The blood of Abel was a thing
Of such a rev'rend reckoning,
As that the old world thought it fit
Especially to swear by it.
Of such a rev'rend reckoning,
As that the old world thought it fit
Especially to swear by it.
Robert Herrick
200. BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS.
Paul, he began ill, but he ended well;
Judas began well, but he foully fell:
In godliness not the beginnings so
Much as the ends are to be look'd unto.
201. TEMPORAL GOODS.
These temporal goods God, the most wise, commends
To th' good and bad in common for two ends:
First, that these goods none here may o'er-esteem
Because the wicked do partake of them;
Next, that these ills none cowardly may shun,
Being, oft here, the just man's portion.
202. HELL FIRE.
The fire of hell this strange condition hath,
To burn, not shine, as learned Basil saith.
203. ABEL'S BLOOD.
Speak, did the blood of Abel cry
To God for vengeance? Yes, say I,
Ev'n as the sprinkled blood called on
God for an expiation.
204. ANOTHER.
The blood of Abel was a thing
Of such a rev'rend reckoning,
As that the old world thought it fit
Especially to swear by it.
205. A POSITION IN THE HEBREW DIVINITY.
One man repentant is of more esteem
With God, than one that never sinned 'gainst Him.
206. PENITENCE.
The doctors, in the Talmud, say,
That in this world one only day
In true repentance spent will be
More worth than heaven's eternity.
207. GOD'S PRESENCE.
God's present everywhere, but most of all
Present by union hypostatical:
God, He is there, where's nothing else, schools say,
And nothing else is there where He's away.
_Hypostatical_, personal.
208. THE RESURRECTION POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE.
For each one body that i' th' earth is sown,
There's an uprising but of one for one;
But for each grain that in the ground is thrown,
Threescore or fourscore spring up thence for one:
So that the wonder is not half so great
Of ours as is the rising of the wheat.
209. CHRIST'S SUFFERING.
