Churches. I

Summary

Those stately Structures which on Earth I view

To God erected, whether Old or New;

His Sacred Temples which the World adorn,

Much more than Mines of Ore or Fields of Corn

My Soul delight: How do they pleas mine Ey

When they are fill'd with His Great Family!

Upon the face of all the peepl'd Earth

There's no such sacred Joy or solemn Mirth,

To pleas and satisfy my Heart's Desire,

As that wherwith my Lord is in a Quire,

In holy Hymns by warbling Voices prais'd,

With Eys lift up, and joint Affections rais'd.

The Arches built (like Hev'n) wide and high

Shew his Magnificence and Majesty

Whose House it is: with so much Art and Cost

The Pile is fram'd, the curious Knobs embost,

Set off with Gold, that me it more doth pleas

Than Princes Courts or Royal Palaces;

Great Stones pil'd up by costly Labors there

Like Mountains carv'd by human Skill appear;

Where Towers, Pillars, Pinnacles, and Spires

Do all concur to match my great Desires,

Whose Joy it is to see such Structures rais'd

To th' end my God and Father should be prais'd.