But as cold hands are angry with the fire, So I do lay the want of my desire, Not on my sins, or coldness, but Thy will. Yet hear, O God, only for His blood's sake, For though sins plead too, yet like stones they make THE CHURCH-FLOOR MARK you the floor? that stone, square and speckled Which looks so firm and strong, Is Patience: And the other black and grave, wherewith each one Is checker'd all along, Humility: The gentle rising, which on either hand Is Confidence: But the sweet cement, which in one sure band And Charity. Hither sometimes Sin steals, and stains But all is cleansed when the marble weeps. But while he thinks to spoil the room, he sweeps. Could build so strong in a weak heart. THE WINDOWS LORD, how can man preach Thy eternal word? He is a brittle crazy glass: This glorious and transcendent place, But when Thou dost anneal in glass Thy story, The holy preachers, then the light and glory More reverend grows, and more doth win; Doctrine and life, colours and light, in one When they combine and mingle, bring A strong regard and awe: but speech alone Doth vanish like a flaring thing, And in the ear, not conscience ring. TRINITY-SUNDAY LORD, Who hast formed me out of mud And hast redeemed me through Thy blood, And sanctified me to do good; E Purge all my sins done heretofore; Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me, CONTENT PEACE, muttering thoughts, and do not grudge to keep Within the walls of your own breast: Gad not abroad at every quest and call Mark how the fire in flints doth quiet lie, Give me the pliant mind, whose gentle measure Which can let loose to a crown, and yet with pleasure This soul doth span the world, and hang content From either pole unto the centre: Where in each room of the well-furnished tent He lies warm, and without adventure. The brags of life are but a nine days' wonder: Only thy chronicle is lost and yet Better by worms be all once spent, When all thy deeds, whose brunt thou feel'st alone, And as their wit is, their digestion, Thy nourished fame is weak or strong. Then cease discoursing, soul; till thine own ground; THE QUIDDITY Y God a verse is not a crown; MY No point of honour, or gay suit, No hawk, or banquet, or renown, It cannot vault, or dance, or play; It is no office, art, or news; I am with Thee, and "most take all." HUMILITY I SAW the Virtues sitting hand in hand In several ranks upon an azure throne, Where all the beasts and fowls, by their command, Presented tokens of submission. Humility, who sat the lowest there To execute their call, When by the beasts the presents tendered were, Gave them about to all. The angry lion did present his paw, The jealous turkey brought his coral chain, Killed in the way by chance. At length the crow, bringing the peacock's plume, Till they fell out; which when the beasts espied, And if the fox had lived to rule their side, They had deposed each one. |