Only do Thou lend me a hand, Since Thou hast both mine eyes. 66 JUSTICE. I CANNOT skill. of these my ways: Lord, Thou didst make me, yet Thou woundest me: Lord, thou dost wound me, yet Thou dost relieve me: Lord, Thou relievest, yet I die by Thee: Lord, Thou dost kill me, yet Thou dost reprieve me." But when I mark my life and praise, For "I do praise Thee, yet I praise Thee not: CHARMS AND KNOTS. WHO read a chapter when they rise, A poor man's rod, when thou dost ride, Is both a weapon and a guide. Who shuts his hand, hath lost his gold: Who goes to bed, and doth not pray, Who by aspersions throw a stone Who looks on ground with humble eyes, When the hair is sweet through pride or lust, The powder doth forget the dust. Take one from ten, and what remains? In shallow waters heaven doth show: AFFLICTION. My God, I read this day, That planted Paradise was not so firm And strengthen it in every age, When waves do rise, and tempests rage. At first we lived in pleasure; Thine own delights Thou didst to us impart : There is but joy and grief; If either will convert us, we are Thine: Affliction then is ours: We are the trees, whom shaking fastens more, While blustering winds destroy the wanton bowers, And ruffle all their curious knots and store. My God, so temper joy and woe, That Thy bright beams may tame Thy bow. MORTIFICATION. How soon doth man decay! When clothes are taken from a chest of sweets To swaddle infants, whose young breath Scarce knows the way; Those clouts are little winding-sheets, Which do consign and send them unto death. When boys go first to bed, They step into their voluntary graves; Sleep binds them fast; only their breath Successive nights, like rolling waves, Convey them quickly, who are bound for death. When youth is frank and free, And calls for music, while his veins do swell, That music summons to the knell, Which shall befriend him at the house of death. When man grows staid and wise, Getting a house and home, where he may move Within the circle of his breath, Schooling his eyes; That dumb inclosure maketh love Unto the coffin, that attends his death. When age grows low and weak, Marking his grave, and thawing every year, When he would speak; A chair or litter shows the bier Which shall convey him to the house of death. Man, ere he is aware, Hath put together a solemnity, And drest his hearse, while he has breath As yet to spare. Yet, Lord, instruct us so to die That all these dyings may be life in death. DECAY. SWEET were the days, when Thou didst lodge with Lot, Struggle with Jacob, sit with Gideon, Advise with Abraham, when Thy power could not Encounter Moses' strong complaints and moan: Thy words were then, "Let me alone." One might have sought and found Thee presently List, ye may hear great Aaron's bell. H |