Classic and Contemporary Poetry
METRICAL HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY: SPARKLING SHINE OF GOD'S JUSTICE, by EDWARD TAYLOR Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Patience thus exercisd, gods providence Last Line: While patience doth gods providence enline. Subject(s): Puritans In Literature | ||||||||
Patience thus Exercisd, Gods Providence Doth in her Checker'd Mashes hang the Shine Of Justice in such Spangles as from thence Dropt here and there are by the hand Divine. Some instances where of I blazon would Upon this Flag, all blancht therewith like gold. Justice persues the Jews still for their Sin, Poor Nation now, how hast thou banisht Grace, Quite from thy Tents? Vengeance red hot steps in. Oh, thou art plunged in a dismall Case. Thy land is by thy wickedness well nigh Laid Desolate, thou must not in it ly. The Jews Rebell; full fifty thousand slain: By Adrians Sword, have fifty Castles stroi'de. Nine hundred fourscore towns untownd again, By Sickness, Sword, Fire, Famine almost void. Jerusalem new built, new namde, and new Enpeoplde, by the Gentile, not the Jew. At Rome in Trajans reign the Pantheon And Nero's Golden House the lightning burnd. In Asia Dreadful Earth Quakes whereupon Four Cities were in Asia overturnd. The very Earth doth tremble at the Flood That overflows it thus of Martyres blood. And Antioch while Trajan there perchance So shaken was, that neighbouring mountains tall Were tore, and Casus that did high advance Ore all in Syria tumbling down did fall, And Rivers dry did grow: the Earth moreore An horrid lowing made, the Sea did roare. The ruind building dreadfully did Clash, The Schreeching of sad men was high and greate, Such darkness made by dust that mixed was One Could not heare another, se or speak. The Emperour took through a window there Out of the ruind building sav'd thus were. And in the Agarean War did rise Thunders and Lightnings, strange Rainbow, storms Vast Hails, Stones too and mighty Swarms of Flies, That did anoy them, who were full of scorns. They did infest the Romans meat and drinck They swarmed on with a most nautious Stinck. God still comes nigher; he now takes in hand The Wicked man his members do unjoynt, His body's numbd, his senses, lose command; He thinks he poyson'd is (Gods hand doth point) Then swells with Water twixt the flesh, and fell. His Gost doth bid his Carkass thus farewell. In Adrians time great Earth Quakes too God brings: That Nicomedia, and Nice nigh stroy. Soon after these Nicopolis down flings Yea, and Cesaria as utterly, Then Inquest makes for Blood. Blood new so skips From Adrian's nose as frighted out of'ts wits. And now therewith such torments him surprize, He Calls for Death, seeks to dispatch his life: He wasts away, then doth a Dropsy rise Which did refuse his Charms, and Spells so rife. His blood breaks down all dams still, and will flow. His Tortures too will not be Charmd but grow. He asketh Poyson of his Doctor then But such a Potion never can obtain. Then Craves a Sword, bids mony for't to's men But none do reach him this to end his pain. At length by torments more than can be told He is dispatcht, and tumbled down to mould. And in the Reign of Pius, sad things light, As Famine, Earthquakes that did towns destroy In Rhodes, and Asia, the Circk stroyd quite. Three hundred forty houses burnt down ly At Rome, and Narbon City, Antioch, And Carthage Market place, burnt turnd to Smoake, Tyber oreflows its bancks: a boy is born With two heads, then five babes born at a time. A mighty Cristed Snake was seen off shorn And eat itself up halfe in Arabs Clime. A mighty Plague rag'd in Arabia. Barly from tree twigs grew in Morsia. In Commodus his reign then Lightning turn'd The Capitoline Temple into dust. The neighboring Famous Library burnd. The Temple too of Peace soon after Crusht, And Vesta Temple and the Palace by her Much of the City too, and all by fire. Then Commodus the Senate did define More Cruell than Domitian, and impure Than Nero, comes unto his tragick time Doth drinke a draught of Poyson for a Cure, Which failing, he with Nariss scuffling In jest, in earnest throtled was by him. Touching Narcissus of Jerusalem Gainst whom three wicked guilty persons rose He taxed is before the Church by them. They do the Crime under dread Oaths depose. Which done, the Good Old man for griefe retires: Although the Church did not believe those liers. The first doth wish he might be burnt if he Spake not the truth; the second if he li'de By Cruell Sickness might surprised bee. The third that's Sight might out be pluckt or glide If he spake false. And this they did, its said Lest by Narcissus they ashame be made. But see the Case. The first mans house by night And he and all therein are burnt by fire. The second is surprizd in all mens sight By Cruell sickness and thereby expires. The third much terrifide, the Fact descries And With repenting tears weeps out his Eyes. Now Justice hath Narcissus made more shine. He from his solitary Place doth pass Unto his sacred Charge, a grave Divine, When aged eight score years and three he was. Thus Justice, see, doth see, and show her Shine While Patience doth Gods providence enline. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE JOY OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RIGHTLY ATTENDED by EDWARD TAYLOR GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE PREFACE by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 1 by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 32 by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 38 by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 1ST SERIES: 8 by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 2D SERIES: 3 by EDWARD TAYLOR PREPARATORY MEDITATIONS, 2D SERIES: 56 by EDWARD TAYLOR GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: CHRIST'S REPLY by EDWARD TAYLOR GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE JOY OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RIGHTLY ATTENDED by EDWARD TAYLOR |
|