LORD, make me coy and tender to offend:
In friendship, first I think, if that agree,
Which I intend,

Unto my friend's intent and end.

I would not use a friend, as I use Thee.

If any touch my friend, or his good name,
It is my honour and my love to free

His blasted fame

From the least spot or thought of blame.

I could not use a friend, as I use Thee.

My friend may spit upon my curious floor:
Would he have gold? I lend it instantly;
But let the poor,

And thou within them starve at door.

I cannot use a friend, as I use Thee.

When that my friend pretendeth to a place,
I quit my interest, and leave it free:

But when thy grace

Sues for my heart, I thee displace;

Nor would I use a friend, as I use Thee.

Yet can a friend what thou hast done fulfill?
O write in brass, My God upon a tree

His blood did spill,

Only to purchase my good will: Yet use I not my foes, as I use Thee.

LXIX. LIFE.

I MADE a posy, while the day ran by:
Here will I smell my remnant out, and tie
My life within this band.
But time did beckon to the flowers, and they
By noon most cunningly did steal away,

And wither'd in my hand.

My hand was next to them, and then my heart; I took, without more thinking, in good part

Time's gentle admonition; Who did so sweetly death's sad taste convey, Making my mind to smell my fatal day,

Yet sugaring the suspicion.

Farewell, dear flowers, sweetly your time ye spent, Fit, while ye lived, for smell or ornament,

And after death for cures.

I follow straight without complaints or grief,
Since if my scent be good, I care not if

It be as short as yours.

LXX. SUBMISSION.

BUT that thou art my wisdom, Lord,
And both mine eyes are thine,
My mind would be extremely stirr'd
For missing my design.

Were it not better to bestow

Some place and power on me?

Then should thy praises with me grow,
And share in my degree.

But when I thus dispute and grieve,
I do resume my sight;

And pilfering what I once did give,
Disseize thee of thy right.

How know I, if thou shouldst me raise,
That I should then raise thee?

Perhaps great places and thy praise
Do not so well agree.

Wherefore unto my gift I stand;
I will no more advise :

Only do thou lend me a hand,

Since thou hast both mine eyes.

LXXI. JUSTICE.

I CANNOT Skill of these thy 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,
Thy justice me most fitly pays :

For I do praise thee, yet I praise thee not:
My prayers mean thee, yet my prayers stray:
I would do well, yet sin the hand hath got:
My soul doth love thee, yet it loves delay.
I cannot skill of these my ways.

LXXII. CHARMS AND KNOTS.

WHO read a chapter when they rise,
Shall ne'er be troubled with ill eyes.

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 opens it, hath it twice told.

Who goes to bed, and doth not pray,

Maketh two nights to every day.

Who by aspersions throw a stone

At the head of others, hit their own

Who looks on ground with humble eyes,
Finds himself there, and seeks to rise.

When the hair is sweet through pride or lust,
The powder doth forget the dust.

Take one from ten, and what remains?
Ten still, if sermons go for gains.

In shallow waters heaven doth show:
But who drinks on, to hell may go.

LXXIII. AFFLICTION.

My God, I read this day,

That planted Paradise was not so firm
As was and is thy floating Ark; whose stay
And anchor thou art only, to confirm
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 : When we grew wanton, thou didst use displeasure To make us thine: yet that we might not part, As we at first did board with thee,

Now thou wouldst taste our misery.

There is but joy and grief;

If either will convert us, we are thine :