Love
On the late Sect of the Adamites
From Clarastella (1650), Occasional Poems
A Sect of Adamites of late's reviv'd,
Who seem more innocent then e'r Adam liv'd.
Such as will naked go, and think't a sin
To wear a garment, they're so hot within
With Lust, that they all cloathing do disdain;
Aarons old Vestments they account prophane,
Elisha's double mantle when they hear
But nam'd, they sweat agen: they nought wil wear,
Not holy lawn to keep them from the air,
Nor St. Johns raiment, made of Camels heir:
These Vestal garments though they holy be,
Yet they do smel of strong hypocrisie,
Demas must leave his cloak, not any thing
Must here be worn, no not a wedding ring,
Nor fig-leaves, such as Adam wore long since,
When he had lost his Robe of Innocence.
The whore of Babels smock they all detest,
All Antichristian Reliques with the rest.
All must be barely naked 'cause they say
Truth it self naked goes, and so should they.
Naked as from their mothers wombs, they wear
Nothing that covers onely skin and hair;
Thus marching naked Sister, with a brother,
For want of clothes they cover one another
In some dark Grange thus meet they, where 'tis fit
That they the deeds of darkness should commit:
The candles are put out, because they say
They are enlightned all, and so they pray;
Here they begin; and thus divide the text,
Handling in order whosoe'r comes next.
They feel a womans faith, tel by th'spirit
(Which doth possess them) which shal heav'n inherit.
Each Saint his fellow-feeler chuseth there,
As at the spring each bird doth choose his Peer.
And when they all grow proud with hot desires,
Thus they correct and quench the rising fires.
Cite this poem
MLA
Heath, Robert. “On the late Sect of the Adamites.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/73/.
Chicago
Heath, Robert. “On the late Sect of the Adamites.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/heath_r/73/.
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