Silence

Summary

A quiet silent Person may possess

All that is Great or Good in Blessedness:

The Inward Work is the Supream; for all

The other were occasion'd by the Fall.

A man, that seemeth Idle to the view

Of others, may the greatest Business do:

Those Acts which Adam in his Innocence

Was to perform, had all the Excellence:

Others which he knew not (how good so-e'r)

Are meaner Matters, of a lower Sphere;

Building of Churches; Giving to the Poor;

In Dust and Ashes lying on the floor;

Administring of Justice; Preaching Peace;

Plowing and Toiling for a forc'd Increas;

With Visiting the Sick, or Governing

The Rude and Ignorant. This was a thing

As then unknown: for neither Ignorance,

Nor Poverty, nor Sickness, did advance

Their Banner in the World, till Sin came in;

Since that, these to be needful did begin.

The first and only Work he had to do,

Was, of his Bliss to take a grateful View;

In all the Goods he did possess, rejoice;

Sing Praises to his God with cheerful voice;

T' express his hearty Thanks, and inward Lov,

Which is the best accepted Work abov

Them all. And this at first was mine: These were

My Exercises of the highest Sphere.

To see, approv, take pleasure, and rejoice

In Heart; is better than the loudest Nois.

No Melody in Words can equal that:

The sweetest Organ, Lute, or Harp, is flat

And dull, compar'd therto. O! that I still

Could prize my Father's Lov and Holy Will!

This is to honor, worship, and adore;

This is to fear Him; nay, it is far more:

'Tis to enjoy him, and to imitate

The very Life and Bliss of His High 'State:

'Tis to receiv with holy Reverence

His mighty Gifts, and with a fitting Sense

Of pure Devotion, and Humility,

To prize his Works, his Lov to magnify.

O happy Ignorance of other Things,

Which made me present with the King of Kings,

And like Him too! All Spirit, Life, and Power,

Wreathed into a never-fading Bower.