Having restrained Discontent,

The onely Foe to Health and Witt,

I sought by all meanes to prevent

The causes which did nourish it,

Knowing that they who are judicious

Have alwaies held it most pernicious.

Looking to outward things, I found

Not that which Sorrow might abate,

But rather cause them to abound

Then any Greife to mittigate

Which made me seek by supplicacion

Internall Peace and Consolacion

Calling to mind their wretchednesse

That seem to be in happy case

Having externall happinesse

But therewithall no inward grace;

Nor are their minds with knowledg pollisht

In such all vertues are abollisht

For where the mind ’s obscure and dark

There is no vertu resident,

Of goodnesse there remaines no spark;

Distrustfullnesse doth there frequent

For Ignorance the cause of error

May also be the cause of terror

As doth the Sun-beames beutify

The Sky, which else doth dim appeare

So Knowledg doth exquisitly

The Mind adorn, delight and cleare

Which otherwise is most obscure,

Full of enormities impure.

So that their Soules polluted are

That live in blockish Ignorance.

Which doth their miseries declare

And argues plainly that their wants

More hurtfull are then outward Crosses

Infirmities, Reproach, or Losses.

Where saving Knowledg doth abide,

The peace of Conscience also dwels

And many Vertues more beside

Which all obsurdities expels,

And fils the Soule with joy Celestiall

That shee regards not things Terrestiall.

Sith then the Graces of the Mind

Exceeds all outward Happinesse,

What sweet Contentment do they find

Who are admitted to possesse

Such matchlesse Pearles, so may we call them;

For Precious is the least of all them.

VVhich when I well considered

My greife for outward crosses ceast,

Being not much discouraged

Although afflictions still encreast,

Knowing right well that Tribulacion

No token is of Reprobacion.