How easily doth Nature teach the soul How irresistible is her infusion! There's nothing found that can her force control But sin. How weak and feeble's all delusion!
Things false are forc'd and most elaborate, Things pure and true are obvious unto sense; The first impressions in our earthly state Are made by things most great in excellence.
How easy is it to believe the sky Is wide and great and fair! How soon may we Be made to know the Sun is bright and high, And very glorious, when its beams we see!
That all the Earth is one continued globe, And that all men therein are living treasures, That fields and meadows are a glorious robe Adorning it with smooth and heavenly pleasures.
That all we see is ours, and every one Possessor of the whole; that every man Is like a God Incarnate on the Throne, Even like the first for whom the world began;
Whom all are taught to honour, serve, and love, Because he is belov'd of God unknown; And therefore is on Earth itself above All others, that His wisdom might be shewn.
That all may happy be, each one most blest, Both in himself and others; all most high, While all by each, and each by all possest Are intermutual joys beneath the sky.
This shows a wise contrivance, and discovers Some great Creator sitting on the Throne, That so disposeth things for all His lovers, That every one might reign like God alone.
The liquid pearl in springs, The useful and the precious things Are in a moment known. Their very glory does reveal their worth (And that doth set their glory forth); As soon as I was born they all were shewn.
True living wealth did flow In crystal streams below My feet, and trilling down In pure, transparent, soft, sweet, melting pleasures, Like precious and diffusive treasures, At once my body fed, and soul did crown.
I was as high and great As Kings are in their seat. All other things were mine. The world my house, the creatures were my goods, Fields, mountains, valleys, woods, Men and their arts to make me rich combine.
Great, lofty, endless, stable, Various and Innumerable, Bright, useful, fair, divine. Immovable and sweet the treasures were, The sacred objects did appear More rich and beautiful, as well as mine.
New all! new-burnisht joys; Tho' now by other toys Eclipst: new all and mine. Great Truth so sacred seemed for this to me, Because the things which I did see Were such, my state I knew to be divine.