Giddinesse
Man's Many Selves
Man, made for settled power and peace, is found instead to be constantly shifting through many different selves.
Oh, what a thing man is! How far from power, from settled peace and rest! He's at least some twenty different men every separate hour.1
Fickle Desires, Falling Houses
The heart swings between heaven and worldly pleasure, war and quiet, gain and saving, and builds a house that its own unstable mind soon brings down.
Sometimes he counts heaven as his treasure; but then a thought creeps in and calls him a coward—someone who, for fear of sin, will give up a pleasure. Now he'll fight it out and go off to war; now he eats his bread in peace and stays snug in quiet; now he scorns gain; now he pinches and saves all day.2 He builds a house that has to come down quickly, as if a whirlwind blew and crushed the building—and it's partly true: his mind is just like that.✦
The Only Cure
If our inward changes were visible, community would dissolve; only God's daily re-creation can keep us from spurning our salvation.
Oh, what a sight a person would be if their clothes changed with their mind — and like a dolphin's skin, their clothes were joined to their desires! Surely if each person could see another's heart, there would be no commerce, no sale or bargain would go through: everyone would scatter and live apart. Lord, mend us — or rather, make us: one creation won't be enough for us. Unless you make us every day, we'll spurn our own salvation.
Read the original English
OH what a thing is man! how farre from power, From setled peace and rest! He is some twentie sev’rall men at least Each sev’rall houre.
One while he counts of heav’n, as of his treasure: But then a thought creeps in, And calls him coward, who for fear of sinne Will lose a pleasure.
Now he will fight it out, and to the warres; Now eat his bread in peace, And snudge in quiet: now he scorns increase; Now all day spares.
He builds a house, which quickly down must go, As if a whirlwinde blew And crusht the building; and it’s partly true, His minde is so.
O what a sight were Man, if his attires Did alter with his minde; And like a Dolphins skinne, his clothes combin’d With his desires!
Surely if each one saw anothers heart, There would be no commerce, No sale or bargain passe: all would disperse, And live apart.
Lord, mend or rather make us: one creation Will not suffice our turn: Except thou make us dayly, we shall spurn Our own salvation.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.7.26-Matt.7.27 — And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be compared to a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. Matt.7.27 — And the rain fell, and the rivers came, and the winds blew and struck that house, and it fell — and its collapse was great.
Notes
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