the preface to gods determinations poem

"THE PREFACE [TO GOD'S DETERMINATIONS/]" POEM BY EDWARD TAYLOR

Infinity, when all things it beheld 

In Nothing, and of Nothing all did build,

Upon what Base was fixt the Lath, wherein 

He turn'd this Globe, and riggalld it so trim? 

Who blew the Bellows of his Furnace Vast? 

Or held the Mould wherein the world was Cast? 

Who laid its Corner Stone? Or whose Command? 

Where stand the Pillars upon which it stands? 

Who Lac'de and Fillitted the earth so fine, 

With Rivers like green Ribbons Smaragdine? 

Who made the Sea's its Selvedge, and it locks 

Like a Quilt Ball within a Silver Box? 

Who spread its Canopy? Or Curtains Spun? 

Who in this Bowling Alley bowld the Sun? 

Who made it always when it rises set 

To go at once both down, and up to get? 

Who th'Curtain rods made for this Tapistry? 

Who hung the twinckling Lanthorns in the Sky? 

Who? who did this? or who is he? Why, know 

Its Onely Might Almighty this did doe. 

His hand hath made this noble worke which Stands 

His Glorious Handywork not made by hands. 

Who spake all things from nothing; and with ease 

Can speake all things to nothing, if he please. 

Whose Little finger at his pleasure Can 

Out mete ten thousand worlds with halfe a Span: 

Whose Might Almighty can by half a looks 

Root up the rocks and rock the hills by th'roots. 

Can take this mighty World up in his hande, 

And shake it like a Squitchen or a Wand. 

Whose single Frown will make the Heavens shake 

Like as an aspen leafe the Winde makes quake. 

Oh! what a might is this Whose single frown 

Doth shake the world as it would shake it down? 

Which All from Nothing fet, from Nothing, All: 

Hath All on Nothing set, lets Nothing fall. 

Gave All to nothing Man indeed, whereby 

Through nothing man all might him Glorify. 

In Nothing then imbosst the brightest Gem 

More pretious than all pretiousness in them. 

But Nothing man did throw down all by Sin: 

And darkened that lightsom Gem in him. 

That now his Brightest Diamond is grown 

Darker by far than any Coalpit Stone.