ONE THING IS NEEDFUL; OR, SERIOUS MEDITATIONS UPON THE FOUR LAST THINGS-DEATH AND JUDGMENT, HEAVEN AND HELL. AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ENSUING 1. THESE lines I at this time present To all that will them heed, Wherein I show to what intent God saith, Convert with speed; 2. For these four things come on apace, 3. For doubtless man was never born 4. Can any think that God should take So like himself, only to make Him here a moment stand? 5. Or that he should make much ado, 6. Or that the promise he hath made, Also the threatenings great, Should in a moment end and fade? Oh no; this is a cheat. 7. Besides, who is so mad (or worse) & If nothing should by us be had 9. Again, shall God, who is the truth, And shall men play that trick of youth, 10. Shall He that keeps his promise sure 11. Oh let all tremble at that thought 12. Alas! death is but as the door Through which all men do pass 13. Let all therefore that read my lines Yea, let them read, and turn betimes 14. Mind, therefore, what I treat on here- OF DEATH. 1. DEATH, as a king rampant and stout, 2. No king so great, nor prince so strong, 3. Where are the victors of the world, 4. How feeble is the strongest hand When death begins to gripe! 5. The man that hath a lion's face Must here give place and bend; Yea, tho' his bones were bars of brass, 'Tis vain here to contend. 6. Submit he must to feeble ones, To worms, who will enclose His skin and flesh, sinews and bones, 7. Among themselves, as merchants do 8. Which they by dint of sword have won 9. Beauty, death turns to rottenness, 10. The wild he tames, and spoils the mirth Of all that wanton are; He takes the worldling from his worth, 11. Death favours none; he lays at all Of all sorts and degree; Both old and young, both great and small, 12. No fawning words will flatter him, Nor threatenings make him start; He favours none for worth or kin; All must taste of his dart. 18. What shall I say? The graves declare There lie the skulls, dust, bones, and there 14. Death puts on things another face Sin, Satan, hell, death, life and grace 15. Yea, now the sick man's eye is set He also knows too, without let, That there must be his home, 16. Either in joy, in bliss, and light, 17. But oh the sad estate that then Both void of grace and life! Poor men. 18. Ha! live I may not, though I would 19. No, here he must no longer stay, That makes him fear and doubt. 20. Death doth already strike his heart Of guilt, which makes his conscience start 21. For only he that God doth fear 22. 'Tis he that shall by angels be That angels have; for he, oh he, 23. Those weapons and those instruments 24. That never more shall have a day, 25. With the first fruits of saving grace, 16. Within whose breast a witness then That to each charge will say, Amen, 17. To shun the sentence which the Lord Out of the book of God's record, 18. But every heart shall opened be Before this Judge most high; 19. And every word and action too He there will manifest; 20. Shall then be seen and laid before 21. Weighing each sin and wickedness 22. With so much justice doing right My sins have brought me to this plight; 23. Into the gulf my sins have brought For which I blame not Christ; I wrought 24. But oh how willingly would these That thus in judgment be, If that they might have help or ease, 25. They would rejoice, if that they might 26 No mask nor vizor here can hide All cloaks now must be laid aside, 27. The tree of life this paradise Doth always beautify, 'Cause of our health t is the rise And perpetuity. 28. Here stands the golden throne of grace, From out of which do run Those crystal streams that make this place 29. Here stands Mount Zion with her King, Jerusalem above, That holy and delightful thing, 30. That as a mother succours those Which of her body be, So she far more all such as close 31. Her grace, her everlasting doors, Them all, with welcome, welcome-poor, 32. Unto the kingdom which our Lord Appointed hath for all That hath his name and word ador'd 33. Unto that work which also they Sincerely did fulfil, Not shunning always to obey 34. Besides, this much doth beautify This godly paradise, That from all quarters constantly 35. Of precious blood, do here arrive, As safe escaping all Sin, hell, and Satan did contrive 36. Each telling his deliverance 37. By deadly foe, who did pursue As swift as eagles fly; Which if you have not, down thou must With those that then shall die 38. The truth of grace shall only here To stand, whilst others quake and fear, |