Classic Poem

1

Order, by which all things were made,
And this great world's foundation laid,
Is nothing else but Harmony,
Where different parts are brought t'agree.

2

As Empires are still best maintain'd
Those ways which first their greatnes gain'd:
So in this Universall frame
What made and keeps it is the same.

3

Thus all things unto peace do tend;
Even discords have it for their end
The cause why Elements do fight,
Is but their instinct to Unite

4

Musique could never please the sence
But by united excellence:
The sweetest note which numbers know,
If onely struck, would tedious grow.

5

Man, the whole world's epitomy,
Is by creation harmony
'Twas sin first quarrell'd in his brest,
Then made him angry with the rest.

6

But goodness keeps that Unity,
And Loves its own society
So well, that seldome is it known
The reall worth to dwell alone.

7

And hence it is we friendship call
Not by one vertue's name, but all
Nor is it when bad things agree
Thought, Union, but Conspiracy.

8

Nature and Grace, such enemys
That when one fell, t'other did rise,
Are now by mercy even set,
As Stars in constellations mett.

9

If nature were it self a sin,
Her author (God) had guilty been;
But man by sin contracting stain,
Shall (purg'd from that) be cleare again.

10

To prove that nature's excellent
Ev'n sin its self is argument:
Therefore we nature's stain deplore,
Because it self was pure before

11

And Grace destroys not, but refines,
Unvailes the reason, then it shines;
Restores what was deprest by sin,
The fainting beame of God within.

12

The maine-spring (Judgement) rectify'd,
Will all the Lesser motions guide,
To spend our Labour, Love and care,
Not as things seem, but as they are.

13

'Tis fancy Lost, wit thrown away,
In triffles to employ that Ray,
Which then doth in full Lustre shine
When both ingenious and Divine.

14

To eys by humours vitiated
All things seem falsely coloured:
So 'tis our prejudiciall thought
That makes cleare objects seem in fault.

15

They scarce believe United good,
By whom 'twas never understood:
They think one Grace enough for one,
And tis because themselves have none.

16

We hunt extreams, and run so fast,
We can no steady Judgement cast:
He best surveys the circuit round,
Who stands i' th' middle of the Ground

17

That happy meane would let us see
Knowledge and meekness may agree;
And find, when each thing hath its name,
Passion and Zeale are not the same.

18

Who studys God doth upward fly,
And heights still lessen to our ey;
And he that knows himself will see
Vast cause for his humility.

19

For by that search it will be known
There's nothing but our Will our own:
And who doth that stock so employ,
But finds more cause for shame then Joy.

20

We know so little and so dark,
And so extinguish our own spark,
That he who farthest here can go,
Knows nothing as he ought to know.

21

It will with the most learned suit
More to enquire then to dispute:
But vapours swell within a cloud,
And ignorance 'tis makes us proud.

22

So whom their own vain heart belys,
Like inflammations quickly rise:
But the soule that's truly Great
Is lowest in its own conceit.

23

Yet whilest we hug our own mistake,
We censures, but not Judgements, make;
And thence it is we cannot see
Obedience stand with Liberty.

24

Providence still keeps even state;
But he can best command his Fate,
Whose art, by adding his own voice,
Makes his Necessity his choice.

25

Rightly to rule one's self must be
The hardest, largest monarchy:
Whose passions are his masters grown,
Will be a Captive in a Throne.

26

He most the inward freedom gains,
Who Just submissions entertains:
For while in that his Reason sways,
It is himself that he obeys.

27

But onely in Eternity
We can these beauteous Unions see:
For heaven it self and Glory is
But one harmonious constant blisse.