This meditation is printed at the end of Samuel Clark's Bible with annotations Ed: 1690, but is omitted with other matters, in the Glasgow Edition of 1765.  
A POETICAL MEDITATION, Wherein the Usefulness, Excellency, And several Perfections OF HOLY SCRIPTURE, Are briefly hinted.  
A Verse may find him who a Sermon flies,  
And turn delight into a Sacrifice.  Herb. Poems. 
LONDON, Printed for N. Ranew, and J. Robinson, at the Angel in Jewen-Street. 1670.   

To the Critical Censurer.  
IF serious matter will not please thee, either  
Naked or dressed in a simple rhyme:  
I'll ne'er wear in my Cap a Peacock's Feather,  
That thou may'st call me witty or sublime.   

To the Sober and Serious Reader.  
IF in a little Map thou dost desire  
To see the use of Holy Scriptures hinted,  
Read this and welcome; for I aim no higher:  
For thee (although it was not Penned, yet) it was Printed.   

To the Reader.  
Christian Reader,  
THE industry of man hath contracted the whole Bible into so small a Volume, that every one may make it their Pocket-Companion; that thou also mayst by thy Industry make it thy Heart-Companion, I do not wish it more contracted, but thy heart more enlarged. That which others make their Manual, do thou take for thy Cordial; That which others read, do thou believe: That which others discourse upon, do thou live upon; And let that which lies by others in their houses, dwell richly in thy heart; Wouldst thou have me commend this Word of God to thee? I cannot as it deserves: Read it frequently, Love it ardently, and Live by it continually, and it will sufficiently commend itself to thee, yet I have endeavoured in some measure to set forth the Beauty, usefulness, Excellency and Perfections of it in this ensuing Meditation.   


THou Lord to me thy Word hast given,  
Precious and Pure,  
Sweet, Holy, Sure,  
To guide me through the world to Heaven. 
Psal. 18.30 & 119.89, 140, 160, 103.    

In all wants and necessities,  
Thy Word's my store  
Heaped, running o'er  
With plenty of most rich supplies. 
Mic. 2.7.    

Temptations, Terrors, Dangers, Fears,  
Those petty Hells  
Thy Word dispels,  
And all the way before me clears, 
Mat. 4.3, 4. etc. Ps. 119.92. Psal. 18.32, etc.    

When Satan flings his Darts at me,  
Then, Lord, thy Word  
Is Shield and Sword  
To save me and to make him flee. 
Psa. 18.30. Eph. 6.17.    

The world presents its objects rare;  
But yet thy Word  
Doth that afford,  
Which seems to me far costlier ware. 
Psal. 119.14, 72, 96. Phil. 3.7, 8. Psal. 119.47 70, 16, 11, 36, 8. Heb. 11.25 2 Pet. 3 18 Ps. 119.30, 102, 104, 118, 128. Isa. 30.21.    

Then lust invites me to its pleasure:  
But to delights  
Thy Word invites,  
Which far surpass in weight and measure.   

Then Errors their gummed wares display,  
But Scripture says,  
Eat Errors ways:  
Walk by my Rule; This is the way.   

Thus when I'm tempted unto sin,  
By thy Word's Art  
Hid in my Heart,  
Both Battle and Reward I win. 
Psa. 19.11. & 119, 11.    

Yea though sins have defiled my soul,  
Thy Word can cleanse  
Those noisome Dens  
Of lust, and sins best strength control. 
Psal. 119.9 Joh. 15.3. Eph. 5.26.    

Have I an unbelieving Heart?  
Thy Word, Lord, hath  
Power to work Faith  
By thy most holy Spirit's Art. 
Ro. 10.17.    

Have I an hard and stony Heart?  
Thy Word thus deals,  
First breaks, then heals.  
That stone is cured by this smart. 
Ezek. 36.26.    

Will not my frozen Heart comply?  
Thy Word, thy Law  
That Heart can thaw,  
And change it for a weeping eye. 
Ez. 16.30, 60, 63. & 36.26, 31. Act. 24.25 Rom. 12.3, 16. Phil. 3.4, etc. 13.    

Do towering thoughts possess my breast?  
Thy Word brings low  
The proudest foe,  
And lays him levelly with the least.   

Do muttering thoughts rise and repine?  
Thy Rod and Word  
Teach Patience, Lord,  
And still those barking thoughts of mine. 
Psal 38.13, 14. & 39.9. Jam. 5.10, 11.    

Am I tongue-tied and cannot pray?  
Thy Word inspires  
Praying desires;  
Dumb lips unseals; tells what to say. 
Hos, 14.2. Rom. 8.26. Mat. 6.9. etc.    

When I in darkness err and stray:  
Thy Word's a light  
Most clear, and bright,  
And leads me back into the way. 
Psal. 119.105. Isa. 50.10.    

I'm foolish, simple, and want eyes:  
Thy Word's Light, Rule,  
Master and School,  
Which makes the comers to it wise. 
Psal. 19.7, 8, & 119.104, 130. Gal. 3.24.    

I see myself undone and poor.  
Thy words enfold  
A Mine of Gold,  
A Pearl of Price, all riches store. 
Psal 19.10. Prov. 8.10, 11.    

With God by nature I'm at odds.  
Thy Word my soul  
Converteth whole  
From Satan's service unto God's. 
Psal. 19.8. Jam. 1.18.    

Do outward Troubles, inward Grief  
My soul torment?  
Thy Word is sent  
With comfort for my Soul's relief. 
Psal. 119.28▪ 50, 143 165.    

Am I perplexed with doubts and fears?  
Thy Word of Grace  
Resolves the case,  
And so my clouded judgement clears. 
Act. 16.29, 30, 31, 32.    

Or do despairing thoughts me take?  
Thy Word doth give  
Me hopes to live  
For Christ, my dearest Saviour's sake. 
Psal. 119.81. & 130.5.    

Do multitudes of thoughts me press?  
I call to mind  
Thy Word and find  
Such comforts as my Soul refresh. 
Psal. 94.10 & 19.8.    

Can't I through weakness walk alone?  
Thy Word, Lord, is  
Strength to my knees,  
And staff to stay my hand upon. 
Psal. 119.28, 49.    

Thus though I thirst, faint, hunger, pine,  
Thy Word me feeds  
In these my needs;  
Thy Word itself is bread, milk, wine. 
Mat. 4.4. 1 Pet. 2.2. Isa. 55.1.    

Thus though poor, scorned, forsaken, pained  
Thy Word alone  
Hath all in one;  
Health, wealth, friends, honour, all contained. 
Psal. 119.51, 141. Pro. 4.20, 22.    

Thus though Soul-sick and wounded sore  
With grievous sin  
Which doth begin  
To fester, rankling more and more; 
1 John 2.1, 2.    

Thy Word shows whence help may be had  
And doth me guide  
To Christ's pierced side,  
Whence flows the balm of Gilead. 
Jo. 5.39. Jer. 8.22.    

Yea though in me no life remain;  
Thy Word is good  
And living food,  
Which fetcheth me to life again. 
1 Pet. 1.23 Psal. 119.93, 116. Phil. 2.16. Jam. 1.18.    

Would I prolong this life for ever?  
The Scripture shows  
Whence water flows,  
Pure streams, which who so drinks dies never. 
Psal. 36.9. Isa. 55.1. Jo. 4.10.14 Psal. 23. Isa. 55.2. 1 Pet. 1.23 25.    

The Lord be blest who thus provides,  
And filleth full  
My empty soul,  
With food which evermore abides.   

Bless God (my Soul) that thus hath given  
Strength, light, guide, way,  
Lest thou shouldst stray  
In this thy Pilgrimage to Heaven.   

This Book, these Sentences, these Lines  
Each Word and Letter  
To me are better,  
Then Chains of Pearl and Golden Mines.   

'Tis Heaven transcribed and Glory penned:  
God's mind no doubt  
Was copied out  
When he this Gift to men did send. 
John 17.17.    

'Tis Truth itself: God doth intent  
Man's word shall fall;  
Heaven, Earth and all;  
But this shall never have an end. 
Ps. 119.89, 142, 151, 152, 160. Mar. 13.31 Psal. 119.18, 127. 1 Cor. 2.7, 9, 10.    

My Soul admire that hand and quill,  
That did produce  
For sinners use  
Th' eternal Mind, the sovereign Will.   

Adore the Author too, and when  
Thou canst not raise  
Sufficient Praise,  
Sat down and wondering say A MEN. 
Psal. 119.171, 164.    Wherefore lay apart all filthiness, and superfluity of naughtiness, 
Jam. 1.21, 25.  and receive with meekness the engrafted Word, which is able to save thy Soul. The good Lord grant that it may in all parts and points, and to all ends and purposes be such to thy Soul, as it is here set forth and described, or rather, as it is in its self, viz. The power of God to the Salvation of Souls; 
which is the hearty Prayer of, Thine in the Lord, JOHN CLARK.   

The Ten Commandments.  

I. Have thou no other Gods but Me.  
II. Unto no Image bow thy knee.  
III. Take not the Name of God in vain.  
iv Do not the Sabbath day profane.  
V Honour thy Father, Mother too.  
VI And see that thou no Murder do.  
VII. From Whoredom keep thy body clean.  
VIII. And Steal not, though thy stare be mean.  
IX. Of a False Witness shun the blot.  
X. What is thy Neighbours Covet not.   
FINIS.