyself, an humble thought retain!Cast down thyself! and only strive to raiseThe glory of thy Maker's sacred name!Use all thy powers, that Blessed Power to praise,Which gives thee power to Be, and Use the same.

An acclamation!O ignorant poor Man! what dost thou bear,Locked up within the casket of thy breast;What jewels, and what riches hast thou there.What heavenly treasure in so weak a chest!

An acclamation!

O ignorant poor Man! what dost thou bear,

Locked up within the casket of thy breast;

What jewels, and what riches hast thou there.

What heavenly treasure in so weak a chest!

Look in thy Soul! and thou shall beauties find,Like those which drownedNarcissusin the flood;Honour and Pleasure both are in thy Mind,And all that in the world is counted Good.

Look in thy Soul! and thou shall beauties find,

Like those which drownedNarcissusin the flood;

Honour and Pleasure both are in thy Mind,

And all that in the world is counted Good.

Think of her worth! and think that GOD did meanThis worthy Mind should worthy things embrace!Blot not her beauties, with thy thoughts unclean;Nor her, dishonour with thy Passions base.

Think of her worth! and think that GOD did mean

This worthy Mind should worthy things embrace!

Blot not her beauties, with thy thoughts unclean;

Nor her, dishonour with thy Passions base.

Kill not her Quick'ning Power with surfeitings!Mar not her Sense with sensualities!Cast not her serious Wit on idle things!Make not her free Will slave to vanities!

Kill not her Quick'ning Power with surfeitings!

Mar not her Sense with sensualities!

Cast not her serious Wit on idle things!

Make not her free Will slave to vanities!

And when thou thinkest of her Eternity;Think not that Death against her nature is;Think it a Birth! and, when thou goest to die,Sing like a swan, as if thou wentst to bliss!

And when thou thinkest of her Eternity;

Think not that Death against her nature is;

Think it a Birth! and, when thou goest to die,

Sing like a swan, as if thou wentst to bliss!

And if thou, like a child, didst fear before,Being in the dark, when thou didst nothing see;Now I have brought thee Torch-light, fear no more.Now, when thou diest; thou canst not hoodwinked be.

And if thou, like a child, didst fear before,

Being in the dark, when thou didst nothing see;

Now I have brought thee Torch-light, fear no more.

Now, when thou diest; thou canst not hoodwinked be.

And thou, my Soul! which turn'st thy curious eye,To view the beams of thine own form divine;Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly,While thou arecloudedwith this flesh of mine.

And thou, my Soul! which turn'st thy curious eye,

To view the beams of thine own form divine;

Know, that thou canst know nothing perfectly,

While thou arecloudedwith this flesh of mine.

Take heed ofoverweening! and compareThy peacock's feet, with thy gay peacock's train;Study thebestandhighestthings that are;But of thyself, an humble thought retain!

Take heed ofoverweening! and compare

Thy peacock's feet, with thy gay peacock's train;

Study thebestandhighestthings that are;

But of thyself, an humble thought retain!

Cast down thyself! and only strive to raiseThe glory of thy Maker's sacred name!Use all thy powers, that Blessed Power to praise,Which gives thee power to Be, and Use the same.

Cast down thyself! and only strive to raise

The glory of thy Maker's sacred name!

Use all thy powers, that Blessed Power to praise,

Which gives thee power to Be, and Use the same.

FINIS.

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