Classic Poem

Man is a creature love's society,
And cannot long alone be well,
Hence God made Eve that she
Might with him dwell.

From these two sprung
A numerous family,
That to a city grew ere long,
And that impli'd strength and stability.

But see how soon this city came to nought,
Being destroy'd with its own weight;
And by division brought
To ruine strait.

Then how can we,
A city have that's strong
Or permanent? It cannot be
What's made with hands should e're continue long.

The best is made with lime and stone, how then
Can that which is compact of such
Frail matter, last? yet men
Are frailer much.

Those men that make
This city, are all cast
In moulds of clay, and do partake
Of earth themselves: such vessels cannot last.

Nor they, nor yet their city can endure;
Many mishaps there be will end them,
To perish they are sure,
None can defend them.

Each little thing
To pieces breaks their frame,
A very wind, a breath will bring
Them to that nothing whence at first they came.

Yet whiles their worst part crumbles to the dust
And falls to ashes in their urn,
Their souls immortal must
To God return.

That God hath made
A city without hands
For them, which ne're shall fail nor fade:
Unmoveable its vast foundation stands.

A most magnificent and glorious place,
Which they that see't can scarce set forth,
Or give it half the grace
As to its worth.

There God keeps court,
Millions on either side
Of saints and angels do resort
To wait on Him; this city's wondrous wide.

The least of all those many mansions there
Our greatest cities far transcend,
Each one's a kingdom which shall ne'er
Admit of end.

This then alone
Requires our chiefest care
In seeking it, for there is none
On earth's round ball that can with it compare.

On this let's fix our thoughts, to this aspire,
To this let all our actions tend,
Be it our sole desire
There to ascend:

For all our bliss
God hath reserv'd above,
Our happiness there seated is,
There is our treasure, there must be our love.