"How dear to me, O God, Thy counsels are! Who may with Thee compare?" Thus sin triumphs in western Babylon; Of his two thrones he made the latter best, They are hell's land-marks, Satan's double crest: The pattern, but not so in virtuous deeds; Compare with ancient times and purer years; And all her calendar of sins fulfil; Whereby one may foretell what sins next year They have their times of Gospel, e'en as we. Spain hath done one; when arts perform the other, The Church shall come, and sin the Church shall smother: That when they have accomplished the round, Thus also sin and darkness follow still The Church and sun with all their power and skill. But as the sun still goes both west and east, So also did the Church by going west Still eastward go; because it drew more near To time and place, where judgement shall appear. "How dear to me, O God, Thy counsels are! Who may with Thee compare?" L'ENVOY KING of glory, King of peace, With the one make war to cease; With the other bless Thy sheep, Thee to love, in Thee to sleep. Let not sin devour Thy fold, Bragging that Thy blood is cold; That Thy death is also dead, While his conquests daily spread; That Thy flesh hath lost his food, And Thy cross is common wood. Choke him, let him say no more, But reserve his breath in store, Till Thy conquest and his fall Make his sighs to use it all; And then bargain with the wind To discharge what is behind. Blessed be God alone, Thrice blessed Three in One. |