Chapter IV

The Soul's a messenger whereby
Within our inward Temple we may be
Even like the very Deity
In all the parts of His Eternity.
O live within and leave unwieldy dross!
Flesh is but clay!
O fly my Soul and haste away
To Jesus' Throne or Cross--
Obey!

POEMS EXTRACTED FROM TRAHERNE'S "CHRISTIAN ETHICKS"

[All the following poems (excepting those in the "Appendix") are
taken from Traherne's "Christian Ethicks." That they are all from
his own pen cannot, I think, be doubted. They are entirely in his
manner, and have little or no resemblance to that of any other
poet. As the reader will see, I have, where necessary, quoted a few
sentences from Traherne's prose in order to render the design of the
verses more intelligible.]

[From pp. 344-5]

How glorious the Counsel and Design of God is for the Atchieving
of this Great End, for the making of all Vertues more compleat and
Excellent, and for the Heightening of their Beauty and Perfection we
will exemplifie here in the Perfection of Courage. For the Height
and depth and Splendor of every Vertue is of great Concernment to
the Perfection of the Soul since the Glory of its Life is seated in
the Accomplishment of its essence, in the fruit it yieldeth in its
Operations. Take it in Verse made long ago upon this occasion--

For Man to Act as if his Soul did see
The very Brightness of Eternity;
For Man to Act as if his Love did burn
Above the Spheres, even while it's in its Urne;
For Man to Act even in the Wilderness,
As if he did those Sovereign Joys possess,
Which do at once confirm, stir up, enflame,
And perfect Angels; having not the same!
It doth increase the value of his Deeds,
In this a Man a Seraphim exceeds.
To Act on Obligations yet unknown,
To Act upon Rewards as yet unshewn,
To keep Commands whose Beauty's yet unseen,
To Cherish and retain a Zeal between
Sleeping and waking; shews a constant care,
And that a deeper Love, a Love so rare,
That no Eye Service may with it compare.
The Angels, who are faithful while they view
His Glory, know not what themselves would do,
Were they in our Estate! A Dimmer Light
Perhaps would make them erre as well as We
And in the Coldness of a darker Night
Forgetful and Lukewarm Themselves might be.
Our very Rust shall cover us with Gold,
Our Dust shall sprinkle[L] while their Eyes behold
The Glory Springing from a feeble State,
Where meer Belief doth, if not conquer Fate
Surmount and pass what it doth Antedate.

[From p. 326]

In Matters of Art the force of Temperance is undeniable. It relateth
not only to our Meats and Drinks, but to all our Behaviours,
Passions, and Desires.

All Musick, Sawces, Feasts, Delights and Pleasures,
Games, Dancing, Arts consist in govern'd Measures;
Much more do Words and Passions of the Mind
In Temperance their sacred Beauty find.

[From pp. 347-9]

If you say it would be Beneficial to God or to that Spectator or
that intelligible Power, that Spirit for whom it was made: It is
apparent that no Corporeal Being can be serviceable to a Spirit
but only by the Beauty of those Services it performeth to other
Corporeals that are capable of receiving them, and that therefore
all Corporeals must be limited and bounded for each other's sake.
And for this Cause it is that a Philosophical Poet said:

As in a Clock, 'tis hinder'd Force doth bring
The Wheels to order'd Motion by a Spring;
Which order'd Motion guides a steddy Hand
In useful sort at Figures just to stand;
Which, were it not by Counter-ballance staid,
The Fabrick quickly would aside be laid
As wholly useless: So a Might too Great
But well proportion'd makes the World compleat.
Power well-bounded is more Great in Might
Than if let loose 'twere wholly Infinite.
He could have made an endless Sea by this,
But then it had not been a Sea of Bliss;
A Sea that's bounded in a finite shore
Is better far because it is no more.
Should Waters endlessly exceed the Skies
They'd drown the World, and all whate'er we prize.
Had the bright Sun been Infinite its Flame
Had burnt the World, and quite consumed the same.
That Flame would yield no splendour to the Sight,
'Twould be but Darkness though 'twere Infinite.
One Star made Infinite would all exclude,
An Earth made Infinite could ne'er be view'd.
But all being bounded for each other's sake,
He, bounding all, did all most useful make;
And which is best, in Profit and Delight
Though not in Bulk, he made all Infinite!
He, in his Wisdom, did their use extend
By all, to all the World from End to End.
In all Things all Things service do to all;
And thus a Sand is Endless, though most small,
And every Thing is truly Infinite
In its Relation deep and exquisite.

[From p. 383 in Chapter XXV On Meekness]

Were all the World a Paradise of Ease
'Twere easie then to live in Peace.
Were all men Wise, Divine, and Innocent,
Just, Holy, Peaceful and Content,
Kind, Loving, True and alwaies Good
As in the Golden-Age they stood;
'Twere easie then to live
In all Delight and Glory, full of Love,
Blest as the Angels are above.

But we such Principles must now attain
(If we true blessedness would gain)
As those are which will help to make us reign
Over Disorders, Injuries,
Ingratitudes, Calamities,
Affronts, Oppressions, Slanders, Wrongs,
Lies, Angers, bitter Tongues;
The reach of Malice must surmount, and quell
The very Rage and Power of Hell.

[From pp. 394-9]

OF MEEKNESS

I

Mankind is sick, the World distemper'd lies
Opprest with Sins and Miseries.
Their Sins are Woes; a long corrupted Train
Of Poyson, 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 Mad-men that do alwaies rave.

II

The Wise and Good like kind Physicians are,
That strive to heal them by their Care;
They Physick 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 expresly come to ease.