Baxter- Poetical Fragments

When in thy Word I read Love's Mysteries;
There I would sweetly feed my greedy eyes.
Each Sacrament should be an Eucharist: (twist.
There Heart with Heart, & Love with Love should
My friends and I would in our daily walk
Of love's Delights and Entertainment talk:
My working Love should others Love excite:
In Love I'd be a Burning Shining Light.
Love through the Lantern of my flesh should shine:
Who heard me speak, should hear that I am Thine:
Remembering that in Love I must be made
Equal to Angels; I would learn their Trade:
Yea I would reach up to a higher shelf;
And as my Copy, look to Christ himself:

Love's word I'd do with my
diligence, (Mar. 3.20.21)
Though men should think I were
beside my sense. (2 Cor. 5.13)

My daily Love should rise before the Sun,
And it in speed and constancy out run:
Love as my life should fill up all my daise;
Desire should be my Pulse; my Breath thy Praise.
And I would winde up all the strings as high,
As Blessed Paul was in his Ecstasy.
Heav'nly Love should all my words indite,
And be the soul and sense of all I write:
My heart of Love's Delights should sweetly think,
I'd write with flaming fire instead of ink:

And yet thy holy Day should be my Best,
In it my thirsty Soul should taste of Rest;
My daily food should increase to a Feast.
O my Dear God! how precious is thy Love?
O could I mount thus to the Flames above?

These are Love's pantings after thee, my God!
Though, with my Soul, imprisoned in a clod!
My Soul and Love shall shortly be set free;
And then my Soul, my Love shall feast on Thee.
If thou wouldft grant the very thing I crave,
And give me leave to chuse what I would have;
Should it be lusts, or Sports, or Fleshly pleasure?
Should it be Lordly Rule, or Earthly Treasure?
No; I could gladly leave this Dirt to Swine,
And let the World be theirs, if Thou be mine!
I would not thirst to taste of their Delight.
If lively Faith might see the blessed Sight!
I would not be ambitious of a Throne!
I could have full content in God alone.
For mens Esteem and Praise I would not care:
All other Wit and Knowledge I could spare:
To Know and Love my God should be my choice:
Give me but This, and how shall I rejoice?
Under my hand, Lord, This is it I choose:
O give me this, whatever else I lose!
If there no spark of Love in this Desire?
When a poor Soul doth unto Thee aspire?
To Know and Love thee is my thirst and strive:
Nothing more makes me weary of my life,

Than that I feel no more the heav'nly Fire,
But look and reach, and yet can reach no higher.
Here lyes my pain! This is my daily sore:
I hate my Heart for loving God no more.
Do I not Love Thee, when I Love to Love Thee?
And when I set up nothing else above Thee?
Next GOD himself, who is my END & REST,
Love which stands next Thee, I esteem my Best,
And Loving God shall be my endless Feast.
O my Dear God! how precious is thy Love?
These are thy Earnests of the Life above.

--19-21