Original - Duke Divinity School

And now whate’er or swims, or walks, or flies,
Inhabitants of Sea, or Earth, or Skies;
All on whom Adam’s Wisdom fixt a Name;
All plunge and perish in the conquering Flame.
Yet these alone 280 would but defraud the fire,
Starve its devouring Rage: the Flakes aspire,
Beyound the clouds, and make the Heavens their Prey;
The Sun, the Moon, the Stars, all melt away;
And leave a Might Blank: Enrobed 281 in Flame
The whole Creation sinks! The Glorious Frame,
In which ten thousand Worlds in radiant Dance,
Orb above Orb their wondrous Course advance. …
Is crushed, and lost; no Monument is seen, 282
Where once so proudly Blazed the gay Machine.
The Devastations of One dreadfull Hour
The Great Creator’s Six Days Work devour.
So Bubbles on the foaming Stream Expire,
So Sparks that scatter from the kindling Fire. […]
How rich the God who can such Charge defray,
As nothing, throw ten thousand Worlds away! 283
Great Wealth! and yet, (Ye nations hear!) One Soul
Has more to boast, and far outweighs the Whole; […]
Have you not seen th’ Eternal Mountains nod,
An earth dissolving, a descending God?
What strange Amazement 284 thro’ all Nature ran!
For whom These Revolutions, But for Man?
For Him, Omnipotence new measures takes,
For Him, through all Eternity awakes;
Pours on Him Gifts sufficient to supply
Heaven’s Loss, and with fresh glories fill the Sky.
Think deeply then, O Man, How Great Yhou art;
Pay thyself Homage with a trembling Heart. …
280Ori.: “This globe alone.”
281Ori.: “Involv’d.”
282Ori.: “no Monument, no Sign.”
283Ori.: “and bear to sling ten thousand Worlds away!”
284 Ori.: “surprises.”
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