"Their thoughts or words can leave no mark behind; / Thy self dost make th' impression on thy mind."
— Rawlet, John (bap. 1642, d. 1686)
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Samuel Tidmarsh [etc.]
Date
1687
Metaphor
"Their thoughts or words can leave no mark behind; / Thy self dost make th' impression on thy mind."
Metaphor in Context
Wouldst thou enjoy an easie quiet mind,
Let thy own will to God's will be resign'd:
Follow his conduct, serve him with delight,
With Pious awe live still as in his sight:
Banish fond Dreams of earthly happiness,
With Prudence use the Goods thou dost possess.
To Proud and Sickly Fancy give no place,
But follow Nature over-ruled by Grace.
Nature craves little, Grace sometimes takes less;
Pride, Avarice and Lust demand excess.
Examine well all earthly things, and see
Thy love but to their worth proportion'd be.
Let no excess of Joy corrupt thy mind,
Pleasures too luscious leave a sting behind:
Regarding this World as a Travellers Stage,
Seek the delight but of a Pilgrimage;
Converse with thy own mind, get so much leisure
As oft to entertain thy self with pleasure,
Whom Crouds of Men and business still employ,
Such not themselves, nor Friends, nor God enjoy.
In all enjoyments most God's goodness taste,
In all designs make him the first and last.
Let Joys and Pains both quicken holy Love,
And earnest longings after God above.
Never depend on things without thy power,
Things which chance may, time quickly will devour.
Calmly forethink what evils may betide,
Not to torment thy self but to provide
Courage and Comfort which attend the Wise,
Whilst common changes are no great surprise.
To rule the outward World never design,
This is God's work, to rule thy Passions thine.
Doing thy part leave all to him who knows
How all events most wisely to dispose.
All thy desires make known to God in Prayer,
And then alone on God cast all thy care.
Mind not the World's opinion much, nor grow
Unhappy meerly 'cause Men think thee so:
Their thoughts or words can leave no mark behind;
Thy self dost make th' impression on thy mind.
If thou feel real smart, make it not more:
Anger and Grief do but increase the Sore.
Know that the greatest hurts are from within,
And misery proceeds only from Sin.
Sin above all things flee, and never cease,
Till thou with God thro' Christ hast made thy Peace:
And all thy Life pursue that innocence,
And usefulness which inward joyes dispence.
Grow in all Grace, chiefly in Holy Love
To God and Man, which fits for Heaven above:
In hope whereof rejoyce, and so partake
The first-fruits of those joys which Heaven do make;
Yea now the Soul that with his God doth dwell,
By Faith and Love, finds Heaven within a Cell.
Then wholly live on God, make him thy all,
With Faith and Patience waiting for Death's call.
Thy Soul thus fixt, nothing can much annoy,
Till God shall fix thee in eternal joy.
Let thy own will to God's will be resign'd:
Follow his conduct, serve him with delight,
With Pious awe live still as in his sight:
Banish fond Dreams of earthly happiness,
With Prudence use the Goods thou dost possess.
To Proud and Sickly Fancy give no place,
But follow Nature over-ruled by Grace.
Nature craves little, Grace sometimes takes less;
Pride, Avarice and Lust demand excess.
Examine well all earthly things, and see
Thy love but to their worth proportion'd be.
Let no excess of Joy corrupt thy mind,
Pleasures too luscious leave a sting behind:
Regarding this World as a Travellers Stage,
Seek the delight but of a Pilgrimage;
Converse with thy own mind, get so much leisure
As oft to entertain thy self with pleasure,
Whom Crouds of Men and business still employ,
Such not themselves, nor Friends, nor God enjoy.
In all enjoyments most God's goodness taste,
In all designs make him the first and last.
Let Joys and Pains both quicken holy Love,
And earnest longings after God above.
Never depend on things without thy power,
Things which chance may, time quickly will devour.
Calmly forethink what evils may betide,
Not to torment thy self but to provide
Courage and Comfort which attend the Wise,
Whilst common changes are no great surprise.
To rule the outward World never design,
This is God's work, to rule thy Passions thine.
Doing thy part leave all to him who knows
How all events most wisely to dispose.
All thy desires make known to God in Prayer,
And then alone on God cast all thy care.
Mind not the World's opinion much, nor grow
Unhappy meerly 'cause Men think thee so:
Their thoughts or words can leave no mark behind;
Thy self dost make th' impression on thy mind.
If thou feel real smart, make it not more:
Anger and Grief do but increase the Sore.
Know that the greatest hurts are from within,
And misery proceeds only from Sin.
Sin above all things flee, and never cease,
Till thou with God thro' Christ hast made thy Peace:
And all thy Life pursue that innocence,
And usefulness which inward joyes dispence.
Grow in all Grace, chiefly in Holy Love
To God and Man, which fits for Heaven above:
In hope whereof rejoyce, and so partake
The first-fruits of those joys which Heaven do make;
Yea now the Soul that with his God doth dwell,
By Faith and Love, finds Heaven within a Cell.
Then wholly live on God, make him thy all,
With Faith and Patience waiting for Death's call.
Thy Soul thus fixt, nothing can much annoy,
Till God shall fix thee in eternal joy.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "impression" and "mind" in HDIS (Poetry)
Date of Entry
05/15/2005
