. Emblems, divine and moral : The school of the heart; and Hieroglyphics of the life of man . g, progress, and thy last :This is the sum of man ; but now return,And view this taper standing in this her substance sordid and and vain, (wanting light) obscure : THE LIFE OF MAN. 395 Tis but a span at longest, nor can lastBeyond that span; ordaind and made to waste ;Een such was man (before his soul gave lightTo this vile substance) a mere child of nightyEre he had life, estated in his markd for death ; by nature born to burn :Thus lifeless, lightless, worthless, f
. Emblems, divine and moral : The school of the heart; and Hieroglyphics of the life of man . g, progress, and thy last :This is the sum of man ; but now return,And view this taper standing in this her substance sordid and and vain, (wanting light) obscure : THE LIFE OF MAN. 395 Tis but a span at longest, nor can lastBeyond that span; ordaind and made to waste ;Een such was man (before his soul gave lightTo this vile substance) a mere child of nightyEre he had life, estated in his markd for death ; by nature born to burn :Thus lifeless, lightless, worthless, first beganThat glorious, that presumptuous thing, calld man. S. August. Consider, O man, what thou wert before thy birth,and what thou art from thy birth to thy death, and whatthou shalt be after death : thou wert made of an im-pure substance, clothed and nourished in thy mothersblood. Epig. I. Forbear, fond taper: what thou seekst, is fire :Thy own destruction s lodgd in thy desire ;Thy wants are far more safe than their supply :He that begins to live, begins to die. 396 HIEROGLYPHICS OF. Nesdus unde. At length thou seest it catch the living flame,But knowst not whence the emanation came. GEN. I. 3. And God said^ Let there he light -, and there was light. T~*HIS flame-expecting taper hath at length-■■ Received fire, and now begins to burn :It hath no vigour yet, it hath no strength ;Apt to be puff d and quenchd at evry turn: THE LIFE OF MA^NT. 397 It was a gracious hand that thus endowdThis snuff with flame : but mark, this hand dothshroudItself from mortal eyes, and folds it in a cloud. Thus man begins to live. An unknown flame Quickens his finished organs, now possestWith motion ; and which motion doth proclaimAn active soul, though in a feeble breast j But how, and when infusd, ask not my pen ;Here lies a cloud before the eyes of men :I cannot tell thee how, nor canst thou tell me when. Was it a parcel of celestial fire, Infusd by Heavn into this fleshly mould ?Or was i
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