Chapter XIII

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!

[From p. 425]

OF CONTENTMENT

Contentment is a sleepy thing
If it in Death alone must die;
A quiet Mind is worse than Poverty,
Unless it from Enjoyment spring!
That's Blessedness alone that makes a King!
Wherein the Joys and Treasures are so great,
They all the powers of the Soul employ,
And fill it with a Work compleat,
While it doth all enjoy.
True Joys alone Contentment do inspire,
Enrich Content and make our Courage higher.
Content alone's a dead and silent Stone;
The real life of Bliss
Is Glory reigning in a Throne,
Where all Enjoyment is.
The Soul of Man is so inclin'd to see,
Without his Treasures no man's Soul can be,
Nor rest content Uncrown'd!
Desire and Love
Must in the height of all their Rapture move,
Where there is true Felicity.
Employment is the very life and ground
Of Life itself; whose pleasant Motion is
The form of Bliss:
All Blessedness a life with Glory Crown'd:
Life! Life is all; in its most full extent
Stretcht out to all things, and with all Content!

[From p. 456, Of Magnanimity]

And if the Glory and Esteem I have,
Be nothing else than what my Silver gave,
If, for no other ground,
I am with Love or Praises crown'd,
'Tis such a shame, such vile, such base Repute,
'Tis better starve than eat such empty Fruit.