• “Is it possible that you can trust your fellow men…that you can commit your dearest earthly interests to your weak, failing fellow creatures without a fear, and are afraid to commit your spiritual interests to the Saviour who laid down His life for you, and of whom it is declared that He is “able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him”? – Hannah Whitall Smith

The Vanity of All Worldly Things By Anne Bradstreet

As he said vanity, so vain say I,
Oh! Vanity, O vain all under sky;
Where is the man can say, “Lo, I have found
On brittle earth a consolation sound”?
What isn’t in honor to be set on high?
No, they like beasts and sons of men shall die,
And while they live, how oft does turn their fate;
He’s now a captive that was king of late.
What isn’t in wealth great treasures to obtain?
No, that’s but labor, anxious care, and pain.
He heaps up riches, and he heaps up sorrow,
It’s his today, but who’s his heir tomorrow?
What then? Content in pleasures can you find?
More vain than all, that’s but to grasp the wind.
The sensual senses for a time they pleasure,
Meanwhile the conscience rage, who shall appease?
What isn’t in beauty? No that’s but a snare,
They’re foul enough today, that once were fair.
What is it in flowering youth, or manly age?
The first is prone to vice, the last to rage.
Where is it then, in wisdom, learning, arts?
Sure if on earth, it must be in those parts;
Yet these the wisest man of men did find
But vanity, vexation of the mind.
And he that knows the most does still bemoan
He knows not all that here is to be known.
What is it then? To do as stoics tell,
Nor laugh, nor weep, let things go ill or well?
Such stoics are but stocks, such teaching vain,
While man is man, he shall have ease or pain.
If not in honor, beauty, age, nor treasure,
Nor yet in learning, wisdom, youth, nor pleasure,
Where shall I climb, sound, seek, search, or find
That summum bonum which may stay my mind?
There is a path no vulture’s eye has seen,
Where lion fierce, nor lion’s whelps have been,
Which leads unto that living crystal fount,
Who drinks thereof, the world does naught account.
The depth and sea have said “tis not in me,”
With pearl and gold it shall not valued be.
For sapphire, onyx, topaz who would change;
It’s hid from eyes of men, they count it strange.
Death and destruction the fame has heard,
But where and what it is, from heaven’s declared;
It brings to honor which shall never decay,
It stores with wealth which time can’t wear away.
It yields pleasures far beyond conceit,
And truly beautifies without deceit.
Nor strength, nor wisdom, nor fresh youth shall fade,
Nor death shall see, but are immortal made.
This pearl of price, this tree of life, this spring,
Who is possessed of shall reign a king.
Nor change of state nor cares shall ever see,
But wear his crown unto eternity.
This satiates the soul, this stays the mind,
And all the rest, but vanity we find.

Share to Google Plus

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

  • “But the misfortune is that people wish to direct God instead of resigning themselves to be directed by Him. We wish to take the lead, and to follow in a way of their own selection instead of submissively and passively following where God sees fit to conduct them. And hence it is, that many souls who are called to the enjoyment of God himself and mot merely to the gifts of God, spend all their lives in pursuing and in feeding on little consolations.” – Madame Guyon

Copyrighted works are the property of the copyright holders. All works are shown free of charge for educational purposes only in accordance with fair use guidelines. If we have inadvertently included a copyrighted work that the copyright holder does not wish to be displayed, we will remove it within 48 hours upon notification by the owner or the owner’s legal representative.

Verse of the Day

You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. — Deuteronomy 13:4 (NKJV)

Stay Connected

Recent Comments

    No recent comment found.

Return to Homepage