Thomas Black

“ MEDITATION
Wrote a little before the Author's Death.
TO thee O Jesus I will sing,
Who mankind fall'n from where he stood,
Up from their ruined state did bring,
Having redeem'd them by his blood. ”

“ A noble captain thou shalt have,
of whom thou mayest boast;
Under whose conduct never yet,
one soldier was lost
Oh! he is mighty, and can make
the stoutest foe to yield;
Who under him do fight, they shall
be sure to win the field ”

“ What folly doth thee so possess,
what profit without pain,
What labour will not men endure to
some pretty thing to gain,
Can any thing unpleasant be,
that leads to such an end,
Which may the way though straight to all,
sufficiently commend. ”

“ For why sin's greatest pleasures are,
not real as they seem
Whatever those do think that he
amidst there pleasures swim,
Yea all the pleasures of this earth,
are short and do not stay,
Unto themselves they wings do take
and swiftly fly away. ”

“ Unto the most, since they themselves
do therewith rest content.
The greatest part do foolishly,
place all their heaven here,
These glistering shadows unto them,
of so much worth appear
Poor mortal man, as eager is,
these vanities to gain. ”