The Earth Is God’s, and in His Hands — Are All the Corners of the Lands
LOng since, the sacred Hebrew Lyrick sayd,
(A Truth, which never justly was denayd)
That, All the world is God’s; and that his hands
Enclose the limits of the farthest Lands.
The selfe same Truth affirmes, that likewise, there,
By him, their clodds, and furrowes warred are,
And, that with dewes and showres, he doth so blesse
The dwellings of the barren Wildernesse,
That, those Inhabitants (whom some conceiv’d,
Of usefull, and all pleasant things bereav’d)
Their labors, with advantage, doe employ,
And, fetch their yearely Harvests home, with joy.
Why then should wee, that in God’s Vineyard live,
Distrust that all things needfull hee will give?
Why should his Garden doubt of what it needs,
Since hee oft waters barren Rocks and Weeds?
Why should his Children, live in slavish feare,
Since hee is kind to those that strangers are?
Or, whither from his presence, can we flie,
To whom the furthest hiding-place is nigh.
And, if I may, from lower objects clime,
(To questioning, in matters more sublime)
Why should I thinke, the Soule shall not bee fed,
Where God affoords, to Flesh, her daily Bread?
Or, dreame, that hee, for some, provided none,
Because, on us, much Mercie is bestowne?
’Tis true enough, that Hell devoureth all,
Who shall be found without the Churches pale;
But, how farre that extends, no Eye can see,
Since, in Gods hands, Earth’s farthest Corners bee.