Emblemes by Francis Quarles.

PSALM 119. 37.

Turn away mine eyes from regarding vanitie.

1

HOw like to threds of flax That touch the flame, are my inflam'd desires! How like to yielding wax My soul dissolves before these wanton •…•…ires! The fire, but touch'd, the flame but felt, Like flax, I burn; like wax, I melt.

2

O how this flesh doth draw My fetter'd soul to that deceitfull •…•…ire! And how th' eternall Law Is baffled by the law of my desire! How truly bad, how seeming good Are all the laws of flesh and bloud!

3

O wretched state of men, The height of whose ambition is to borrow What must be paid agen With griping int'rest of the next dayes sorrow! How wild his thoughts! How apt to range! How apt to vary! Apt to change!

4

How intricate and nice Is mans perplexed way to mans desire! Sometimes upon the ice He slips, and sometimes falls into the •…•…ire; His progresse is extreme and bold, Or very hot, or very cold.

5

The common food he doth Sustain his soul-tormenting thoughts withall, Is honey in his mouth To night, and in his heart, to morrow, gall; 'Tis oftentimes, within an houre, Both very sweet and very sowre.

6

If sweet Corinna smile, A Heav'n of joy breaks down into his heart: Corinna frowns awhile? Hels torments are but copies of his smart: Within a lustfull heart doth dwell A seeming Heav'n, a very Hell.

7

Thus worthlesse, vain, and void Of comfort, are the fruits of earths imployment; Which ere they be enjoy'd Distract us, and d•…•…stroy us in th' enjoyment; These be the pleasures that are priz'd When Heav'ns cheap pen'worth stands despis'd.

8

Lord, quench these hasty flashes, Which dart as lightning from the thund'ring skies, And ev'ry minute, dashes Against the wanton windows of mine eyes: Lord, close the casement, whilst I stand Behind the curtain of thy hand.

S. AUGUST. Soliloqu. cap. 4.

O thou Sun that illuminatest both Heaven and Earth! Wo be unto those eyes which do not behold thee: Wo be unto these blind eyes which cannot behold thee: Wo be unto those which turn away their eyes that they will not behold thee: Wo be unto those that turn away their eyes that they may behold vanity.

S. CHRYS. sup. Matth. 19.

What is an evil woman but the enemy of friendship, an una∣voidable pain, a necessary mischief, a naturall tentation, a desi∣derable calamity, a domestick danger, a delectable inconveni∣ence, and the nature of evil painted over with the colour of good

EPIG. 5.

'T is vain, great God, to close mine eyes from ill, When I resolve to keep the old man still: My rambling heart must cov'nant first with thee, Or none can passe betwixt mine eyes and me.