work_id,theme,provenance,created_at,text,reviewed_on,id,comments,metaphor,dictionary,updated_at,context
3703,"","Searching ""throne"" and ""heart"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2004-07-07 00:00:00 UTC,"ON THE VANITY OF THE WORLD
How long shall empty Toys possess the Mind,
Which should to solid Joys be more inclin'd!
What true Content can spring t'Immortal Souls
From Riches, that take Wings, or lurk in Holes?
Thereby deluding those who seem t' possess
Them; but excluding from the Happiness,
Which, in right use of them, might be enjoy'd;
So in th'abuse their Hearts are more imploy'd,
Hoping to find therein a true Content
Unto the Mind: Yet nothing permanent
Can e'er be found in fading Vanity;
Such Hopes are crown'd at last with Misery.
Shall then the seeming Beauty of this thing
So dis-ingage from Duty to the King
Of Glory, who alone should rule in Man?
The Heart should be his Throne: Shall these things then
So sway the Mind, that Mortals should thereby
Be thus inclin'd to dote on Vanity,
Rather than to adore their Maker, and
Fall down before him, at his just Command.
May He be their Delight and Joy alone,
For Everlasting Life in Him is known:
Whereas the Love of transient Objects here,
Doth often prove a Soul-deluding Snare,
To hold them fast, as in Captivity;
Until at last, for their Iniquity,
They come to find themselves in this sad State;
Their Minds tormented, and their Joys t'abate.
Should any then imploy his Time, his Labour,
To gain a fading Toy, and lose the Favour
Of his Creator! Who, with tender Love,
Doth, as a Father, visit from above,
And gently call unto himself, that He
Might Ransom all to perfect Liberty.
Yet might we use needful Enjoyments here,
Without abuse, in holy Dread and Fear.
These outward things should not possess the Mind,
That to the King of Kings should be resign'd:
And he perswades to leave things transitory,
Yea, freely leads to never-fading Glory;
Come then, embrace the Crown that's set before ye.
",,9595,•I've included the whole poem,"""Shall then the seeming Beauty of this thing / So dis-ingage from Duty to the King / Of Glory, who alone should rule in Man? / The Heart should be his Throne.""","",2014-08-18 21:18:05 UTC,""
3991,"",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2005-02-06 00:00:00 UTC,"Reason, that honours Mankind more than Beast,
Gives forth its Laws and Dictates in each Breast;
Vertue should therefore in both Sexes dwell;
Some may in these, and some in those excel:
Yet this, with many more, are not confin'd
To either solely; but the prudent Mind
In both embrace it; for it Regulates
Deportment both in high and low Estates:
For where she dwells, insulting Arrogance,
Or any unbecoming Confidence,
Must not remain, lest these defile and stain
The Heart, where Vertue should prevail and reign;
That Modesty may, by its Influence,
Hide and avoid occasion of Offence.
As Scripture-Record to Posterity,
Doth Chronicle the Virgin Modesty
Of Shem and Japhet, who went back to hide
The Nakedness their Brother did deride;
On whom the Curse became thereby entail'd
To after-Ages, but a Blessing seal'd
To them, and to their Progeny, whose Names
(Like to a precious Ointment, that retains
Its fragrancy) shall still inherit Praise,
And be a Precedent to latter Days.
For tho' the Memory of some doth rot,
Vertue shall live, and never be forgot:
The Wise in Heart esteem it, and thereby
Order their Conversation prudently;
And would not an unseemly Act commit,
Tho' Mortal Eye should ne'er discover it:
For Modesty, that in their Bosom reigns,
Detests and loaths whatever spots or stains;
Restraining from all Rudeness, it inclines
To Gravity and Meekness, and refines
The Language; intimating, that we should
Be swift to hear, but never over-bold
To speak, tho' Eloquent; and then take heed,
Lest Words extravagantly may exceed
A mild and civil Tone; for spoken loud,
They seem to Summons-in the list'ning Crowd:
Nor should they savour of Scurrility;
For these are not th'Effects of Modesty,
Which never can delight in Calumnies,
Abusing others with Tongue-Injuries,
Although revil'd: Civility disdains
To vie in Folly, where no Prize pertains
Unto the Victors; the true Noble Mind
Conquers a Wrong by Patience, is resign'd
For Vertue's sake to bear, that Reason may
Be Re-enthron'd, and Passion pass away.
Th' Examples, which the Ancients did afford
Hereto, are many, left upon Record;
For Civil Natures dictates in each Breast,
Do far exceed what here can be express'd.",,10362,"","""Reason, that honours Mankind more than Beast, / Gives forth its Laws and Dictates in each Breast""",Court,2009-09-14 19:34:55 UTC,""
3992,"","Searching ""heart"" and ""engrav"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-03-08 00:00:00 UTC,"Well, though both He and She be gone to rest,
And cannot with our Sorrows now be mov'd,
Nor with the Frownings of this World oppress'd,
Wherewith some may as yet be further prov'd,
Their Names, engraven in our Hearts, may not
Be raz'd, or cancel'd, or in time forgot.
Nor shall we study high Hyperboles,
So to perpetuate their Memory,
Or raise a Monument of common Praise,
Which cannot add to their Felicity;
For they were what this insufficient Pen
Cannot describe unto surviving Men.
",,10366,"","""Their Names, engraven in our Hearts, may not / Be raz'd, or cancel'd, or in time forgot""","",2009-09-14 19:34:55 UTC,"""He and She"" are the poet's father and mother"
3994,"","Searching ""heart"" and ""engrav"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-03-08 00:00:00 UTC,"Vertue is the right sacred Spring, whence flows
Those Christal Streams, whereby true Friendship grows;
That dear Affection, that firm Unity,
That Interwoven free Community,
Which so engageth Hearts and Minds together,
No stormy Sea, nor utmost Lands, can sever
These willing Captives: For the Gen'rous Mind
Is not by place, though far remote, confin'd.
True Friends, when they by distance are bereaven
Of Verbal Converse, have their Names engraven
In one anothers Hearts, which cannot be
Cancell'd or Raz'd by Earths vain obloquy:
Yet, lest the same should, as a Glimm'ring Spark,
Seem to expire, as buried in the Dark,
There is by Mediums (if the place deny
Them, viva voce, free Community)
Reciprocal Reflections of its Beams
Unto each other, couch'd in sable Streams;
Tho' the abounding Solace doth increase,
When Friends converse together Face to Face;
Then freely they Unbosom their Requests,
And treasure Secrets in each others Breasts,
As in firm Cabinets, close lock'd, where none
Can find the Key, but only each his own.
Is one oppress'd with Grief? He lays a share
Upon his Friend, that he may help to bear:
Swims one in Solace? Finds he cause of Joy?
'Tis then re-doubled by Community:
Mourns one? the other Mourns: Doth one Rejoyce?
His Second Self then, both in Heart and Voice,
Doth Sympathize: True Friendship may not be
Without an inward secret Sympathy.
But fawning Parasites, tho' they pretend,
In Complement, to be each others Friend,
For meer Self-int'rest, or some close design,
Become, if not proud Enemies, in time
Absolute Strangers; and so manifest
True Friendship ne'er was grounded in their Breast.
Altho' there was some formal Shew, whereby
Some were deluded, through Hypocrisie,
T'impart their hidden Secrets, which are now
Made Proclamations, with a scornful Brow;
Nor are Reproaches, taunting Calumnies,
Backbiting, Railing, other Injuries,
With-held, as opportunity affords
Them vent for Wrath, with either Tongue or Swords;
Surely, because such do not rightly know
That Innate Spring, which makes true Friendship grow:
For this, by Covenant, doth so engage
Their Noble Hearts, that no Self-wounding Rage
Can here prevail, or once dissolve the Knot
Friendship hath ty'd: Mistakes are soon forgot,
If any interpose, or would present
Some Crime, to cause a Frown in discontent.
There's Charity in Friendly Breasts, that heals
Such Scars, whereby true Love, not Rage, prevails:
And when it is unto Perfection grown
In both their Hearts, such Scars are seldom known.
Gentle Advice, whereby one may reclaim
A Friend from Error, doth not wrong the Name,
Or make a Breach in Friendship: None may be
Rightly esteem'd a Friend, that if he see
His Neighbour lose his Way, will not direct
Unto a better; or that will reject
Good Exhortation, fancying Reproof
A greater Crime than he is guilty of.
Self-hood is often Blind; therefore a Friend
Is not prohibited to reprehend,
So he proclaim not Faults. But they that would
Sin uncontroul'd, and hug their Errors, should
Never contract a Friendship, lest thereby
That sacred Name be stain'd with Infamy.
Is any Wise, that when Distempers do
Begin to seize, would not desire to know?
Diseases known, are sooner cur'd; but they
That would indulge and hide them, that they may
Thereby increase, do frequently expose
Themselves, as a Derision to their Foes.
True Cordial Friends, without offence, can bear
Kind Admonition, though it be severe.
The faithful Wounds of Friends are like Incision,
Made by the Skilful Hand of some Physitián,
To let out noxious Humours, that invade
The afflicted Part, and stubbornly impede
The hoped Cure; which afterward with speed
Doth, by some suppling Ointment, well succeed.",,10370,"","""True Friends ... have their Names engraven / In one anothers Hearts, which cannot be / Cancell'd or Raz'd by Earths vain obloquy""","",2009-09-14 19:34:56 UTC,""
3997,"","Searching ""heart"" and ""silver"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-04-17 00:00:00 UTC,"Could pious Paul desire that dreadful State,
To be anathemiz'd, or separate
From Jesus Christ, his high esteemed Lord,
For Isr'elites, to whom the Heavenly Word,
The Promises and Law, did appertain,
The People unto whom the Cov'nants came,
His Kindred in the Flesh? Then how can I
Be unconcern'd for thee, my near Ally?
No, no; for Love, the Universal Love,
Which tenderly doth visit from above,
Desires the good of all; takes no delight
That Sinners die in Sin, but doth invite
All to return to Him, and Live; for He
Hath promis'd their Iniquity shall be
Forgotten, they in Righteousness shall live;
And He, to them that overcomes, will give
A Crown of Life; yea, they shall splendidly
Be cloath'd with Robes of Immortality.
Consider well these things, my Friend, and learn
To know what chiefly is thy great Concern;
That Noble Off-spring of the Deity,
Why should it be seduc'd with Vanity?
O come, and in true lowliness of Mind,
Receive Instruction! Seek, and ye shall find,
Is a Sufficient Warrant to begin
To seek the piece of Silver, hid within
The House, thy Heart; Redeem thy precious Time,
And find it out. O let thy Mind incline
Unto the Voice, that doth in secret say,
As one behind thee, This is Wisdom's Way,
Walk in it; this will lead to lasting Joys;
Despise them not for transitory Toys.
Aim'st thou at Honour? Know, a sudden Puff
Blasts it, and often leaves a Stinking Snuff.
Ah, see'st thou not, that here all vain Renown
Is dash'd and disannulled with a Frown?
Seek Honour from above, and fear the Lord,
And hearken to his holy living Word,
Hid in thy Heart, that frequently reproves:
Wisdom rebukes, and chastens whom she loves.
But where there's no Reproof, there's cause of fear,
Lest that the Holy One cease striving there:
Such may too late bewail themselves, and say,
O that I might be spar'd another Day!
What can a wounded Spirit satiate,
When Soul and Body must be separate?
Whilst therefore Time doth unto thee remain,
Take up the Cross, and own that holy Name,
Christ crucify'd, and risen from the Grave,
Whose Life's the Light of Men, that comes to save.
But what avails to read the History!
In silence learn to know the Mystery:
For inwardly the Heart's defil'd with Sin,
Therefore Salvation must be wrought within,
By that which humbles, and that boweth down
To Judgment; first the Cross, and then the Crown.
The Word is as a Fire to purify
The Heart of Man from all Iniquity,
Before it be a Word of Consolation,
And bring the Soul glad tidings of Salvation.
All this (I hope) thou know'st; but he that knows it
Is not thereby approv'd, but he that does it:
The Doer of the Word is Justify'd,
Because he by the same is Sanctify'd.
Slight not the day of small things, lest there be
Greater with-holden and conceal'd from thee.
Was it not said, when Ephr'im was a Child,
I loved him (that's lowly, meek, and mild?)
O be not high and lofty, but come down,
With quick Zacheus, if thou'lt gain the Crown
Of Life and Peace! Hark, doth not Jesus say,
Salvation's come unto thy House this day?
If thou'lt receive it, cast it not away.
1680.
(pp. 100-1, ll. 1-73)",,10378,"•Lots of inwardness in this poem. Silver, Voice, living Word (all in the heart)","""To seek the piece of Silver, hid within / The House, thy Heart; Redeem thy precious Time, / And find it out.""",Metal,2009-09-14 19:34:56 UTC,I've included the entire poem
3999,Inwardness; Refinement,"Searching ""heart"" and ""dross"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-07-19 00:00:00 UTC,"O love! Thou Substance of the Royal Law,
Let thy sweet Influencing Power draw
Our troubled Hearts, in true Humility,
To wait on thee with holy Fervency:
For thou our Souls hast often visited,
That we might, by thy tender hand, be led
From Darkness unto Light; from Enmity,
Strife and Contention, unto Unity,
In Undefiled, in Unfeigned Love;
Which, tho' it may in Gentleness reprove,
Or otherwise instruct, it covers all
Faults and Offences; yea, if any fall
Through Weakness, it bears up with ready Hand,
And lends a Shoulder, till such learn to stand,
And walk more strongly: For it joys to see
Brethren to dwell in perfect Unity,
Only Contending who may most be found
In Lowliness, that Love may more abound.
But, ah, 'tis Hatred, Wrath, Revenge, and Strife,
Discovers Faults, strikes at the very Life;
Provoking oft one seeming Friend or Brother,
To bite, despise, if not devour another,
For empty Trifles; so that Vanity
Becomes Vexatious, and Perplexity
Of Spirit: For, as well observ'd by one,
All things are Vanity below the Sun;
The Sun of Righteousness, which when it shines
With its Resplendent Conqu'ring Ray, refines
The drossy Nature; rightly purifies
The Heart, consuming all Impurities;
Whereby, at last, the Enmity is slain,
And Love exalted over all to Reign.
Great Prince of Peace! Instruct our Souls to wait
To be Establish'd in this happy State;
Where Joys abound, and Enmity does cease,
And Charity withal doth still increase;
That, with thy dear Redeemed Ones, we may
Walk Hand in Hand in Sion's blessed Way;
Where no Iniquity can e'er be found,
Nor Love wax cold, but more and more abound;
Yea, Love that thinks no Evil, but doth seek
The Good of all, and teacheth to be meek;
Not easily provoked, but in Peace
With all: Here Happiness shall still increase.
Then may our cheerful Souls triumph, and sing
Pure, holy, living Praise to Salem's King.
1679.",,10380,"","""The Sun of Righteousness, which when it shines / With its Resplendent Conqu'ring Ray, refines / The drossy Nature; rightly purifies / The Heart, consuming all Impurities.""","",2009-09-14 19:34:56 UTC,I've included the entire poem
4001,Innatism; Inwardness,"Searching ""breast"" and ""room"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-08-30 00:00:00 UTC,"But then, if any Fret arise,
Or Disappointment come,
How soon Upbraiding testifies,
True Friendship found not room
Within those narrow bounded Breasts,
The Lodging of Self-Interest,",,10382,"","""True Friendship found not room / Within those narrow bounded Breasts, / The Lodging of Self-Interest,""","",2009-09-14 19:34:56 UTC,""
4002,Inwardness,"Searching ""mind"" and ""closet"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-09-06 00:00:00 UTC,"Shall we exclude from a Sedate,
Sweet, Happy, and Contented State?
The honest Man, that lives in Health,
Enjoying still sufficient Wealth,
Though not from an Inheritance,
But sure supply from Providence,
Estate by Industry can find,
But treasures Goodness in his Mind;
Though boasting no Nobility,
Nor Honours, from a Pedigree;
But rather can, with Tully,[1]tell,
He doth his Ancestors excel;
Yet is not over-clogg'd with Care;
Can Time for Mind and Body spare;
Can Feed and Sleep in Season, free
From Superfluous Luxury;
That hath an equal Loyal Spouse,
An handsome Habitable House;
Inherited, or Purchas'd, that
He need not fear the sullen Threat
Of griping Landlord; but if not,
Finds true Content in any Lot;
Since in the Closet of his Mind
Dwells Solace not to be defin'd,
Hath a just Friend, that canot be
Transformed in Adversity;
And what's more Happy, yet more Strange!
He's always ready for a Change.",,10383,"•Note gives, ""Ego meis Majoribus Virtute præluxi.""","One finds ""true Content in any Lot; / Since in the Closet of his Mind / Dwells Solace not to be defin'd""",Rooms,2009-09-14 19:34:56 UTC,I've included the entire poem
3994,"","Searching ""breast"" and ""cabinet"" in HDIS (Poetry)",2005-09-07 00:00:00 UTC,"Vertue is the right sacred Spring, whence flows
Those Christal Streams, whereby true Friendship grows;
That dear Affection, that firm Unity,
That Interwoven free Community,
Which so engageth Hearts and Minds together,
No stormy Sea, nor utmost Lands, can sever
These willing Captives: For the Gen'rous Mind
Is not by place, though far remote, confin'd.
True Friends, when they by distance are bereaven
Of Verbal Converse, have their Names engraven
In one anothers Hearts, which cannot be
Cancell'd or Raz'd by Earths vain obloquy:
Yet, lest the same should, as a Glimm'ring Spark,
Seem to expire, as buried in the Dark,
There is by Mediums (if the place deny
Them, viva voce, free Community)
Reciprocal Reflections of its Beams
Unto each other, couch'd in sable Streams;
Tho' the abounding Solace doth increase,
When Friends converse together Face to Face;
Then freely they Unbosom their Requests,
And treasure Secrets in each others Breasts,
As in firm Cabinets, close lock'd, where none
Can find the Key, but only each his own.
Is one oppress'd with Grief? He lays a share
Upon his Friend, that he may help to bear:
Swims one in Solace? Finds he cause of Joy?
'Tis then re-doubled by Community:
Mourns one? the other Mourns: Doth one Rejoyce?
His Second Self then, both in Heart and Voice,
Doth Sympathize: True Friendship may not be
Without an inward secret Sympathy.
But fawning Parasites, tho' they pretend,
In Complement, to be each others Friend,
For meer Self-int'rest, or some close design,
Become, if not proud Enemies, in time
Absolute Strangers; and so manifest
True Friendship ne'er was grounded in their Breast.
Altho' there was some formal Shew, whereby
Some were deluded, through Hypocrisie,
T'impart their hidden Secrets, which are now
Made Proclamations, with a scornful Brow;
Nor are Reproaches, taunting Calumnies,
Backbiting, Railing, other Injuries,
With-held, as opportunity affords
Them vent for Wrath, with either Tongue or Swords;
Surely, because such do not rightly know
That Innate Spring, which makes true Friendship grow:
For this, by Covenant, doth so engage
Their Noble Hearts, that no Self-wounding Rage
Can here prevail, or once dissolve the Knot
Friendship hath ty'd: Mistakes are soon forgot,
If any interpose, or would present
Some Crime, to cause a Frown in discontent.
There's Charity in Friendly Breasts, that heals
Such Scars, whereby true Love, not Rage, prevails:
And when it is unto Perfection grown
In both their Hearts, such Scars are seldom known.
Gentle Advice, whereby one may reclaim
A Friend from Error, doth not wrong the Name,
Or make a Breach in Friendship: None may be
Rightly esteem'd a Friend, that if he see
His Neighbour lose his Way, will not direct
Unto a better; or that will reject
Good Exhortation, fancying Reproof
A greater Crime than he is guilty of.
Self-hood is often Blind; therefore a Friend
Is not prohibited to reprehend,
So he proclaim not Faults. But they that would
Sin uncontroul'd, and hug their Errors, should
Never contract a Friendship, lest thereby
That sacred Name be stain'd with Infamy.
Is any Wise, that when Distempers do
Begin to seize, would not desire to know?
Diseases known, are sooner cur'd; but they
That would indulge and hide them, that they may
Thereby increase, do frequently expose
Themselves, as a Derision to their Foes.
True Cordial Friends, without offence, can bear
Kind Admonition, though it be severe.
The faithful Wounds of Friends are like Incision,
Made by the Skilful Hand of some Physitián,
To let out noxious Humours, that invade
The afflicted Part, and stubbornly impede
The hoped Cure; which afterward with speed
Doth, by some suppling Ointment, well succeed.",,10385,"","""When Friends converse together Face to Face; / Then freely they Unbosom their Requests, / And treasure Secrets in each others Breasts, / As in firm Cabinets, close lock'd, where none / Can find the Key, but only each his own.""",Rooms,2013-06-11 18:02:02 UTC,""
4004,"",Searching in HDIS (Poetry),2006-03-07 00:00:00 UTC,"O that my Mind were cent'red where it ought!
Entirely freed from all distracting Thought:
Vain wandring Thoughts, that crowd within my Breast
Do oft obstruct my Soul from Solid Rest;
And, like to vagrant Clouds, obscure the Mind
Which should to serious watching be inclin'd:
Ah! Rise thou Sun of Righteousness, thy Light
Can soon dispel the Gloominess of Night:
Appear, appear, let thy Victorious Ray,
And long'd-for Presence, still renew the Day;
Whereby my slumb'ring Eyes may walk and see
The Dawning Morning of Felicity,
Still more and more break forth to perfect Day,
Whose Heav'nly Light guides in the Blessed Way,
That leads to thy renowned Holy Hill;
Where true Obedience to thy Sacred Will
Makes glad the Hearts of thy Redeemed Ones,
Who know the Comfort of Adopted Sons;
And can sing Praises to that Gracious Hand,
Which rais'd 'em up, and taught 'em how to stand,
To walk and run the pleasant Paths of Peace,
Rejoycing in true Joys that never cease.",2013-06-04,10387,"","""Vain wandring Thoughts, that crowd within my Breast / Do oft obstruct my Soul from Solid Rest; / like to vagrant Clouds, obscure the Mind / Which should to serious watching be inclin'd.""",Inhabitants,2013-06-04 16:07:02 UTC,I've included the entire poem