Classic Poem

Meditation VII

The worldly man's Prosperity, Is onely gilded Misery.

1

Although God's dealings are
Exceeding various,
Respecting outward things, which be
Adverse or prosperous:
That none can certainly,
Discern God's love, or hate,
By being in Affliction,
Or in a Prosperous state.

2

(For now and then a Saint,
Enjoyes Prosperity:
And sometimes wicked men are plagu'd,
And are in misery)
Yet commonly we see
Affliction is the Lot,
Of precious Saints, whilst others thrive,
I'th' world, who serve him not

3

They are afflicted less,
Then God's own Children dear;
And it's no wonder, if we mind,
They have their Portion here
Yet silly sinful Flesh
At this is apt to grumble:
And at the scandal of the Cross
There are too many stumble.

4

They flourish like a tree,
They have the word at will:
Their Breasts are flowing-full of Milk,
Marrow their bones doth fill
They have no sorrows great
Their vigour to decay:
Nor is their moisture radical
Consum'd and sweal'd away

5

While better men are sick,
Their bodies are in health,
Whil'st others are distrest with wants,
They flow in worldly wealth
They have their time of peace,
While others are in trouble
If other men have plenty too,
They have it more then double

6

They live and lie at ease,
While others are in pain:
And meet not with Calamity
Their mirth for to restrain.
While godly men are weeping,
And laying sin to heart:
They're feasting, singing, or else sleeping,
Because they feel no smart

7

Their eyes stand out with fat;
They've more then heart can wish:
Honey and milk, butter and oil,
Do drop into their dish
The World them dandleth,
Like Darlings on her lap,
And streams delights into their mouth
From this and th'other Pap.

8

They prosper in their way,
And bring their ends to pass,
Judging themselves as happy men,
As ever any was
Because they have success,
They bless themselves therein:
They think God loves, and favours them,
Though they still love their sin

9

Because they have no changes,
Therefore they fear not God:
They do not dread to anger him,
Because they feel no Rod
God doth not execute
His Sentence speedily
'Gainst wicked works: therefore they're bold
To do more wickedly

10

God gives them outward things,
And they the same bestow,
Upon their Lusts: they serve the world,
And unto Mammon bow
In him they put their trust;
Him they most highly prize:
Unto this Idol every day
They offer Sacrifice

11

For having made the World
The God whom they adore,
They rake and scrape, they pill and pull,
And covet more and more
The World doth fill their Head
And occupy their Heart:
But God, to whom both these belong,
They leave for him no part

12

Their Riches make them proud,
And puff them up in mind
Their plenty doth besot them too,
And make them worse then blind
They see no need of Christ,
But by his Grace set lite,
Despise a Saviour, shut their eyes,
Against the Gospel's Light

13

They being fat and full,
Are wanton, Jesurun -like,
They kick and spurn, against God's love:
And at his Bowels strike
Whilst he them nourisheth,
Against him they rebell:
And under Satan's Banner fight,
Like wicked Imps of hell

14

Thus their prosperity,
Through God Almighty's curse,
Doth make them wax more insolent,
And grow still worse and worse
Their table is their snare,
Their Delicates a bait,
Which leads them to turn Belly gods,
And grow intemperate.

15

Their over-flowing Cups,
Entice to Drunkeness:
And then expose to filthy Lusts
Their pampered Carcasses
The greater strength they have,
The stronger to do evil;
The healthfuller their Bodies be:
More fit to serve the Devil.

16

God warns them by his word,
They're deaf and do not hear:
He cuts down others with his sword,
They neither feel nor fear
If God youchsafe to scourge them,
Yet they like mad-men feel not:
Or if they feel, their hearts are hard;
Repent, and turn they will not

17

Whil'st that the smart is on,
Perhaps they promise fair:
But Pharaoh -like, when respite comes,
They shew you what they are
To wallewing in the mire
Like filthy unclean Hogs,
And to their vomit back again
They run like greedy Dogs.

18

Since then they chuse their Bane,
And will no warning take:
They have their Choice, and may thereof
Their best advantage make
God will no more take pains
To scourge them for their sin:
But lets them glut themselves therewith,
And end as they begin

19

He winketh at their faults,
And lets them take their course;
Yea gives them up unto their lusts,
To sin without remorse:
Till having fill'd their measures,
The Lord to Judgment call;
Where opening all his fiery Treasures,
Hee'l pay them once for all