paradisal lines

Across the stream, the smoke gray mountains of paradisal lines are clear in the sunlight.

Reading with Patrick

This Man had great possessions

We begin with the Context; the situation, the prospect; how it stands, how it is butted, how it is bounded; to what it relates, with what it is connected. And in that, we are no farther curious, but onely to note this, that the Text stands in that Story, where a man comes to Christ, inquires the way to Heaven, beleeves himself to be in that way already, and (when he heares of nothing, but keeping the Commandments) beleeves himselfe to be far gone in that way; But when he is told also, that there belongs to it a departing with his Riches, his beloved Riches, he breakes off the conference, he separates himselfe from Christ; for, (saies the Story) This Man had great possessions. And to this purpose, (to separate us from Christ) the poorest amongst us, hath great possessions. He that starves, as well as he that surfets, he that lies in the spitting places, and excrementall corners of the streets, as well as he that sits upon carpets, in the Region of perfumes, he that is ground and trod to durt, with obliquie, and contempt, as well as he that is built up every day, a story and story higher with additions of Honour, Every man hath some such possessions as possesse him, some such affections as weigh downe Christ Jesus, and separate him from Him, rather than from those affections, those possessions.

John Donne, A sermon preached at White-hall, March 4, 1624. [1624/5]