Classic Poem

Eternity

Eternity, eternity
what a vast thing, thou art
And shall I once, regardlesly
put thee out of my hart

Eternity, is like a ring
in which we may look round
T'has no begining, or ending
tis that which has no bound

Tis an unalltarable state
of joy, or misery
when in't engulph'd, tiwll be to late
to wish, for time past by

On this short inch of time, this now
depends our woe, or weall
We ther, shall reap, as here we sow
from thence ther's no appeall

Could we count, all the piles of grase
to this day, that have been
Since the creation, on the face
of the earth, to be seen

Could we count all, the drops of rain
Since the creation
And could we tell, each seed, or grain
that from the earth have sprung

Could we reckon, up all the sands
that ly on the sea shore
Or ev'ry dust, in all the lands
on earth, t'would be great store

All this is nothing, when we doe
look to eternity
when soe ma'ny, ages ar past through
tis no lese to the eye.

When milions of ages, ar past
our stat, shall not wax old
Ther's no arithmetick so vast
wherby its number's told

The miserys, of the damned
shall never have an end
The joys, of the, glorified
shall ne're decay, or speand

What mad & sottish fools, ar we
to minde that by, the by
Though we see time, with hast to flee
into eternity

What is the longest age of man
to an eternall day
Tis but a shadow, a short span
which soon doth pase away

What need have we, to redeem time
and idlenese to flee
Wee know not how soon our lifes line
may snapt, asunder be

Ther is not one, can truly say
to morrow is my own
then work while, itt tis cal'd today
thy time to come's not known

How carfully should we redeem
our time from meat, and sleep
And all things, that, doth not beseem
One, that knows, life is fleet

As knowing that, we must be gone
whether we, will or noe
Into a state (e're it be long)
of endlese Joy, or woe

Oh let me still, be drawn by love
to act for thee, whilst here
That soe when I, from hence remove
I may with joy apear

My time, my God's a precious thing
help me it to improve
That my acount, I may give in
with joy, when I remove

Then shall I rest eternally
reaping the fruit of grace
Which shall to all eternity
yeeld new matter of praise