1

The Highest Things are Easiest to be shewn,

And only capable of being Known.

A Miste involvs the Ey,

While in the Middle it doth lie;

And till the Ends of Things are seen,

The Way's uncertain that doth stand between.

As in the Air we see the Clouds

Like Winding Sheets, or Shrouds;

Which tho they nearer are obscure

The Sun, which Higher far, is far more Pure.

2

Its very Brightness makes it neer the Ey,

Tho many thousand Leagues beyond the Skie.

Its Beams by violence

Invade, and ravish distant Sence.

Only Extremes and Hights are Known;

No Certainty, where no Perfection's Shewn.

Extremities of Blessedness

Compell us to confess

A God indeed. Whose Excellence,

In all his Works, must needs exceed all Sence.

3

And for this Caus Incredibles alone

May be by Demonstration to us shewn.

Those Things that are most Bright

Sun-like appear in their own Light.

And Nothing's truly seen that's Mean:

Be it a Sand, an Acorn, or a Bean,

It must be clothd with Endless Glory,

Before its perfect Story

(Be the Spirit ne're so Clear)

Can in its Causes and its Ends appear.

4

What can be more Incredible then this,

Where may we find a more profound Abyss?

What Heavnly Height can be

Transcendent to this Summitie!

What more Desirable Object can

Be offerd to the Soul of Hungering Man!

His Gifts as they to us com down

Are infinit, and crown

The Soul with Strange Fruitions; yet

Returning from us they more value get.

5

And what then this can be more Plain and Clear?

What Truth then this more Evident appear!

The GODHEAD cannot prize

The Sun at all, nor yet the Skies,

Or Air, or Earth, or Trees, or Seas,

Or Stars, unless the Soul of Man they pleas.

He neither sees with Humane Eys

Nor needs Himself Seas Skies

Or Earth, or any thing: He draws

No Breath, nor Eats or Drinks by Natures Laws.