Saturday Poetry Corner: The Flesh And The Spirit

 

"For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the
desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh- godless human nature;
for these are antagonistic to each other, continually withstanding and
in conflict with each other, so that you are not free, but are prevented
from doing what you desire to do.  But, if you are guided by the
Holy Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.  And those who belong
to Christ Jesus the Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions,
 and appetites and desires.  If we live by the Holy Spirit, let us
 also walk by the Spirit.  If by the Holy Spirit we have
our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, 
 our conduct controlled by the Holy Spirit."
(Galatians 5:17-18; 24-25)

Image courtesy/Family Radio 316

In the secret place where once I stood

Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood,

I heard two sisters reason on

Things that are past and things to come.

One Flesh was call'd who had her eye

On worldly wealth and vanity;

The other Spirit, who did rear

Her thoughts unto a higher sphere.

"Sister," quoth Flesh, "what liv'st thou on

Nothing but Meditation?

Doth Contemplation feed thee so

Regardlessly to let earth go?

Can Speculation satisy

Notion without Reality?

Dost dream of things beyond the Moon

And dost thou hope to dwell there soon?

Hast treasures there laid up in store

That all in th' world thou count'st but poor?

Art fancy-sick or turn'd a Sot

To catch at shadows which are not?

Come, come, I'll show unto thy sense,

Industry hath its recompence.

What canst desire, but thou maist see

True substance in variety?

Dost honour like? Acquire the same,

As some to their immortal fame;

And trophies to thy name erect,

Which wearing time shall ne'er deject.

For riches dost thou long full sore?

Behold enough of precious store.

Earth hath more silver, pearls, and gold

Than eyes can see or hands can hold.

Affects thou pleasure? Take thy fill.

Earth hath enough of what you will.

Then let not go what thou maist find

For things unknown only in mind."

Spirit,

"Be still, thou unregenerate part,

Disturb no more my settled heart,

For I have vow'd (and so will do)

Thee as a foe still to pursue,

And combat with thee will and must

Until I see thee laid in th' dust,

Sister we are, yea twins we be,

Yet deadly feud 'twixt thee and me,

For from one father we are not,

Thou by old Adam wast begot,

But my arise is from above,

Whence my dear Father I do love,

Thou speak'st me fair but hat'st me sore.

Thy flatt'ring shews I'll trust no more.

How oft thy slave hast thou me made

When I believ'd what thou hast said

And never had more cause of woe

Than when I did what thou bad'st do.

I'll stop mine ears at these thy charms

And count them for my deadly harms.

Thy sinful pleasures I do hate,

Thy riches are to me no bait.

Thine honours do, nor will I love,

For my ambition lies above.

My greatest honour it shall be

When I am victor over thee,

And Triumph shall, with laurel head,

When thou my Captive shalt be led.

How do I live, thou need'st not scoff,

For I have meat thou know'st not of.

The hidden Manna I do eat;

The Word of life, it is my meat.

My thoughts do yield me more content

Than can thy hours in pleasure spent.

Nor are they shadows which I catch,

Nor fancies vain at which I snatch

But reach at things that are so high,

Beyond thy dull Capacity.

Eternal substance I do see

With which inriched I would be.

Mine eye doth pierce the heav'ns and see

What is Invisible to thee.

My garments are not silk nor gold,

Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold,

But Royal Robes I shall have on,

More glorious than the glist'ring Sun.

My Crown not Diamonds, Pearls, and gold,

But such as Angels' heads infold.

The City where I hope to dwell,

There's none on Earth can parallel.

The stately Walls both high and strong

Are made of precious Jasper stone,

The Gates of Pearl, both rich and clear,

And Angels are for Porters there.

The Streets thereof transparent gold

Such as no Eye did e'er behold.

A Crystal River there doth run

Which doth proceed from the Lamb's Throne.

Of Life, there are the waters sure

Which shall remain forever pure.

Nor Sun nor Moon they have no need

For glory doth from God proceed.

No candle there, nor yet Torch light,

For there shall be no darksome night.

From sickness and infirmity

Forevermore they shall be free.

Nor withering age shall e'er come there,

But beauty shall be bright and clear.

This City pure is not for thee,

For things unclean there shall not be.

If I of Heav'n may have my fill,

Take thou the world, and all that will."

Anne Dudley Bradstreet
19th century sketch by 
Edmund H. Garrett
(1853-1929)
American illustrator
Image courtesy/Wikipedia

"The Flesh And The Spirit"
(Published in 1678)
Anne Bradstreet
(1612-1672)
American Puritan poetess