12. The Reading-Pew. ERE my new enter'd soul doth first break fast, And at her mother-nurse, the Church's dugs Who, that they may unto perfection grow, They, that would reading out of Church exclude, Some dictates of their own, instead of God's And would reduce all trials to their own, What reasonable man would not mifdoubt That no fet Forms at all they can endure But why should he, that thinks himself well grown, Be discontent that fuch a one, As knows himself an infant yet, fhould be Dandled upon his mother's knee, And babe-like fed with milk, till he have got More ftrength and stomach? Why should not Nurflings in Church, as well as weanlings, find Their food fit for them in their proper kind. Let them that would build caftles in the air, Who digs through Rocks to lay his ground-works low, To take degrees, per faltum, though of quick Let us learn first to know our letters well, I doubt their preaching is not always true, 13. The Book of Common Prayer. HAT Prayer by the book? and Common? The spirit of grace, And fupplication, Is not left free alone Yes. Why not? For time and place; But manner too. To read, or speak by rote, With's heart, that with his mouth he says. They that in private by themselves alone What liberty they please, In choofing of the ways, Their foul's most intimate affections known They are most conceal'd from other men. But he, that unto others leads the way In public prayer, Should choose to do it fo, As all, that hear, may know To tune their hearts unto his tongue, and fay Amen; nor doubt they were betray'd To blafpheme, when they should have pray'd. Devotion will add life unto the letter. And why should not That, which Authority If the Prayer be good, the commoner, the better. 14. The Bible. HE Bible? That's the Book. The Book in- On which who looks, As he should do, aright, fhall never need To guide him in the night: Or, when he hungry is, for better food [deed, With equal ease may come by. Yea, 'tis more, An antidote, as well As remedy 'gainst Hell. "Tis heaven in perspective, and the bliss Of glory here, If any where, By Saints on Earth anticipated is, Whilst faith to every word A being doth afford. It is the Looking-glass of fouls, wherein All men may fee, Still, as by nature they are, deform'd with fin; Or in a better cafe, As new adorn'd with grace. 'Tis the great Magazine of spiritual arms, Wherein doth lie The artillery Of heaven, ready charged against all harms, Of our infernal foes. God's Cabinet of reveal'd counsel 'tis : Where weal and woe Are order'd fo, That every man may know which fhall be his; Unless his own mistake Falfe application make. |