Classic Poem

1

What Mortal man can with his Span
mete out Eternity?
Or fathom it by depth of Wit,
or strength of Memory?
The lofty Sky is not so high,
Hells depth to this is small:
The World so wide is but a stride,
compared therewithall.

2

It is a main great Ocean,
withouten bank or bound:
A deep Abyss, wherein there is
no bottom to be found.
This World hath stood now since the Flood,
four thousand years well near,
And hath before endured more
than sixteen hundred year.

3

But what's the time from the Worlds prime
unto this present day,
If we thereby Eternity
to measure should assay?
The whole duration since the Creation
though long, yet is more little,
If placed by Eternity,
then is the smallest tittle.

4

Tell every Star both near and far,
in Heav'ns bright Canopee,
That doth appear throughout the year,
of high or low degree:
Tell every Tree that thou canst see
in this vast Wilderness,
Up in the Woods, down by the Floods,
in thousand miles progress.

5

The sum is bast, yet not so vast,
but that thou may'st go on
To multiply the Leaves thereby,
that hang those Trees upon:
And thereunto the Drops, that thou
imaginest to be
In April Show'rs, that bring forth Flow'rs,
and blossoms plenteously.

6

Number the Fowls and living Souls
that through the Air do Fly,
The winged Hosts in all their Coasts
beneath the Starry Sky:
Count all the Grass as thou doast pass
through many a pasture-land,
And dewy Drops that on the tops
of Herbs and Plants do stand.

7

Number the Sand upon the Strand,
and Atomes of the Air;
And do thy best on Man and Beast,
to reckon every Hair:
Take all the Dust, if so thou lust,
and add to thine Account:
Yet shall the Years of sinners tears,
the Number far surmount.

8

Nought joyn'd to nought can ne're make ought,
nor Cyphers make a Sum:
Nor things Finite, to infinite
by multiplying come:
A Cockle-shell may serve as well
to lade the Ocean dry,
As finite things and Reckonings
to bound Eternity.

9

O happy they that live for aye,
with Christ in Heav'n above!
Who know withal, that nothing shall
deprive them of his love
Eternity, Eternity!
Oh, were it not for thee,
The Saints in bliss and happiness
could never happy be.

10

For if they were in any fear,
that this their joy might cease,
It would annoy (if not destroy)
and interrupt their peace:
But being sure it shall endure
so long as God shall live;
The thoughts of this unto their bliss,
do full perfection give.

11

Cheer up, ye Saints, amidst your wants,
and sorrows many a one
Lift up the head, shake off all dread,
and moderate your mone
Your sufferings and evil things
will suddenly be past;
Your sweet Fruitions, and blessed Visions,
for evermore shall last.

12

Lament and mourn you that must burn
amidst those flaming Seas:
If once you come to such a doom,
for ever farewel ease
O sad estate and desperate,
that never can be mended,
Until Gods Will shall change, or till
Eternity be ended!

13

If any one this Question
shall unto me propound.
What, have the years of sinners tears
no limits, or no bound?
It kills our heart to think of smart,
and pains that last for ever;
And hear of fire that shall expire,
or be extinguish'd never.

14

I'le Answer make (or let them take
my words as I intend them:
For this is all the Cordial
that here I have to lend them)
When Heav'n shall cease to flow with peace
and all felicity;
Then Hell may cease to be the place
of Wo and Misery.

15

When Heav'n is Hell, when Ill is Well,
when Vertue turns to Vice,
When wrong is Right, and Dark is Light,
when Nought is of great price:
Then may the years of sinners tears
and sufferings expire,
And all the hosts of damned ghosts
escape out of Hell-fire.

16

When Christ above shall cease to love,
when God shall cease to reign,
And be no more, as heretofore,
the Worlds great Sovereign,
Or not be just, or favour lust,
or in mens sins delight:
Then wicked men (and not till then)
to Heav'n may take their flight.

17

When Gods great Power shall be brought lower,
by forreign Puissance;
Or be decay'd, and weaker made
through Times continuance:
When drowsiness shall him oppress,
and lay him fast asleep:
Then sinful men may break their pen,
and out of Prison creep.

18

When those in Glory shall be right sory
they may not change their place,
And wish to dwell with them in Hell,
never to see Christs face:
Then those in pain may freedom gain,
and be with Glory dight:
Then Hellish Fiends may be Christs Friends,
and Heirs of Heaven hight.

19

Then, Ah poor men! what, not till then?
No, not an hour before:
For God is just, and therefore must
torment them evermore.
ETERNITY! ETERNITY!
thou mak'st hard hearts to bleed:
The thoughts of thee in misery,
do make men wail indeed.

20

When they remind what's still behind,
and ponder this word NEVER,
That they must here be made to bear.
Gods Vengeance for EVER:
The thought of this more bitter is,
then all they feel beside:
Yet what they feel, nor heart of steel,
nor Flesh of Brass can bide.

21

To lye in wo, and undergo
the direful pains of Hell,
And know withall, that there they shall
for aye, and ever dwell;
And that they are from rest as far
when fifty thousand year,
Twice told, are spent in punishment,
as when they first came there.

22

This, Oh! this makes Hells fiery flakes
much more intolerable;
This makes frail wights & damned sprights,
to bear their plagues unable
This makes men bite, for fell despite,
their very tongues in twain:
This makes them rore for great horror,
and trebleth all their pain.