The Picture of an happy Man

HOw blest is he (though euer crost)
that can all Crosses Blessings make;
That findes himselfe ere he be lost;
and, lose that found for Vertues sake.

Yea, blest is he in life and death,
that feares not Death, nor loues this Life;
That sets his Will his Wit beneath;
and hath continuall peace in strife.

That striueth but with fraile-Desire;
desiring nothing that is ill;
That rules his Soule by Reasons Squire;
and workes by Wisedomes Compasse still.

That nought obserues, but what preserues
his minde and body from offence:
That neyther Courts nor Seasons serues:
and learnes without experience.

That hath a Name as free from blot
as Vertues Brow; or, as his life
Is from the least suspect or spot,
although he liues without a Wife.

That doth (in spight of all debate)
possesse his Soule in Patience;
And pray, in loue for all that hate;
and hate but what doth giue Offence.

Whose Soule is like a Sea, too still,
that rests, though mou'd; yet, mou'd (at least)
With loue and hate of good and ill,
to whaft the Minde the more to Rest.

That singly doth, and doubles not;
but is the same he seemes; and is
Still, simply so, and yet no Sot;
but yet not knowing ought amisse.

That neuer Sinne concealed keepes;
but shewes the same to God, or moe;
Then euer for it sighes and weepes;
and ioyes, in Soule, for grieuing so.

That, by himselfe, doth others mete;
and, of himselfe, still meekely deemes;
That neuer sate in Scorners Seate;
but, as himselfe, the worst esteemes.

That loues his body for his Soule;
Soule, for his Minde; his Minde for God;
God, for himselfe; and doth controule
CONTENT, if It with him be odde.

That to his Soule, his Sense subdues;
his Soule, to Reas'n; and Reas'n to Faith:
That Vice in Vertues shape eschewes;
and both, by Wisedome, rightly waigt'h.

That rests in action, acting nought
but what is good in deed and shew;
That seekes but God within his thought,
and thinkes but God to loue and know.

That all vnseene, sees All, (like Him)
and makes good vse of what he sees;
That notes the tracts and trickes of Time,
and flees with th'one, the other flees.

That liues too low for Enuies lookes;
and yet too high for loth'd Contempt;
Who makes his Friends Good-men, and Bookes,
and nought without them doth attempt.

That liues as dying; liuing yet
in death, for life he hath in hope:
As far from State, as sinne, and debt;
of happie life the meanes and scope.

That feares no frownes, nor cares for fawnes
of Fortunes fauorits, or foes,
That neither checkes with Kings, nor Pawnes;
and yet still winnes what Checkers lose.

That euer liues a light to All,
(though oft obscured) like the Sunne:
And though his Fortunes be but small,
yet Fortune doth not seeke nor shunne.

That neuer lookes but grace to finde;
"nor seekes for knowledge to be knowne:
That makes a Kingdome of his Minde,
wherein, with God, he raignes alone.

This Man is great with little state,
Lord of the World Epitomiz'd:
Who, with staid Front, out-faceth Fate;
and, being emptie, is suffic'd:
Or, is suffic'd with little; sith (at least)
He makes his Conscience a continuall Feast.