The Inference. II

Summary

David a Temple in his Mind conceiv'd;

And that Intention was so well receiv'd

By God, that all the Sacred Palaces

That ever were did less His Glory pleas.

If Thoughts are such; such Valuable Things;

Such reall Goods; such human Cherubins;

Material Delights; transcendent Objects; Ends

Of all God's Works, which most His Ey intends.

O! What are Men, who can such Thoughts produce,

So excellent in Nature, Valu, Use?

Which not to Angels only grateful seem,

But God, most Wise, himself doth them esteem

Worth more than Worlds? How many thousand may

Our Hearts conceiv and offer evry Day?

Holy Affections, grateful Sentiments,

Good Resolutions, virtuous Intents,

Seed-plots of activ Piety; He values more

Than the Material World He made before.

To such as these the Blessed-Virgin-Mother

Of God's own Son, (rather than any other)

Apply'd her Mind; for, of her pious Care

To treasure up those Truths which she did hear

Concerning Christ, in thoughtful Heart, w're told;

But not that e'r with Offferings of Gold

The Temple she enricht. This understood,

How glorious, how divine, how great, how good

May we becom! How like the Deity

In managing our Thoughts aright! A Piety

More grateful to our God than building Walls

Of Churches, or the Founding Hospitalls:

Wherin He givs us an Almighty Power

To pleas Him so, that could we Worlds creäte,

Or more new visible Earths and Hev'ens make,

'Twould be far short of this; which is the Flower

And Cream of Strength. This we might plainly see,

But that we Rebels to our Reason be.

Shall God such sacred Might on us bestow?

And not employ't to pay the Thanks we ow?

Such grateful Offerings able be to giv;

Yet them annihilat, and God's Spirit griev?

Consider that for All our Lord hath don,

All that He can receiv is this bare Summ

Of God-like Holy Thoughts: These only He

Expects from Us, our Sacrifice to be.