XVI. THE COMMUNION TABLE.

HERE stands my banquet ready, the last course, And best provision,

That I must feed upon,

Till death my soul and body shall divorce,
And that I am

Call'd to the marriage-supper of the Lamb.

Some call't the Altar, some the holy Table.
The name I stick not at,

Whether't be this, or that,

I care not much, so that I may be able
Truly to know

Both why it is, and may be called so.

And for the matter whereof it is made,
The matter is not much,

Although it be of tuch,

Or wood, or metal, what will last, or fade;
So vanity

And superstition avoided be.

Nor would it trouble me to see it found

Of any fashion,

That can be thought upon,

Square, oval, many-angled, long, or round:

If close it be,

Fix'd, open, moveable, all's one to me

And yet, methinks, at a Communion
In uniformity

There's greatest decency,

And that which maketh most for union:
But needlessly

To vary, tends to the breach of charity.

Yet, rather than I'll give, I will not take
Offence, if it be given,

So that I be not driven

To thwart authority, a party make
For faction,

Or side, but seemingly, in the action.

At a Communion I wish I might

Have no cause to suspect
Any, the least, defect

Of unity and peace, either in sight

Apparently,

Or in men's hearts concealed secretly.

That, which ordained is to make men one,
More than before they were,

Should not itself appear,

Though but appear, distinctly divers. None Too much can see

Of what, when most, yet but enough can be.

I others will dissent, and vary, who

Can help it? If I may,

As hath been done alway,

By the best, and most; I will myself do so. Of one accord

The servants should be of one God, one Lord.

XVII. COMMUNION PLATE.

NEVER was gold, or silver, graced thus

Before.

To bring this body, and this blood, to us

Is more

Than to crown Kings,

Or be made rings,

For star-like diamonds to glitter in.

No precious stones are meet to match this bread

Divine.

Spirits of pearls dissolved would but dead

This wine.

This heavenly food

Is too too good

To be compared to any earthly thing.

For such inestimable treasure can

There be

Vessels too costly made by any man?

Sure he

That knows the meat

So good to eat,

Would wish to see it richly served in.

Although 'tis true, that sanctity's not tied

To state,

Yet sure religion should not be envied

The fate

Of meaner worth,

To be set forth

As best becomes the service of a King.

A King unto whose cross all Kings must vail Their crowns,

And at his beck in their full course strike sail : Whose frowns

And smiles give date

Unto their fate,

And doom them, either unto weal, or woe.

A King, whose will is justice: and whose word

And wisdom both. A King, whom to afford

An hour

Of service truly

Perform'd, and duly,

Is to bespeak eternity of bliss.

If I might wish then, I would have this bread, This wine,

Vessel'd in what the sun might blush to shed

His shine,

When he should see:

But, till that be,

I'll rest contented with it, as it is.

STAY.

XVIII. CHURCH-OFFICERS.

Officers in Church? Take heed: it is

A tender matter to be touch'd.

If I chance to say anything amiss,

Which is not fit to be avouch'd,

I must expect whole swarms of wasps to sting me, Few, or no bees, honey or wax, to bring me.

Some would have none in Church do any thing
As Officers, but gifted men ;

Others into the number more would bring,
Than I see warrant for: So then,
All that I say, 'tis like, well censured be,
Through prejudice, or partiality.

But 'tis no matter; If men censure me,
They but my fellow servants are:
Our Lord allows us all like liberty.

I write, mine own thoughts to declare,
Not to please men: and, if I displease any,
I will not care, so they be of the Many.

XIX. THE SEXTON.

THE Church's key-keeper opens the door,
And shuts it, sweeps the floor,

Rings bells, digs graves, and fills them up again;
All Emblems unto men,

Openly owning Christianity,

To mark, and learn many good lessons by.