And fetching a wide compass round about, Keeps the same course, and distance, never out. Such must the course be that to heaven tends; He that the gates of righteousness would enter, Must still continue constant to his ends, And fix himself in God, as in his centre. Cleave close to him by faith, then move which way Discretion leads thee, and thou shalt not stray. We never wander, till we loose our hold Of him that is our way, our light, our guide : But, when we grow of our own strength too bold, Unhook'd from him, we quickly turn aside. He holds us up, whilst in him we are found: If once we fall from him, we go to ground. VII. THE CHURCH-WALLS. Now view the walls: the Church is compass'd round, As much for safety, as for ornament: 'Tis an inclosure, and no common ground; 'Tis God's freehold, and but our tenement. Tenants at will, and yet in tail, we be : Our children have the same right to't as we. Remember there must be no gaps left ope, Either resolve for all, or else for non Either be wholly his, or all thine own: At what thou canst not reach, at least take aim: He that of purpose looks beside the mark, Might as well hood-wink'd shoot, or in the dark. VIII. THE CHURCH. LASTLY, consider where the Church doth stand, God in his service chiefly doth command Lines drawn from side to side within a round, Religion must not side with any thing That swerves from God, or else withdraws from him; He that a welcome sacrifice would bring, Must fetch it from the bottom, not the brim. A sacred temple of the holy Ghost Each part of man must be, but his heart most. Hypocrisy in Church is alchemy, That casts a golden tincture upon brass : There is no essence in it: 'tis a lie, Though, fairly stamp'd, for truth it often pass: Only the spirits aqua regia doth Discover it to be but painted froth. IX. THE CHURCH-PORCH. Now, ere thou passest further, sit thee down Or crush, thy former purposes. Between Trace thy steps backward in thy memory: Of all religious actions, and doth blast The comfort of them, when in them God sees In earnest be religious, trifle not; And rather for God's sake, than for thine own: Together with thy good: who seeketh more Next to sincerity, remember still, God will have all thou hast, thy mind, thy will, That there is any one thing left behind. And having given him all, thou must receive For all his Precepts are of equal strength, Then call to mind that constancy must knit But he that would be constant, must not take But his continual practice must it make : Lastly, remember that Humility Must solidate, and keep all close together. An empty bubble may fair colours carry; Prize not thine own too high, nor under-rate Contract thy lesson now, and this is just [speed. Else the more haste thou makest, the worse thou❜lt X. CHURCH-UTENSILS. BETWIXT two dangerous rocks, Profaneness on Lord, be my steersman, hold my helm, It patiently. The bottom of the sea Is safe enough, if thou direct the way. I'll tug my tacklings then, I'll ply mine oars, cry, A fig for fear. He that adores And The giddy multitude So much, as to despise my rhymes, His presence here. But they (and that's enough) |