THE ASCENSION, OR HOLY THURSDAY.

MOUNT, mount, my soul, and climb, or rather fly
With all thy force on high,

Thy Saviour rose not only, but ascended;
And he must be attended
Both in his conquest and his triumph too.
His glories strongly woo

His graces to them, and will not appear
In their full lustre, until both be there,

Where he now sits, not for himself alone,
But that upon his throne

All his redeemed may attendants be

Robed, and crown'd as he.

Kings without Courtiers are lone men, they say; And dost thou think to stay

Behind on earth, whilst thy King reigns in heaven, Yet not be of thy happiness bereaven?

Nothing that thou canst think worth having's here.
Nothing is wanting there,

That thou canst wish, to make thee truly blest.
And, above all the rest,

Thy life is hid with God in Jesus Christ,
Higher than what is high'st.

O grovel then no longer here on earth,
Where misery every moment drowns thy mirth.

But tower, my soul, and soar above the skies,
Where thy true treasure lies.

Though with corruption and mortality

Thou clogg'd and pinion'd be ;

Yet thy fleet thoughts, and sprightly wishes, may
Speedily glide away.

To what thou canst not reach, at least aspire,
Ascend, if not in deed, yet in desire.

WHIT-SUNDAY.

NAY, startle not to hear that rushing wind,
Wherewith this place is shaken :

Attend a while, and thou shalt quickly find,
How much thou art mistaken;

If thou think here
Is any cause of fear.

Seest thou not how on those twelve reverend heads
Sit cloven tongues of fire?
And as the rumour of that wonder spreads,
The multitude admire

To see it and

Yet more amazed stand

To hear at once so great variety

Of language from them come,

Of whom they dare be bold to say they be

Bred no where but at home,

And never were

In place such words to hear.

Mock not, profane despisers of the Spirit,

At what's to you unknown:

This earnest he hath sent, who must inherit

All nations as his own:

That they may know How much to him they owe.

Now that he is ascended up on high
To his celestial throne,

And hath led captive all captivity,

He'll not receive alone,

But likewise give

Gifts unto all that live;

To all that live by him, that they may be, In his due time, each one,

Partakers with him in his victory,

Nor he triumph alone;

But take all his

Unto him where he is.

To fit them for which blessed state of glory, This is his agent here:

To publish to the World that happy story, Always, and every where,

This resident

Embassador is sent.

Heaven's lieger upon earth to counter-work The mines that Satan made, And bring to light those enemies, that lurk Under sin's gloomy shade:

That hell may not

Still boast what it hath got.

Thus Babel's curse, confusion, is retrieved; Diversity of tongues

By this division of the Spirit relieved:

And to prevent all wrongs,
One faith unites

People of different rites.

O let his entertainment then be such
As doth him best befit:

Whatever he requireth think not much
Freely to yield him it :

For who doth this

Reaps the first-fruits of bliss.

TRINITY SUNDAY.

GRACE, Wit, and Art, assist me; for I see
The subject of this day's solemnity
So far excels in worth,

That sooner may

I drain the sea,

Or drive the day

With light away,

Than fully set it forth,

Except you join all three to take my part,
And chiefly Grace fill both my head and heart.

Stay, busy soul, presume not to enquire
Too much of what Angels can but admire,
And never comprehend :

The Trinity

In Unity,

And Unity

In Trinity,

All reason doth transcend.

God Father, Son God, and God Holy Ghost,

Who most admireth, magnifieth most.

And who most magnifies best understands,
And best expresseth what the heads, and hands,
And hearts, of all men living,

When most they try

To glorify,

And raise on high,

Fall short, and lie,

Grovelling below: Man's giving

Is but restoring by retail, with loss,
What from his God he first received in gross.

Faith must perform the office of invention,
And Elocution, struck with apprehension
Of wonder, silence keep.

Not tongues, but eyes
Lift to the skies

In reverend wise,
Best solemnize

This day whereof the deep

Mysterious subject lies out of the reach
Of wit to learn, much more of Art to teach.

Then write non Ultra here; Look not for leave To speak of what thou never canst conceive Worthily, as thou shouldst :

And it shall be

Enough for thee,

If none but he

Himself doth see,

Though thou canst not, thou wouldst

Make his praise glorious, who is alone
Thrice blessed one in three, and three in one.