| Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of King James the First. 1847. | | | | The Force of Contrition | | XCV. John Abbott |
| | | IN 1 the first age, when world did new begin, | |
| With many raines thou didst drowne man and sin: | |
| Againe vnto the watery flouds giue scope, | |
| Againe the cataracts of heauen let ope. | |
| We not of Abana and Pharpar dreame, | 5 |
| We must be curd’e in onely Iordan’s streame— | |
| Blest streame, which from thy mercies’ head doth rise, | |
| And thence descending runneth through our eies. | |
| Waters beginning from earthe’s slimie vaines | |
| Not able are to purifie our staines. | 10 |
| Such are those teares which from hel’s feare do grow,— | |
| Such are those teares which from self-loue do flow. | |
| The raine which this detested elfe must drowne | |
| Must from aboue, must from high heauen come downe: | |
| Wherefore salt teares for sin send down apace— | 15 |
| O happie dying in such streames of grace!— | |
| A sea of griefe in eu’ry place abound, | |
| And in the waues let vgly sin be drown’d. | |
| Each one of vs a sinner’s title beares,— | |
| Let vs be Magdalens in shedding teares: | 20 |
| Of Hesebon, large fish-pondes be our eyes; | |
| The waters wofull plaintes, the fish sad cries. | |
| | | Note 1. XCV. John Abbott.—He wrote “Jesus Præfigvred; or a Poeme of the Holy Name of Jesvs, in five bookes,” which was published in 1623. [back] | | |
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