Classic and Contemporary Poetry
CHRISTIAN ETHICS: MANKIND IS SICK, by THOMAS TRAHERNE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Mankind is sick, the world distemper'd lies Last Line: How sweet a grace, how infinite! Subject(s): Sin | ||||||||
1 Mankind is sick, the world distemper'd lies, Oppress'd with sins and miseries. Their sins are woes; a long corrupted train Of poison, drawn from Adam's vein, Stains all his seed, and all his kin Are one disease of life within. They all torment themselves! The world's one Bedlam, or a greater cave Of madmen, that do always rave. 2 The wise and good like kind physicians are, That strive to heal them by their care. They physic and their learning calmly use, Although the patient them abuse. For since the sickness is (they find) A sad distemper of the mind; All railings they impute, All injuries, unto the sore disease, They are expressly come to ease! 3 If we would to the world's distemper'd mind Impute the rage which there we find, We might, even in the midst of all our foes, Enjoy and feel a sweet repose. Might pity all the griefs we see, Anointing every malady With precious oil and balm; And while ourselves are calm, our art improve To rescue them, and show our love. 4 But let's not fondly our own selves beguile; If we revile 'cause they revile, Ourselves infected with their sore disease, Need others' helps to give us ease. For we more made than they remain, Need to be cut, and need a chain Far more than they. Our brain Is craz'd; and if we put our wit to theirs, We may be justly made their heirs. 5 But while with open eyes we clearly see The brightness of His majesty; While all the world, by sin to Satan sold, In daily wickedness grows old, Men in chains of darkness lie, In bondage and iniquity, And pierce and grieve themselves! The dismal woes wherein they crawl, enhance The peace of our inheritance. 6 We wonder to behold ourselves so nigh To so much sin and misery, And yet to see ourselves so safe from harm! What amulet, what hidden charm Could fortify and raise the soul So far above them; and control Such fierce malignity! The brightness and the glory which we see Is made a greater mystery. 7 And while we feel how much our God doth love The peace of sinners, how much move, And sue, and thirst, entreat, lament, and grieve, For all the crimes in which they live, And seek and wait, and call again, And long to save them from the pain Of sin, from all their woe! With greater thirst, as well as grief we try, How to relieve their misery. 8 The life and splendour of felicity, Whose floods so overflowing be, The streams of joy which round about His throne, Enrich and fill each holy one, Are so abundant, that we can Spare all, even all to any man! And have it all ourselves! Nay have the more! We long to make them see The sweetness of felicity. 9 While we contemplate their distresses, how, Blind wretches, they in bondage bow, And tear and wound themselves, and vex and groan, And chafe and fret so near His throne, And know not what they ail, but lie Tormented in their misery (Like madmen that are blind) In works of darkness nigh such full delight: That they might find and see the sight, 10 What would we give! that they might likewise see The glory of His majesty! The joy and fullness of that high delight, Whose blessedness is infinite! We would even cease to live, to gain Them from their misery and pain, And make them with us reign. For they themselves would be our greatest treasures When sav'd, our own most heavenly pleasures. 11 O holy Jesus who didst for us die, And on the altar bleeding lie, Bearing all torment, pain, reproach and shame, That we by virtue of the same, Though enemies to God, might be Redeem'd, and set at liberty. As Thou didst us forgive, So meekly let us love to others show, And live in Heaven on earth below! 12 Let's prize their souls, and let them be our gems, Our temples and our diadems, Our brides, our friends, our fellow-members, eyes, Hands, hearts and souls, our victories, And spoils and trophies, our own joys! Compar'd to souls all else are toys! O Jesus, let them be Such unto us, as they are unto Thee, Vessels of glory and felicity! 13 How will they love us, when they find our care Brought them all thither where they are! When they conceive, what terror 'tis to dwell In all the punishments of hell: And in a lively manner see, O Christ, eternal joys in Thee! How will they all delight In praising Thee for us, with all their might, How sweet a grace, how infinite! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SEVEN STREAMS OF NEVIS by GALWAY KINNELL CHANEL NO. 5 by LAURE-ANNE BOSSELAAR BROTHERS: 4. IN MY OWN DEFENSE by LUCILLE CLIFTON THE RING AND THE CASTLE by AMY LOWELL |
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