Churches. I

Those stately Structures which on Earth I view
To God erected, whether Old or New;
His Sacred Temples which the World adorn,
Much more than Mines of Ore or Fields of Corn
My Soul delight: How do they pleas mine Ey
When they are fill'd with His Great Family!
Upon the face of all the peepl'd Earth
There's no such sacred Joy or solemn Mirth,
To pleas & satisfy my Heart's Desire,
As that wherwith my Lord is in a Quire,
In holy Hymns by warbling Voices prais'd,
With Eys lift up, & joint Affections rais'd.

The Arches built (like Hev'n) wide & high
Shew his Magnificence & Majesty
Whose House it is: With so much Art & Cost
The Pile is fram'd, the curious Knobs embost,
Set off with Gold, that me it more doth pleas
Than Princes Courts or Royal Palaces;
Great Stones pil'd up by costly Labors there
Like Mountains carv'd by human Skill appear;
Where Towers, Pillars, Pinnacles, & Spires
Do all concur to match my great Desires,
Whose Joy it is to see such Structures rais'd
To th' end my God & Father should be prais'd.