59. The World.

OVE built a ftately houfe; where Fortune

came:

And spinning fancies she was heard to say,
That her fine cobwebs did fupport the frame,
Whereas they were fupported by the fame:
But Wisdom quickly swept them all away.

Then Pleasure came, who, liking not the fashion,
Began to make Balconies, Terraces,

Till she had weaken'd all by alteration :
But reverend laws, and many a proclamation
Reformed all at length with menaces.

Then enter'd Sin, and with that Sycamore,
Whofe leaves first shelter'd man from drought and dew,
Working and winding flily evermore,

The inward walls and fummers cleft and tore:
But Grace fhored thefe, and cut that as it grew.

Then Sin combined with Death in a firm band,
To raze the building to the very floor:
Which they effected, none could them withstand;
But Love and Grace took Glory by the hand,
And built a braver Palace than before.

M

60. Coloff. iii. 3.

OUR LIFE IS HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD.

Y words and thoughts do both express this
notion,

That LIFE hath with the fun a double motion.
The first IS ftraight, and our diurnal friend;
The other HID, and doth obliquely bend.
One life is wrapt IN flesh, and tends to earth:
The other winds towards HIM, whose happy birth
Taught me to live here so, THAT still one eye
Should aim and shoot at that which IS on high;
Quitting with daily labour all MY pleasure,
To gain at harvest an eternal TREASURE.

61. Vanity.

HE fleet Aftronomer can bore

And thread the spheres with his quick-piercing mind: He views their stations, walks from door to door, Surveys, as if he had defign'd

To make a purchase there: he sees their dances, And knoweth long before,

Both their full-ey'd afpects, and fecret glances.

The nimble Diver with his fide Cuts through the working waves, that he

His dearly-earned pearl, which God did hide

On purpose from the venturous wretch;
That he might fave his life, and also hers,
Who with exceffive pride

Her own deftruction and his danger wears.

The fubtile Chymic can divest And ftrip the creature naked, till he find The callow principles within their nest : There he imparts to them his mind, Admitted to their bed-chamber, before They appear trim and drest To ordinary fuitors at the door.

What hath not man sought out and found, But his dear God? who yet his glorious law Embofoms in us, mellowing the ground

With fhowers and frofts, with love and awe; So that we need not fay, Where's this command? Poor man! thou fearchest round To find out death, but miffeft life at hand.

62. Lent.

ELCOME, dear feast of Lent: who loves not

thee,

He loves not Temperance, or Authority,
But is compofed of paffion.

The Scriptures bid us faft; the Church fays, Now :
Give to thy Mother what thou wouldst allow
To every Corporation.

The humble foul, compofed of love and fear,
Begins at home, and lays the burden there,
When doctrines difagree:

He fays, In things which use hath justly got,
I am a scandal to the Church, and not
The Church is fo to me.

True Christians should be glad of an occafion
To use their temperance, feeking no evasion,
When good is seasonable;

Unless Authority, which fhould increase
The obligation in us, make it lefs,
And Power itself disable.

Befides the cleannefs of fweet abftinence,
Quick thoughts and motions at a small expense,
A face not fearing light:

Whereas in fulness there are fluttish fumes,
Sour exhalations, and dishonest rheums,
Revenging the delight.

Then those same pendent profits, which the spring
And Easter intimate, enlarge the thing,
And goodness of the deed.

Neither ought other men's abuse of Lent
Spoil the good use; left by that argument
We forfeit all our Creed.

'Tis true, we cannot reach Christ's fortieth day ; Yet to go part of that religious way

Is better than to rest:

We cannot reach our Saviour's purity;
Yet are we bid, Be holy e'en as he.

In both let's do our best.

Who goeth in the way which Christ hath gone,
Is much more fure to meet with him, than one
That travelleth by-ways.

Perhaps my God, though he be far before,
May turn, and take me by the hand, and more,
May ftrengthen my decays.

Yet, Lord, inftruct us to improve our fast
By starving fin, and taking such repast
As may our faults control:

That every man may revel at his door,
Not in his parlour; banqueting the poor,
And among those his foul.

WEET Day, fo cool, fo calm, fo bright, The bridal of the earth and sky, The dew shall weep thy fall to-night;

For thou must die.

Sweet Rofe, whofe hue angry and brave
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye,