Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

The other days fill up the spare
And hollow room with vanities.
They are the fruitful beds and borders
In God's rich garden: that is bare

Which parts their ranks and orders.

The Sundays of man's life,

Threaded together on time's string,
Make bracelets to adorn the wife
Of the eternal glorious King.
On Sunday heaven's gate stands ope;
Blessings are plentiful and rife,

More plentiful than hope.

This day my Saviour rose,

And did enclose this light for His:
That, as each beast his manger knows,
Man might not of his fodder miss.
Christ hath took in this piece of ground,
And made a garden there for those

Who want herbs for their wound.

The Rest of our creation

Our great Redeemer did remove

With the same shake which, at His passion,
Did the earth and all things with it move.
As Samson bore the doors away,

Christ's hands, though nail'd, wrought our sal

vation,

And did unhinge that day.

The brightness of that day

We sullied by our foul offence:

Wherefore that robe we cast away,

Having a new at His expense,

Whose drops of blood paid the full price
That was required to make us gay,
And fit for Paradise.

Thou art a day of mirth:

And, where the week-days trail on ground,
Thy flight is higher, as thy birth.

O let me take thee at the bound,

Leaping with thee from seven to seven,
Till that we both, being toss'd from earth,
Fly hand in hand to heaven!

AVARICE.

MONEY, thou bane of bliss, and source of woe, Whence comest thou, that thou art so fresh and fine?

I know thy parentage is base and low : Man found thee poor and dirty in a mine.

Sure thou didst so little contribute

To this great kingdom, which thou now hast got, That he was fain, when thou wast destitute,

To dig thee out of thy dark cave and grot.

Then forcing thee, by fire he made thee bright: Nay, thou hast got the face of man; for we Have with our stamp and seal transferr❜d our right:

Thou art the man, and man but dross to thee.

Man calleth thee his wealth, who made thee rich; And while he digs out thee, falls in the ditch.

ANA-RYGRAM.

How well her name an ARMY doth present, In whom the LORD OF HOSTS did pitch His tent!

TO ALL ANGELS AND SAINTS.

O GLORIOUS spirits, who, after all your bands,
See the smooth face of God, without a frown,
Or strict commands ;

Where every one is king, and hath his crown,
If not upon his head, yet in his hands:

Not out of envy or maliciousness
Do I forbear to crave your special aid.
I would address

My vows to thee most gladly, blessed Maid,
And Mother of my God, in my distress.

Thou art the holy mine, whence came the gold, The great restorative for all decay

In young and old;

Thou art the cabinet where the jewel lay:
Chiefly to thee would I my soul unfold.

But now, alas! I dare not; for our King,
Whom we do all jointly adore and praise,
Bids no such thing:

And where His pleasure no injunction lays,
('T is your own case,) ye never move a wing.

All worship is prerogative, and a flower
Of His rich crown, from whom lies no appeal
At the last hour:

Therefore we dare not from His garland steal,
To make a posy for inferior power.

Although, then, others court you, if ye know
What's done on earth, we shall not fare the worse,
Who do not so:

Since we are ever ready to disburse,
If any one our Master's hand can show.

EMPLOYMENT.

HE that is weary, let him sit.
My soul would stir

And trade in courtesies and wit,
Quitting the fur

To cold complexions needing it.

Man is no star, but a quick coal
Of mortal fire:

Who blows it not, nor doth control
A faint desire,

Lets his own ashes choke his soul.

When the elements did for place contest
With Him, whose will

Ordain'd the highest to be best,
The earth sat still,

And by the others is opprest.

Life is a business, not good cheer;
Ever in wars.

The sun still shineth there or here,
Whereas the stars

Watch an advantage to appear.

O that I were an orange-tree,
That busy plant!

Then should I ever laden be,

And never want

Some fruit for Him that dresseth me.

But we are still too young or old;
The man is gone

« ForrigeFortsett »