Emblemes by Francis Quarles.

II.

[illustration]

PSALM 119. 5.

O that my wayes were directed to keep thy Statutes?

1

THus I, the object of the worlds disdain, With Pilgrime-pace surround the weary earth: I onely relish what the world counts vain; Her mirth's my grief; her sullen grief, my mirth; Her light my darknesse; and her truth my errour; Her freedom is my jail; and her delight my terrour.

2

Fond earth! proportion not my seeming love To my long stay; let not thy thoughts deceive thee; Thou art my prison, and my home's above; My life's a preparation but to leave thee: Like one that seeks a doore, I walk about thee: With thee I cannot live; I cannot live without thee.

3

The world's a lab'rinth, whose anfractuous wayes Are all compos'd of rubs and crook'd meanders: No resting here; He's hurried back that stayes A thought; and he that goes unguided wanders: Her way is dark, her path untrod, unev'n; So hard's the way from earth; so hard's the way to Heav'n.

4

This gvring lab'rinth is betrench'd about On either hand with streams of sulph'rous fire, Streams closely sliding, erring in and out, But seeming pleasant to the fond descrier; Where if his footsteps trust their own invention, He falls without redresse, and sinks beyond dimension.

5

Where shall I seek a Guide? where shall I meet Some lucky hand to lead my trembling paces? What trusty Lantern will direct my feet To scape the danger of these dang'rous places? What hopes have I to passe without a Guide? Where one gets safely through, a thousand fall beside,

6

An unrequested Starre did gently slide Before the Wisemen to a greater Light; Back-sliding Isr'el found a double Guide; A Pillar, and a Cloud; by day, by night: Yet in my desp'rate dangers, which be farre More great then theirs, I have nor Pillar, Cloud, nor Starre,

7

O that the pineons of a clipping Dove Would cut my passage through the empty Aire; Mine eyes being seeld, how would I mount above The reach of danger and forgotten care! My backward eyes should nev'r commit that fault, Whose lasting guilt should build a Monument of Salt.

8

Great God, that art the flowing Spring of Light, Enrich mine eyes with thy refulgent Ray: Thou art my Path; direct my steps aright; I have no other Light, no other Way: I'll trust my God, and him alone pursue; His Law shall be my Path; his Heav'nly Light my Clue.

S. AUGUST. Soliloqu. cap. 4.

O Lord, who art the Light, the Way, the Truth, the Life; in whom there is no darknesse, errour, vanitie, nor death: The Light, without which there is darknesse; The Way, without which there is wandering; The Truth, without which there is errour; The Life, without which there is death: Say, Lord, Let there be Light, and I shall see Light, and eschew darknesse; I shall see the Way, and avoid wandering; I shall s•…•…e the Truth, and shun errour; I shall see Life, and escape death: Illuminate, O illuminate my blind soul, which •…•…itteth in darknesse, and the sh•…•…dow of death: and direct my feet in the way of peace.

EPIG. 2.

Pilgrime, trudge on: What makes thy soul complain Crownes thy complaint. The way to rest is pain: The road to resolution lies by doubt: The next way home's the farthest way about.