Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE INFERENCE: 2, by THOMAS TRAHERNE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE INFERENCE: 2, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: David a temple in his mind conceiv'd
Last Line: Expects from us, our sacrifice to be.
Subject(s): David (d. 962 B.c.)


David a temple in his mind conceiv'd;
And that intention was so well receiv'd
By God, that all the sacred palaces
That ever were did less His glory please.
If thoughts are such; such valuable things;
Such real goods; such human cherubins;
Material delights; transcendent objects; ends
Of all God's works, which most His eye intends.
O! What are men, who can such things produce,
So excellent in nature, value, use?
Which not to angels only grateful seem,
But God, most wise, Himself doth them esteem
Worth more than worlds? How many thousand may
Our hearts conceive and offer every day?
Holy affections, grateful sentiments,
Good resolutions, virtuous intents,
Seed-plots of active piety; He values more
Than the materal world He made before.
By these the blessed Virgin (and no other)
Obtain'd the grace to be the happy mother
Of God's own Son; for, of her pious care
To treasure up those truths which she did hear
Concerning Christ, in thoughtful mind, we're told;
But not that e'er with offerings of gold
The temple she enrich'd. This understood,
How glorious, how divine, how great, how good
May we become! How like the Deity
In managing our thoughts aright! A piety
More grateful to our God than building walls
Of churches, or the founding hospitals:
Wherein He gives us an almighty power
To please Him so, that could we worlds create,
Or more new visible earths and heavens make,
'Twould be far short of this; which is the flower
And cream of strength. This we might plainly see,
But that we rebels to our reason be.
Shall God such sacred might on us bestow?
And not employ't to pay the thanks we owe?
Such grateful offerings able be to give;
Yet them annihilate, and God's spirit grieve?
Consider that for all our Lord hath done,
All that He can receive is this bare sum
of God-like holy thoughts: these only He
Expects from us, our sacrifice to be.





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