POEMS ON Several Occafions. On Exodus iii. 14. I am that I am. An O D E. Written in 1688, as an Exercife at St. JOHN's College, CAMBRIDGE. M I. AN! Foolish Man! Scarce know'ft thou how thy felf began; Thou art; Yet fteel'd with ftudy'd Boldness, tho dar'ft try To fend thy doubting Reafon's dazled Eye Through the mysterious Gulph of vast Immensity. Vain are thy Thoughts, while thou thy felf art Duft. Let Wit her Sails, her Oars let Wisdom lend; Still 'tis farther from its End; And, in the Bosom of that boundless Sea, With daring Pride and infolent Delight Your Doubts refolv'd you boast, your Labours crown'd}' And, "FTPH KA! your God, forfooth is found Incomprehenfible and Infinite. But is He therefore found? Vain Searcher! no: Let your imperfect Definition fhow, That nothing You, the weak Definer, know. IV. Say, why fhou'd the collected Main It felf within it felf contain? Why to its Caverns fhou'd it sometimes creep, On the lov'd Bofom of its Parent Deep? In comely Discipline, and fair Array, Why Why do the rifing Surges fpread Their op'ning Ranks o'er Earth's fubmiffive Head, V. Why does the conftant Sun With meafur'd Steps his radiant Journeys run? To leave Earth's other Part, and rise in Ours? Love the juft Limits of it's proper Sphere? With prudent Harmony combine VI. Man does with dangerous Curiosity These unfathom❜d Wonders try: With fancy'd Rules and arbitrary Laws Matter and Motion he restrains; And study'd Lines and fictious Circles draws: Lord of his new HYPOTHESIS he reigns. That all his Predeceffor's Rules Were empty Cant, all JARGON of the Schools; That he on t'other's Ruin rears his Throne; 'And fhows his Friend's Miftake, and thence confirms his VII. On Earth, in Air, amidst the Seas and Skies, Whose tow'ring Strength will ne'er submit Each Hour repuls'd, each Hour dare onward prefs; Which guides his Doubts, and combats his Despair) That pregnant Word fent forth again, Might to a World extend each A TOм there; VIII. Let cunning Earth her fruitful Wonders hide; To trembling CALVARY's aftonish'd Top; Star. Then mock thy Knowledge, and confound thy Pride, Explaining how Perfection fuffer'd Pain, Almighty languish'd, and Eternal dy'd: How by her Patient Victor Death was flain; And Earth prophan'd, yet bless'd with Deicide, Then down with all thy boasted Volumes, down; Low, reverently low, Make thy ftubborn Knowledge bow; Weep Weep out thy Reafon's, and thy Body's Eyes; To look to Heav'n, be blind to all below. IX. Then Faith, for Reafon's glimmering Light, fhall give Her Immortal Perspective; And Grace's Prefence Nature's Lofs retrieve: Then thy enliven❜d Soul shall see, That all the Volumes of Philofophy, With all their Comments, never cou'd invent To reach the Heav'n of Heav'ns, the high Abode, TO THE COUNTESS of EXETER, Playing on the LUTE. WHAT Charms You have, from what high Race You fprung, Have been the pleasing Subjects of my Song: |