Classic and Contemporary Poetry
GOD'S DETERMINATIONS: THE EFFECTS OF MAN'S APOSTACY, by EDWARD TAYLOR Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: While man unmarr'd abode his spirits all Last Line: Th' ensuing dialogues hint their contest. Subject(s): Puritans In Literature | ||||||||
While man unmarr'd abode his Spirits all In Vivid hue were active in their hall, This Spotless Body, here and there mentain Their traffick for the Universall gain. Till Sin Beat up for Volunteers. Whence came A thousand Griefs attending on the same. Which march in ranck, and file, proceed to make A Battery, and the fort of Life to take. Which when the Centinalls did spy, the Heart Did beate alarum up in every part. The Vitall Spirits apprehend thereby Exposde to danger great the suburbs ly, The which they do desert, and speedily The Fort of Life the Heart, they Fortify. The Heart beats up still by her Pulse to Call Out of the outworks her train Souldiers all Which quickly come hence: now the Looks grow pale Limbs feeble too: the Enemies prevaile. Do scale the Outworks where there's Scarce a Scoute That can be Spi'de sent from the Castle out. Man at a muze, and in a maze doth stand, While Feare the Generall of all the Band Makes inroads on him: then he Searches why, And quickly Findes God stand as Enemy. Whom he would fain subdue, yet Fears affright In Varnishing their Weapons in his Sight. Troops after troops, Bands after Bands do high, Armies of armed terrours drawing nigh: He lookes within, and sad amazement's there, Without, and all things fly about his Eares. Above, and sees Heaven falling on his pate, Below and spies th'Infernall burning lake, Before and sees God storming in his Face, Behinde, and spies Vengeance persues his trace. To stay he dares not, go he knows not where From God he can't, to God he dreads for Feare. To Dy he Dreads; For Vengeance's due to him; To Live he must not, Death persues his Sin: He Knows not what to have, nor what to loose Nor what to do, nor what to take or Choose: Thus over Stretcht upon the Wrack of Woe, Bereav'd of Reason, he proceeds now so, Betakes himself unto his Heels in hast, Runs like a Madman till his Spirits wast, Then like a Child that fears the Poker Clapp Him on his face doth on his Mothers lap Doth hold his breath, lies still for fear least hee Should by his breathing lowd discover'd bee. Thus on his face doth see no outward thing But still his heart for Feare doth pant within. Doth make its Drummer beate so loud it makes The Very Bulworks of the City Quake: Yet gets no aide: Wherefore the Spirits they Are ready all to leave, and run away. For Nature in this Pannick feare scarce gives Him life enough, to let him feel he lives. Yet this he easily feels, he liveth in A Dying Life, and Living Death by Sin, Yet in this Lifeless life wherein he lies, Some Figments of Excuses doth devise That he may Something say, when rain'd, although His Say seems nothing, and for nought will go. But while he Sculking on his face close lies Espying nought, the Eye Divine him spies. Justice and Mercy then fall to debate Concerning this poore fallen mans estate, Before the Bench of the Almighties Breast Th' ensuing Dialogues hint their Contest. | 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 |
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