Page images
PDF
EPUB

We look'd on this side of thee, shooting short; Where we did find

The shells of fledge souls left behind,

Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.

But since our Saviour's death did put some blood Into thy face:

Thou art grown fair and full of grace, Much in request, much sought for, as a good.

For we do now behold thee gay and glad,
As at doomsday;

When souls shall wear their new array,
And all thy bones with beauty shall be clad.

Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust
Half that we have

Unto an honest faithful grave;
Making our pillows either down, or dust.

DOOMSDAY.

COME away,
Make no delay.

Summon all the dust to rise,

Till it stir, and rub the eyes;

While this member jogs the other,

Each one whispering, Live you, brother?

Come away,

Make this the day.

Dust, alas! no music feels,

198

THE TEMPLE.

But thy trumpet: then it kneels,
As peculiar notes and strains
Cure Tarantula's raging pains.

Come away,

O make no stay!

Let the graves make their confession,
Lest at length they plead possession :
Flesh's stubbornness may have
Read that lesson to the grave.

Come away,

Thy flock doth stray.

Some to the winds their body lend,
And in them many drown a friend:
Some in noisome vapours grow
To a plague and public woe.

Come away,
Help our decay.

Man is out of order hurl'd,

Parcell'd out to all the world.
Lord, thy broken consort raise,
And the music shall be praise.

JUDGMENT.

ALMIGHTY Judge, how shall poor wretches brook
Thy dreadful look,

Able a heart of iron to appal,

When thou shalt call

For every man's peculiar book?

What others mean to do, I know not well

Yet I hear tell,

That some will turn thee to some leaves therein
So void of sin,

That they in merit shall excel.

But I resolve, when thou shalt call for mine,
That to decline,

And thrust a Testament into thy hand :
Let that be scann'd.

There thou shalt find my faults are thine.

HEAVEN.

O WHO will show me those delights on high?

Есно.

Thou Echo, thou art mortal, all men know.

Есно.

I.

No.

Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves?

Есно.

And are there any leaves, that still abide?

Есно.

Leaves.

Bide.

What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.

Есно.

Are holy leaves the Echo then of bliss?

Есно.

Holy.

Yes.

Light.

Then tell me, what is that supreme delight?

ECHO.

Light to the mind: what shall the will enjoy?

[blocks in formation]

But are there cares and business with the pleasure?

[blocks in formation]

Light, joy, and leisure; but shall they persever?

[blocks in formation]

LOVE.

LOVE bade me welcome; yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.

But quick-eyed Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd any thing.

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here :
Love said, You shall be he.

I the unkind, ungrateful? Ah, my dear,
I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, says Love, who bore the blame? My dear, then I will serve.

You must sit down, says Love, and taste my meat: So I did sit and eat.

FINIS.

Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good-will towards men.

THE CHURCH MILITANT.

ALMIGHTY Lord, who from thy glorious throne
Seest and rulest all things even as one :

The smallest Ant or Atom knows thy power,
Known also to each minute of an hour:
Much more do Commonweals acknowledge thee,
And wrap their policies in thy decree,
Complying with thy counsels, doing nought
Which doth not meet with an eternal thought.
But above all, thy Church and Spouse doth prove
Not the decrees of power, but bands of love.
Early didst thou arise to plant this Vine,
Which might the more endear it to be thine.
Spices come from the East; so did thy Spouse,
Trim as the light, sweet as the laden boughs
Of Noah's shady vine, chaste as the dove,
Prepared and fitted to receive thy love.

The course was westward, that the sun might light

As well our understanding as our sight.

Where th' Ark did rest, there Abraham began

To bring the other Ark from Canaan.

Moses pursued this: but King Solomon

Finish'd and fix'd the old religion.

« PreviousContinue »