So that again I now am mine, And with advantage mine the more. If I without Thee would be mine, Lord, I am Thine, and Thou art mine: O be mine still! still make me Thine; PRAISE. LORD, I will mean and speak Thy praise, My busy heart shall spin it all my days; When Thou dost favor any action, All things concur to give it a perfection. When Thou dost bless, hath twelve: one wheel doth rise To twenty then, or more. But when Thou dost on business blow, Not all the teams of Albion in a row Can hale or draw it out of door. Legs are but stumps, and Pharaoh's wheels but logs, And struggling hinders more. Thousands of things do Thee employ This spacious globe: Angels must have their joy, The winds their stint; and yet, when I did call, Thou heardst my call, and more. I have not lost one single tear: Did weep to heaven, they found a bottle there, That would contain much more. But after Thou hadst slipt a drop (Which there did hang like streamers near the top Wherefore I sing. Yet since my heart, JOSEPH'S COAT. WOUNDED I sing, tormented I endite, For well He knows, if but one grief and smart To fetch the body; both being due to grief. But He hath spoil'd the race; and given to anguish One of joy's coats, 'ticing it with relief To linger in me, and together languish. I live to show His power, Who once did bring THE PULLEY. WHEN God at first made man, Having a glass of blessing standing by, So strength first made a way; Then beauty flow'd; then wisdom, honor, pleas ure: When almost all was out, God made a stay, For if I should, said He, Bestow this jewel also on My creature, Yet let him keep the rest, But keep them with repining restlessness: THE PRIESTHOOD. BLEST Order, which in power doth so excel, But thou art fire, sacred and hallow'd fire; To deal in Holy Writ. Yet have I often seen, by cunning hand And force of fire, what curious things are made Of wretched earth. Where once I scorn'd to stand, That earth is fitted by the fire and trade Of skilful artists, for the boards of those Who make the bravest shows. But since those great ones, be they ne'er so great, Come from the earth, from whence those vessels come; M |