The Last Words of James Naylor: An Early Quaker Text as "Found Poem"

A reminder:

A "found poem" is what happens when someone recognizes the lyrical qualities of a pre-existing prose text and releases the underlying poetry, the way Michelangelo talked about "freeing" the figures (statues) "imprisoned" within the marble. 

(See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Found_poem  for a longer and more precise discussion.)

There is a Spirit

which I feel

that delights
to do no evil,

nor
to revenge any wrong,

but delights
to endure all things,

in hope
to enjoy its own

in the end.

Its hope

is
to outlive
all wrath and contention,

and
to weary out

all exaltation and cruelty,

or
whatever

is of a nature

contrary

to itself.

It sees

to the end
of all

temptations.

As it bears no evil

in itself,

so it conceives none
in thoughts

to any other.

If it be betrayed,

it bears it,

for its ground and spring

is

the mercies

and forgiveness

of God.

Its crown
is meekness,

its life
is everlasting love

unfeigned;

it takes its kingdom
with entreaty

and not
with contention,

and keeps it
by lowliness

of mind.

In God

alone

it can rejoice,

though

none else regard it,

or can own

its life.

It’s conceived

in sorrow,

and brought forth
without

any

to pity it;

nor doth it murmur
at grief

and oppression.

It never

rejoiceth
but

through sufferings;

for

with the world's joy
it is murdered.

I found it

alone,
being

forsaken.

I have
fellowship

therein

with them

who lived

in dens

and

desolate places

in the earth,

who

through death

obtained

this

resurrection,

and eternal

holy

life.