2. A Stepping Stone

To the Threshold of Mr. Herbert's

Church-Porch.

HAT Church is this? Chrift's Church. Who
builded it?

Mafter George Herbert. Who affisted it ?
Many affifted who I may not fay,

So much contention might arife that way.

If I fay grace gave all; wit ftraight doth thwart, And says, All that is there is mine: but Art

Denies, and fays, There's nothing there but's mine:
Nor can I easily the right define.

Divide: fay, Grace the matter gave, and Wit
Did polish it: Art measured, and made fit,
Each several piece, and framed it altogether.
No, by no means: this may not please them neither.
None's well contented with a part alone,
When each doth challenge all to be his own.
The matter, the expreffions, and the measures,
Are equally art's, wit's, and grace's treasures.
Then he, that would impartially discuss
This doubtful question, must answer thus:
In building of his Temple, Mafter Herbert
Is equally all grace, all wit, all art.

Roman and Grecian Mufes all give way:
One English Poem darkens all your day.

3. The Dedication.

ORD, my first fruits should have been fent
For thou the tree,

That bare them, only lenteft unto me.

[to thee;

But while I had the use, the fruit was mine :
Not fo divine

As that I dare prefume to call it thine.

Before 'twas ripe it fell unto the ground:
And fince I found

It bruised in the dirt, nor clean, nor found.

Some I have pick'd, and wiped, and bring thee now, Lord, thou know'ft how :

Gladly I would, but dare not it avow.

Such as it is, 'tis here. Pardon the best,
Accept the reft.

Thy pardon and acceptance maketh bleft.

4. The Church-yard.

HOU that intendeft to the Church to day, Come, take a turn, or two, before thou go'st, In the Churchyard; the walk is in thy way. Who takes best heed in going, hafteth most:

But he that unprepared rafhly ventures, Haftens perhaps to feal his death's indentures.

5. The Church-Stile.

EEST thou that ftile? Obferve then how it

Step after step, and equally defcends:

Such is the way to win Celestial prizes :
Humility the courfe begins, and ends.

[rifes,

Wouldst thou in grace to high perfections grow?
Shoot thy roots deep, ground thy foundations low.

Humble thyself, and God will lift thee up:
Those that exalt themselves he cafteth down:
The hungry he invites with him to fup;

And clothes the naked with his robe and crown.
Think not thou hast, what thou from him wouldst

have:

His labour's loft, if thou thyself canst save.

Pride is the prodigality of

grace,

Which cafteth all away by griping all:
Humility is thrift, both keeps its place,
And gains by giving, riseth by its fall.
To get by giving, and to lose by keeping,
Is to be fad in mirth, and glad in weeping.

N

6. The Church-Gate.

EXT to the ftile, fee where the gate doth stand,

Which, turning upon hooks and hinges may
Easily be shut, or open'd with a hand:

Yet conftant to its centre ftill doth stay;

And fetching a wide compass round about,
Keeps the fame course, and distance, never out.

Such muft the course be that to heaven tends;
He that the gates of righteousness would enter,
Must still continue conftant 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 ftray.

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 ftrength 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.

7. The Church-Walls.

HOW view the walls: the Church is com

paff'd round,

As much for fafety, as for ornament:
'Tis an inclofure, 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 fame right to't as we.

Remember there must be no gaps left ope,
Where God hath fenced, for fear of falfe illufions.

God will have all, or none: allows no scope
For fin's encroachments, or men's own intrusions.
Clofe binding locks his Laws together fast:
He that plucks out the first, pulls down the last.

Either refolve for all, or else for none;
Obedience univerfal he doth claim.

Either be wholly his, or all thine own:

At what thou canst not reach, at least take aim:
He that of purpose looks befide the mark,
Might as well hood-wink'd shoot, or in the dark.

8. The Church.

ASTLY, confider where the Church doth

stand,

As near unto the middle as may be;

God in his service chiefly doth command
Above all other things fincerity.

Lines drawn from fide to fide within a round,
Not meeting in the centre, short are found.

Religion must not fide with any thing

That fwerves from God, or else withdraws from him;
He that a welcome facrifice would bring,
Muft fetch it from the bottom, not the brim.

A facred Temple of the Holy Ghost

Each part of man must be, but his heart moft.