Silence

Summary

1

A quiet Silent Person may possess

All that is Great or High in Blessedness.

The Inward Work is the Supreme: for all

The other were occasiond 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

Performed, carry all the Excellence.

These outward Busy Acts he knew not, were

But 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,

Ploughing and Toyling for a forc't 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:

These therfore were occasiond all by Sin.

The first and only Work he had to do,

Was in himself to feel his Bliss, to view

His Sacred Treasures, to admire, rejoyce

Sing Praises with a Sweet and Heavnly voice,

See, Prize, Give Thanks within, and Love

Which is the High and only Work, above

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

My Exercises of the Highest Sphere.

To see, Approve, take Pleasure, and rejoyce,

Within, is better then an Empty Voice:

No Melody in Words can Equal that;

The Sweetest Organ, Lute, or Harp is flat,

And Dull, compard thereto. And O that Still

I might Admire my Fathers Lov and Skill!

This is to Honor, Worship and Adore,

This is to lov Him: nay it is far more.

It is to Enjoy Him, and to Imitate

The Life and Glory of his High Estate.

Tis to receiv with Holy Reverence,

To understand his Gifts, and with a Sence

Of Pure Devotion, and Humilitie,

To prize his Works, his Lov to magnify.