Classic Poem

Meditation X

Although Affliction tanne the Skin, Such Saints are Beautiful within.

1

How amiable is
The face of suffering Saints,
Where God thus quieteth their hearts
And stilleth their complaints!
Where 'tis their daily care,
And earnest hearts desire,
To love, and bless, and honour God
In middest of the fire.

2

Where nothing grieves them more
Then what their God doth grieve:
Where nothing pleaseth them like that
Which make them sin to leave
Where though they have a will
And wishes of their own:
Yet at the foot of Jesus Christ
They meekly lay them down.

3

These are the happy men,
Judge of them what thou please
Vain world, amongst thy Darlings all
Thou hast not one like these
As God is dear to them,
So they to him are dear,
And he to all the world ere long
Will make it to appear.

4

The Daughter of the King,
All glorious is within,
How Black soever and Sun-Burnt,
May seem her outward Skin.
Because I Blackish am,
Upon me — look not ye,
Because that with his Beams the Sun
Hath looked down on me.

5

A patient suffering Saint
Is a right comely one:
Though black as Kedar's Tents, and as
Curtains of Solomon
Thus beautifie my soul
Dear Saviour; thus adorn it.
As for the Trappings of the world,
And Bravery, I can scorn it.

6

Some deck the outside fair;
But are like Graves within:
Some sweep and wash their houses clean;
Whose hearts most nasty been.
Some bodies fat and fair
Have Souls both foul and lean:
But howsoe're my Body fare,
Lord make my soul more clean.