Classic Poem

No w may we range next to the Ranke of loue
Other Affections , and to doe it right
We must place Favoure there, by which w' approve
Of some thing wherein we conceave delight,
For that it 's good in deede or so in sight:
Herein Loue's obligation doth commence;
Yet favoure may haue force where loue lacks might ,
But without Favoure, Loue is a non ENS ,
For, Favoure waites vpon Love's excellence.

Then Reverence with Favour we may Ranke ,
Bredd by comparing some high Dignitie
With some inferior State (that Fortune sanck)
Which then is in it's right especially,
When extreame feare and Hatred come not ny:
For though in Rev'rence, Feare and Shamefastnesse .
With moderation doe obscurely lye;
Yet Feare (by some Ill caus'd) Good doth suppresse,
Still seene in that which breedes our humblenesse .

True rev'rence therefore beare we vnto God
Who is all good , as he almightie is;
For, fear'd we nought by his revenging Rodd ,
Our Rev'rence , would be turn'd to HATE by this:
Then Rev'rence growes from pow'r and grace of his;
And, whosoere with them he most endowes,
Of Rev'rence from lesse Rev'rend cannot misse:
For Rev'rence Pow'r and Goodnesse still ensues,
And the lesse worthie to the better bowes

For when we eie the vertue, pow'r, and grace,
Of the most Noble , (truely called so)
And looke vpoNour selves, and weigh how base
We are compar'd with them, then bend we lo
As vnto them that vs in Good out-go
For, as selfe-liking doth enlarge the Hart ,
Or puffe it vp (like Bladders which we blo)
So it contracts it selfe in ev'ry part,
When we see others passe vs in desart

Then as we rev'rence God for goodnesse more
Then for his might , and awfull Maiesty ,
So, if we would be rev'renc't of the Low'r ,
We must surmount them in that ex'lency
That makes vs most resemble Deity:
For whereas Goodnesse doth associate Might,
There the most Insolent , most rev'rently
(Though otherwise repleat with al Dispight )
Will doe their Homage freely with delight

For homage, fealty, and honor , are
To sacred Vertue due by Nature's Law:
Honor we owe to Vertue (though but bare)
And Vertue matcht with might doth Rev'rence draw
Then Honor, Reverence , and loving awe
Are due to Maiestie ; and that is due
To Magistrats that Men from Vice with-draw,
And make them Vertue eagerly ensue,
Themselues therin be'ng Leaders of the Crue

The last Affects to Loue subordinate
Are Mercy and Compassion ; These are they
Which make vs (like God ) to commiserate
The miseries of those that still decay,
Or are at point to perish without stay
These, these, bewraie that we are Members quick
Of that same Bodie , whose Head doth bewray
That they are Members mortifide, or sick
Which feele no paines , that fellow- members prick

These make vs make the hand of the distrest
Our Mucke and Earthly Mammon's continent,
Yea make vs make the Orphane's home our Brest ,
And our right Arme the Weedowe's Sustinent;
And all that want, our All them to content.
O that these were more frequent then they are
With those that doe our Churches so frequent!
For damn'd's Devotion that will nothing spare,
But for selfe-comfort altogither care.

These, Colledges and Hospitals erect,
And both endow with copious maintenance;
These are so prevalent in their effect,
That they vnto the Heav'ns doe Earth advance
Wherein there is no want or sufferance .
These doe forgiue , as gladly as they giue ,
Vnto their foes miscarried by Mischance ,
These good and bad (like God ) in lacke relieue,
" For Mercie's Bowels melt when anie grieue.

These Bridges builde ore Rivers ( semi-Seas )
And turne deepe Waies (though endlesse in extent)
To Cawseis firme, for Man and Beast's more ease:
And ev'ry waie provide for bothe's content
Through fellow-feeling of their dryriment:
These make their Waredrops and the Needie's , one,
And their owne Limbes, limbes of the impotent ,
Ioy with the ioiefull, mone with them that mone
And sigh in soule , when they in Bodie grone

O that my soule could (as it gladly would)
It selfe infuse into each worde or line
That tendes to Mercie's glorie, then it should
(So as it ought) at least like Phaebus shine,
If not at most, bee more then most divine:
For, Mercie and Iustice are God's mightie Armes ,
But he most might to Mercie doth assigne
As bee'ng the right Arme , holding all from harmes
Though All do fall through Frailtie's least Alarmes.

Mercie's the true Idea of God's Soule,
Wherein his matchlesse glorie glitters most;
Which is of force his Iustice to controule:
For when in Iustice all that are , were lost,
Then Mercie them redeem'd, to Iustice' cost;
The Lord of Iustice was vniustly slaine,
That Mercie might triumph, and iustly boast:
As Loue first made , so Mercie made againe
Man-kind , that sin had marr'd with monstrous stain

Sith Mercie then is of so high account,
Shee should bee most familier with the Hy:
For, God in mercy doth himselfe surmount,
That is, it doth himselfe most glorify:
So they that eie the Poore with Pittie's eie,
And haue most mercie seated in their soule ,
Draw neer'st the nature of his Diity;
Whose names engrossed are in his Check-role
And next him ought the VNIVERS to rule.