A Poem By Thomas Traherneby Thomas Traherne, submitted by Shaun
Tis more to recollect, then make. The one Is but an Accident without the other. We cannot think the World to be the Throne Of God, unless his Wisdom shine as Brother Unto his power, in the Fabrick, so That we the one may in the other know. His Goodness also must in both appear, And all the Children of his Love be found, In the Creation of the Starry Sphere, And in the Forming of the fruitfull Ground; Before we can that Happiness descrie, Which is the Daughter of the DEITIE. His Wisdom Shines in Spreading forth the Skie, His Power's Great in Ordering the Sun, His Goodness very Marvellous and High Appears, in evry Work his Hand hath done. And all his Works in their varietie, Even scattered abroad delight the Eye. But neither Goodness, Wisdom, Power, nor Love, Nor Happiness it self in things could be, Did not they all in one fair order move, And joyntly by their Service End in me. Had he not made an Ey to be the Sphere Of all Things, none of these would e're appear. His Wisdom, Goodness, Power, as they unite All things in one, that they may be the Treasures Of one Enjoy'r, shine in the utmost Height They can attain; and are most Glorious Pleasures, When all the Universe conjoynd in one, Exalts a Creature, as if that alone. To bring the Moisture of far distant Seas Into a point, to make them present here, In virtu, not in Bulk; one man to please With all the Powers of the Highest Sphere, From East, from West, from North and South, to bring The pleasing Influence of evry thing; Is far more Great than to Create them there Where now they stand; His Wisdom more doth shine In that, his Might and Goodness more appear, In recollecting; He is more Divine In making evry Thing a Gift to one Than in the Parts of all his Spacious Throne. Herein we see a Marvellous Designe, And apprehending Clearly the Great Skill Of that Great Architect, whose Love doth shine In all his Works, we find his Life and Will. For lively Counsels do the Godhead shew, And these his Love and Goodness make us know. By Wise Contrivance he doth all things guide, And so dispose them, that while they unite, For Man, he Endless Pleasures doth Provide, And shows that Happiness is his Delight, His Creatures Happiness as well as His: For that in Truth he seeks, and that's his Bliss. O Rapture! Wonder! Extasie! Delight! How Great must then his Glory be, how Great Our Blessedness! How vast and infinite Or pleasure, how Transcendent, how compleat, If we the Goodness of our God possess, And all His Joy be in our Blessedness! Thomas Traherne
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