Classic Poem

Meditation V

1

This Meditation
Mine heart hath comforted;
That he who feeds the Dogs with crumbs,
Will give his Children Bread.
By Bread I mean both that
Which our frail Body feeds,
And also that which doth relieve
Our Spiritual wants and needs.

2

That's Bread of Life indeed,
Which never doth decay:
Which maketh those who thereon feed
To live and thrive for ay.
This Bread makes dead men live;
And let, none living dy,
But feeds them to Eternal Life;
This is a Mystery.

3

Such Bread Christ Jesus gives,
His own dear Flesh and Blood,
Wherewith he nourisheth our Souls
Oh this is wondrous food!
He that the greater gives
Will not the less deny:
But when our Bodies stand in need,
He will their wants supply.

4

Again, when I behold
What great things God bestows
On Turks and Pagans (Infidels)
And such as live like those.
I certainly conclude
He hath some better Treasure
To give his Saints, then Worldly-wealth,
Honour, or Carnal Pleasure.

5

For will not God deal better
With Servants; then with Foes?
With Children, then with Enemies
And such as Christ oppose?
Hath not Christ purchased
Far better things for Saints,
Then common bounty here affords
To faithless Miscreants?

6

The Turkish Empire vast,
What is it? but a Bone
That by the Master of the House
Unto the Dogs is thrown?
The Gold Mines of the West,
And Riches of the East,
Are often-times possest by one
That lives and dies a Beast.

7

If God bestow such gifts
On bloody bruitish men:
Oh what great things hath he in store.
For his dear Childeren!
No mortal eye hath seen,
No Ear did ever hear,
Nor Heart conceive, what Christ prepares
For such as do him fear.

8

Earth's Treasures are but dung,
And carnal Pleasures base,
Unto those Joyes the Saints enjoy
Before Christ's Royal face.
The Richest Robes are Rags,
And contemptible geer,
Unto those bright and shining Robes
The Saints in Glory wear.

9

The stateliest Palaces,
If we should them compare
With those Celestial Mansions,
More vile then Hog-sties are.
What now we have in hope,
We shall have in fruition,
When all ungodly men at once
Are drowned in Perdition.

10

My Soul, rejoyce in God,
Who will enrich thee more
Then those, that of all Earthly wealth
Possess the greatest store
If thou be Christ's then He,
And all he hath is thine.
Oh feast thy self with these sweet thoughts
And with them sup and dine.