Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, S. MATTHEW, by JOSEPH BEAUMONT


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

S. MATTHEW, by                    
First Line: O love thou art almighty! This
Last Line: As well as caesar claime from man.
Subject(s): Matthew, Saint (1st Century)


O LOVE Thou art Almighty! This
Sole Day can prove Thee so, wch is
Not onely Matthews, but from thence
The Feast of thy Omnipotence.
Thy single Word did not to day
Blow sturdy Mountains far away,
Or cite ye East into ye West,
Or fright ye Centre from its Nest;
But more then so, draw from its Seat
The Publican, about whose feet
Hung cloggs of Gold: cloggs heavier far
Then Centres, Worlds, or Sorrows are,
Except those Griefs wch hung on Thee
When Thou wert hung on Calvarie.
How safe did Matthew sit upon
The most inchanting thriving Throne
Of constant Gains, wch with full tide
Came crowding in on every side,
And onely bid Him ope his Chest
To let it in! How amply blest
Would thousands write themselves, if they
So cheaply could such wealth injoy,
Though more then one Damnation were
Tie'd in its Traine! But LOVE'S words are
Richer then Riches: Matthew now
Forgets Golds price, wch He doth throw
With all its hopes away, & choose
Bare Povertie as by it goes:
For LOVE had put it on, & He
No sooner cries come follow Me
But as a faithfull Eccho to
The Word, ye ready Saint doth goe.
No Scruple, no demurre; he knew
Twas LOVE that calld, & LOVE that drew.
Twas LOVE, & He his Tribute can
As well as Caesar claime from Man.





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