Scriptural poems being several portions of Scripture digested into English verse
Bunyan, John, 1628-1688.
Chap. V.
AND Jesus, seeing the Multitudes, ascended
Up to a Mount, where sitting, and attended
By his Disciples; he began to Preach,
And on this manner following did them teach.
Blessed are all such as are poor in Spirit,
For they the Heav'nly Kingdom do inherit.
Blessed are they that Mourn: For in the stead
Thereof shall Comfort be administred.
Blessed are they, whose Meekness doth excel:
For on the Earth their Portion is to dwell.
Blessed are they, who after Righteousness
Hunger and Thrist: For they shall it possess.
Blessed are they, for they shall Mercy find,
Who to do mercifully are enclin'd.
Blessed are all such as are pure in Heart:
For God his Presence shall to them impart.
Blessed are they that do make Peace: For why?
They shall be call'd the Sons of the Most High.
Blessed are they which suffer for the sake
Of Righteousness: For they of Heav'n partake.
Blessed are ye, when Men shall falsly speak
All kind of Ill against you for my sake,
And shall revile, and persecute you sore;
Rejoyce, and be exceeding glad therefore:
For your Reward in Heav'n will be great:
For thus of Old they did the Prophets treat.
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Ye are the Salt o'th' Earth; but wherewith must
The Salt be season'd when the savour's lost?
It is from thenceforth good for nothing, but
To be cast out, and trodd'n under foot.
Ye are the Light o'th' World: A City set
Upon an Hill cannot be hid: Nor yet
Do Men a Candle with a Bushel cover,
But set it where it lights the whole House over.
So shine your Light, your Good Work's seen there
Men may your Heavenly Father Glorifie.
Think not that to destroy the Law I came,
Or Prophets; no, but to fulfil the same.
For till the Heav'n and Earth shall pass away,
One jot or tittle from the Law, I say,
Shall never pass, till all shall be complete.
Whoso therefore presumes to violate,
One of these least Commands, and teacheth so,
Shall in God's Kingdom be accounted low:
But he that doth, and teacheth them likewise,
Shall in God's Kingdom have great Dignities.
For I declare unto you, that unless
You shall exceed the Scribes and Pharisees
In Righteousness: You shall on no condition,
Into the Heavenly Kingdom gain admission.
Ye've heard 'twas said of Old; Thou shalt not kill:
And he incurs the Judgment who shall spill
His Brothers Blood: But I to you declare,
That he that's wroth without a cause, shall bear
The Judgment: Likewise of the Council he
That sayeth Racha shall in danger be:
But whosoe'er shall say thou Fool, the same
Shall be in danger of Eternal Flame.
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When therefore to the Altar thou dost bring
Thy Gift, and there remembrest any thing
Thy Brother hath against thee: Leave it there
Before the Altar, and come thou not near,
Till thou hast first made Reconciliation,
Then may'st thou come and offer thine Oblation.
Make an Agreement with thine Adversary
Whilst thou art in the way, and do not tarry;
Lest he at any time deliver thee
Unto the Judge, and by the Judge thou be
Unto the Officer forthwith resign'd,
And to Imprisonment thou be confin'd;
I do affirm thou shalt not be enlarg'd,
Till thou the utmost Farthing hast discharg'd.
Ye've heard, that they of Old did testifie,
That Men should not commit Adultery:
But I pronounce him an Adulterer,
Who views a Woman to lust after her.
And if thy Right Eye shall offensive be,
Pluck thou it out and cast the same from thee;
For it is better lose one, than that all
Thy Members shou'd into Hell Torments fall.
And if thy Right Hand doth offend cut off it,
And cast it from thee, for it will thee profit
Much rather, that one of thy Members fell,
Than that they should be all condemn'd to Hell.
It hath been said, whoso away shall force
His Wife, shall give her a Bill of Divorce:
But whosoe'er shall put his Wife away,
Except for Fornication's sake, I say,
Makes her Adult'ress, and who Marries her,
So put away, is an Adulterer.
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Again: Ye've heard, Thou shalt not be forsworn,
Was ancient Doctrine, but thou shalt perform
Unto the Lord thine Oaths: But I declare,
That you shall not at all presume to Swear,
Neither by Heaven, for it is Gods Throne;
Nor by the Earth, for his Foot stands thereon:
Neither Swear by Jerusalem, for why?
It is the City of the King Most High:
Nor Swear thou by thine Head, for thou canst make
No Hair thereof to be or white or black:
But let Yea, yea; Nay, nay, in Speech suffice,
For what is more from Evil doth arise.
Ye've heard, it hath been said; Eye for an Eye,
And Tooth for Tooth: But I do testifie,
That you shall not resist; but let him smite
Thy left Cheek also, who assaults thy right.
And if that any by a Law Suit shall
Demand thy Coat, let them have Cloak and all.
And whosoe'er compelleth thee to go.
A Mile, refuse not to go with him two.
Give him that asketh, and from him that may
Have need to borrow, turn not thou away.
Ye've heard, 'twas said: that thou shalt love thy Friend
And hate thy Foe: But let your love extend
Unto your Enemies: Thus I declare,
Bless them that Curse, do good to them that bear
Ill will, and for your Persecutors pray,
And them that do reproach you; that you may
Be Children of your Father that's in Heaven;
For he on good and bad alike hath given
His Sun to rise, and in like manner doth
Send Rain upon the Just and Unjust both.
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For what is your Reward, if you love them
That love you? Do not Publicans the same?
And if your Brethren only you salute,
What more than they do ye? They also do't:
I will therefore that you be perfect, ev'n
As is your Father perfect that's in Heav'n.
