⟨This meditation is printed at the end of Samuel Clark's Bible with annotations Ed: 1690, but is omitted with other matters, in the Glasgow Edition of 1765.⟩
A POETICAL MEDITATION, Wherein the Usefulness, Excellency, And several Perfections OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, Are briefly hinted.
A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies,
And turn delight into a Sacrifice.
Herb. Poems.
LONDON, Printed for N. Ranew, and J. Robinson, at the Angel in Jewen-Street. 1670.
To the Critical Censurer.
IF serious matter will not please thee, either
Naked or dressed in a simple rhyme:
I'le ne're wear in my Cap a Peacocks Feather,
That thou may'st call me witty or sublime.
To the Sober and Serious Reader.
IF in a little Map thou dost desire
To see the use of Holy Scriptures hinted,
Read this and welcom; for I aim no higher:
For thee (although it was not Penn'd, yet) it was Printed.
To the Reader.
Christian Reader,
THE industry of man hath contracted the whole Bible into so small a Volume, that every one may make it their Pocket-Companion; that thou also maist by thy Industry make it thy Heart-Companion, I do not wish it more contracted, but thy heart more enlarged. That which others make their Manual, do thou take for thy Cordial; That which others read, do thou believe: That which others discourse upon, do thou live upon; And let that which lies by others in their houses, dwell richly in thy heart; Wouldst thou have me commend this Word of God to thee? I cannot as it deserves: Read it frequently, Love it ardently, and Live by it continually, and it will sufficiently commend it self to thee, yet I have endeavoured in some measure to set forth the Beauty, Ʋsefulness, Excellency and Perfections of it in this ensuing Meditation.
THou Lord to me thy Word hast giv'n,
Precious and Pure,
Sweet, Holy, Sure,
To guide me through the world to Heav'n.
Psal. 18.30 & 119.89, 140, 160, 103.
In all wants and necessities,
Thy Word's my store
Heap'd, running o're
With plenty of most rich supplies.
Mic. 2.7.
Temptations, Terrors, Dangers, Fears,
Those petty Hells
Thy Word dispells,
And all the way before me clears,
Mat. 4.3, 4. &c. Ps. 119.92. Psal. 18.32, &c.
When Satan flings his Darts at me,
Then, Lord, thy Word
Is Shield and Sword
To save me and to make him flee.
Psa. 18.30. Eph. 6.17.
The world presents it's objects rare;
But yet thy Word
Doth that afford,
Which seems to me far costlier ware.
Psal. 119.14, 72, 96. Phil. 3.7, 8. Psal. 119.47 70, 16, 11, 36, 8. Heb. 11.25 2 Pet. 3 18 Ps. 119.30, 102, 104, 118, 128. Isa. 30.21.
Then lust invites me to it's pleasure:
But to delights
Thy Word invites,
Which far surpass in weight and measure.
Then Errors their gumm'd wares display,
But Scripture says,
Shun Errors ways:
Walk by my Rule; This is the way.
Thus when I'm tempted unto sin,
By thy Word's Art
Hid in my Heart,
Both Battel and Reward I win.
Psa. 19.11. & 119, 11.
Yea though sins have defil'd my soul,
Thy Word can cleanse
Those noysom Dens
Of lust, and sins best strength controul.
Psal. 119.9 Joh. 15.3. Eph. 5.26.
Have I an unbelieving Heart?
Thy Word, Lord, hath
Pow'r to work Faith
By thy most holy Spirit's Art.
Ro. 10.17.
Have I an hard and stony Heart?
Thy Word thus deals,
First breaks, then heals.
That stone is cured by this smart.
Ezek. 36.26.
Will not my frozen Heart comply?
Thy Word, thy Law
That Heart can thaw,
And change it for a weeping eye.
Ez. 16.30, 60, 63. & 36.26, 31. Act. 24.25 Rom. 12.3, 16. Phil. 3.4, &c. 13.
Do towring thoughts possess my breast?
Thy Word brings low
The proudest foe,
And lays him level with the least.
Do mutt'ring thoughts rise and repine?
Thy Rod and Word
Teach Patience, Lord,
And still those barking thoughts of mine.
Psal 38.13, 14. & 39.9. Jam. 5.10, 11.
Am I tongue-ty'd and cannot pray?
Thy Word inspires
Praying desires;
Dumb lips unseals; tells what to say.
Hos, 14.2. Rom. 8.26. Mat. 6.9. &c.
When I in darkness erre and stray:
Thy Word's a light
Most clear, and bright,
And leads me back into the way.
Psal. 119.105. Isa. 50.10.
I'm foolish, simple, and want eyes:
Thy Word's Light, Rule,
Master and School,
Which makes the comers to it wise.
Psal. 19.7, 8, & 119.104, 130. Gal. 3.24.
I see my self undone and poor.
Thy words infold
A Mine of Gold,
A Pearl of Price, all riches store.
Psal 19.10. Prov. 8.10, 11.
With God by nature I'm at odds.
Thy Word my soul
Converteth whole
From Satan's service unto God's.
Psal. 19.8. Jam. 1.18.
Do outward Troubles, inward Grief
My soul torment?
Thy Word is sent
With comfort for my Soul's relief.
Psal. 119.28▪ 50, 143 165.
Am I perplex't with doubts and fears?
Thy Word of Grace
Resolves the case,
And so my clouded judgment clears.
Act. 16.29, 30, 31, 32.
Or do despairing thoughts me take?
Thy Word doth give
Me hopes to live
For Christ, my dearest Saviour's sake.
Psal. 119.81. & 130.5.
Do multitudes of thoughts me press?
I call to mind
Thy Word and find
Such comforts as my Soul refresh.
Psal. 94.10 & 19.8.
Can't I through weakness walk alone?
Thy Word, Lord, is
Strength to my knees,
And staff to stay my hand upon.
Psal. 119.28, 49.
Thus though I thirst, faint, hunger, pine,
Thy Word me feeds
In these my needs;
Thy Word it self is bread, milk, wine.
Mat. 4.4. 1 Pet. 2.2. Isa. 55.1.
Thus though poor, scorn'd, forsaken, pained
Thy Word alone
Hath all in one;
Health, wealth, friends, honor, all contained.
Psal. 119.51, 141. Pro. 4.20, 22.
Thus though Soul-sick and wounded sore
With grievous sin
Which doth begin
To fester, rankling more and more;
1 John 2.1, 2.
Thy Word shows whence help may be had
And doth me guide
To Christ's pierc'd side,
Whence flows the balm of Gilead.
Jo. 5.39. Jer. 8.22.
Yea though in me no life remain;
Thy Word is good
And living food,
Which fetcheth me to life again.
1 Pet. 1.23 Psal. 119.93, 116. Phil. 2.16. Jam. 1.18.
Would I prolong this life for ever?
The Scripture shows
Whence water flows,
Pure streams, which who so drinks dies never.
Psal. 36.9. Isa. 55.1. Jo. 4.10.14 Psal. 23. Isa. 55.2. 1 Pet. 1.23 25.
The Lord be blest who thus provides,
And filleth full
My empty soul,
With food which evermore abides.
Bless God (my Soul) that thus hath giv'n
Strength, light, guide, way,
Lest thou shouldst stray
In this thy Pilgrimage to Heav'n.
This Book, these Sentences, these Lines
Each Word and Letter
To me are better,
Then Chains of Pearl and Golden Mines.
'Tis Heaven transcrib'd and Glory penn'd:
God's mind no doubt
Was copied out
When he this Gift to men did send.
John 17.17.
'Tis Truth it self: God doth intend
Man's word shall fall;
Heav'n, Earth and all;
But this shall never have an end.
Ps. 119.89, 142, 151, 152, 160. Mar. 13.31 Psal. 119.18, 127. 1 Cor. 2.7, 9, 10.
My Soul admire that hand and quill,
That did produce
For sinners use
Th' eternal Mind, the soveraign Will.
Adore the Author too, and when
Thou canst not raise
Sufficient Praise,
Sit down and wondring say A MEN.
Psal. 119.171, 164.
‘Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness,Jam. 1.21, 25. and receive with meekness the ingrafted Word, which is able to save thy Soul. The good Lord grant that it may in all parts and points, and to all ends and purposes be such to thy Soul, as it is here set forth and described, or rather, as it is in its self, viz. The power of God to the Salvation of Souls;’
which is the hearty Prayer of,
Thine in the Lord, JOHN CLARK.
The Ten Commandments.
I. Have thou no other Gods but Me.
II. Unto no Image bow thy knee.
III. Take not the Name of God in vain.
IV. Do not the Sabbath day profane.
V. Honour thy Father, Mother too.
VI. And see that thou no Murder do.
VII. From Whoredom keep thy body clean.
VIII. And Steal not, though thy stare be mean.
IX. Of a False Witness shun the blot.
X. What is thy Neighbours Covet not.
FINIS.