The Flesh and the Spirit

In secret place where once I stoodClose by the Banks of Lacrim flood,I heard two sisters reason onThings that are past and things to come.One Flesh was call’d, who had her eyeOn worldly wealth and vanity;The other Spirit, who did rearHer thoughts unto a higher sphere.‘Sister,’ quoth Flesh, ‘what liv’st thou onNothing but Meditation?Doth Contemplation feed thee soRegardlessly to let earth go?Can Speculation satisfyNotion without Reality?Dost dream of things beyond the MoonAnd dost thou hope to dwell there soon?Hast treasures there laid up in storeThat all in th’ world thou count’st but poor?Art fancy-sick or turn’d a SotTo catch at shadows which are not?Come, come. I’ll show unto thy sense,Industry hath its recompence.What canst desire, but thou maist seeTrue substance in variety?Dost honour like? Acquire the same,As some to their immortal fame;And trophies to thy name erectWhich wearing time shall ne’er deject.For riches dost thou long full sore?Behold enough of precious store.Earth hath more silver, pearls, and goldThan eyes can see or hands can hold.Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.Earth hath enough of what you will.Then let not go what thou maist findFor things unknown only in mind.‘pirit.‘Be still, thou unregenerate part,Disturb no more my settled heart,For I have vow’d (and so will do)Thee as a foe still to pursue,And combat with thee will and mustUntil I see thee laid in th’ dust.Sister we are, yea twins we be,Yet deadly feud ‘twixt thee and me,For from one father are we not.Thou by old Adam wast begot,But my arise is from above,Whence my dear father I do love.Thou speak’st me fair but hat’st me sore.Thy flatt’ring shews I’ll trust no more.How oft thy slave hast thou me madeWhen I believ’d what thou hast saidAnd never had more cause of woeThan when I did what thou bad’st do.I’ll stop mine ears at these thy charmsAnd count them for my deadly harms.Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,Thy riches are to me no bait.Thine honours do, nor will I love,For my ambition lies above.My greatest honour it shall beWhen I am victor over thee,And Triumph shall, with laurel head,When thou my Captive shalt be led.How I do live, thou need’st not scoff,For I have meat thou know’st not of.The hidden Manna I do eat;The word of life, it is my meat.My thoughts do yield me more contentThan can thy hours in pleasure spent.Nor are they shadows which I catch,Nor fancies vain at which I snatchBut reach at things that are so high,Beyond thy dull Capacity.Eternal substance I do seeWith which inriched I would be.Mine eye doth pierce the heav’ns and seeWhat is Invisible to thee.My garments are not silk nor gold,Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,But Royal Robes I shall have on,More glorious than the glist’ring Sun.My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,But such as Angels’ heads infold.The City where I hope to dwell,There’s none on Earth can parallel.The stately Walls both high and trongAre made of precious Jasper stone,The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,And Angels are for Porters there.The Streets thereof transparent goldSuch as no Eye did e’re behold.A Crystal River there doth runWhich doth proceed from the Lamb’s Throne.Of Life, there are the waters sureWhich shall remain forever pure.Nor Sun nor Moon they have no needFor glory doth from God proceed.No Candle there, nor yet Torch light,For there shall be no darksome night.From sickness and infirmityForevermore they shall be free.Nor withering age shall e’re come there,But beauty shall be bright and clear.This City pure is not for thee,For things unclean there shall not be.If I of Heav’n may have my fill,Take thou the world, and all that will.’

—1678

Stained glass, ST. Botoph’s Church

l. 2: Lacrim; tear (Latin: lacrima)

l. 14: Notion; thought

l. 19; a Sot; feeble-minded

l. 29: long full sore; eagerly desire

l. 49: hat’st me sore; deeply hate me

l. 50: flatt’ring shews: impressive displays

l. 54: bad’st do; ask me to do

ll. 85-106: Reference to the description of the New Jerusalem in heaven from Revelation, chapters 21 and 22.