Silex scintillans, or, Sacred poems and priuate eiaculations by Henry Vaughan ...

Resurrection and Immortality:

Heb. cap. 10. ve: 20.

By that new, and living way, which he hath prepared for us, through the veile, which is his flesh.

Body.

1.

OFt have I seen, when that renewing breath That binds, and loosens death Inspir'd a quickning power through the dead Creatures a bed, Some drowsie silk-worme creepe From that long sleepe And in weake, infant hummings chime, and knell About her silent Cell Untill at last full with the vitall Ray She wing'd away, And proud with life, and sence, Heav'ns rich Expence, Esteem'd (vaine things!) of two whole Elements As meane, and span-extents. Shall I then thinke such providence will be Lesse friend to me? Or that he can endure to be unjust Who keeps his Covenant even with our dust.

Soule.

2.

Poore, querulous handfull! was't for this I taught thee all that is? Unbowel'd nature, shew'd thee her recruits, And Change of suits And how of death we make A meere mistake, For no thing can to Nothing fall, but still Incorporates by skill, And then returns, and from the wombe of things Such treasure brings As Phenix-like renew'th Both life, and youth; For a preserving spirit doth still passe Untainted through this Masse, Which doth resolve, produce, and ripen all That to it fall; Nor are those births which we Thus suffering see Destroy'd at all; But when times restles wave Their substance doth deprave And the more noble Essence finds his house Sickly, and loose, He, ever young, doth wing Unto that spring, And source of spirits, where he takes his lot Till time no more shall rot His passive Cottage; which (though laid aside,) Like some spruce Bride, Shall one day rise, and cloath'd with shining light All pure, and bright Re-marry to the soule, for 'tis most plaine Thou only fal'st to be refin'd againe.

3.

Then I that here saw darkly in a glasse But mists, and shadows passe,

And, by their owne weake Shine, did search the springs And Course of things Shall with Inlightned Rayes Peirce all their wayes; And as thou saw'st, I in a thought could goe To heav'n, or Earth below To reade some Starre, or Min'rall, and in State There often sate, So shalt thou then with me (Both wing'd, and free,) Rove in that mighty, and eternall light Where no rude shade, or night Shall dare approach us; we shall there no more Watch stars, or pore Through melancholly clouds, and say Would it were Day! One everlasting Saboth there shall runne Without Succession, and without a Sunne.

Dan: Cap: 12. ver: 13.

But goe thou thy way untill the end be, for thou shalt rest, and stand up in thy lot, at the end of the dayes.