Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, S. JAMES YE APOSTLE, by JOSEPH BEAUMONT


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

S. JAMES YE APOSTLE, by                    
First Line: Love walking once by ye sea side
Last Line: To lifes fair shoar, to thy dear lord.
Subject(s): James The Greater, Saint (c. 44 A.d.)


LOVE walking once by ye sea side
A knot of busy Fishers spide:
And why may I not fish, said He,
Who made the Fishes, & ye Sea?
Good reason Mighty Love that Thou
Where Thou dost please thy bait shouldst throw:
And happy They, who can but be
A free & willing Prey to Thee.
O what commanding Power doth wait
Upon thy more then golden Bait!
How instantly doth James forget
The mending of his broken Net,
And finds yt He needs more to be
Mended, & made whole by Thee!
No sooner did thy blessed Call
Ring in his Heart, but, Farewell all,
Cries He, & welcome more then so;
I to a greater Sea must goe,
A Sea of Bliss & Joy wch I
Now standing on ye Shoar descry.
Dear Sire, bear wth this short Adieu,
Loe there my Father more then you;
He, who on you did Me bestow
Calls for his owne, & I must goe.
Goe gentle Soule, & Captive be
Unto ye best of Libertie.
A fairer Ship then this Thou leav'st
Thou by a blest exchange receiv'st:
The Holy Church a Vessell is
All built & riggd, & fraught wth blisse:
Thou shalt a fishing goe againe,
But in ye Worlds more Noble Maine,
And learned in thy Masters Art,
Catch such as is thine owne soft Heart;
Untill mistaken Herods hand
Shall draw thy labours unto land,
And drive Thee wth his murdring Sword
To Lifes fair Shoar, to thy Dear Lord.





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