Then should thy praises with me grow, But when I thus dispute and grieve, And pilfring what I once did give, How know I, if thou shouldst me raise, Wherefore unto my gift I stand; Onely do thou lend me a hand, Since thou hast both mine eyes. 71. JUSTICE. I CANNOT Skill of these thy ways: Lord, thou didst make me, yet thou woundest me: Lord, thou dost wound me, yet thou dost relieve me: Lord, thou relievest, yet I die by thee: Lord, thou dost kill me, yet thou dost reprieve me. But when I mark my life and praise, For, I do praise thee, yet I praise thee not: 72. CHARMS AND KNOTS. WHO reade a chapter when they rise, A poore man's rod, when thou dost ride, Who shuts his hand, hath lost his gold: Who goes to bed, and doth not pray, Who by aspersions throw a stone Who looks on ground with humble eyes, When th' hair is sweet through pride or lust, The powder doth forget the dust. Take one from ten, and what remains? Ten still, if sermons go for gains. In shallow waters heav'n doth show: 73. AFFLICTION. My God, I read this day, That planted Paradise was not so firm And anchor thou art onely, to confirm When waves do rise, and tempests rage. At first we liv'd in pleasure; Thine own delights thou didst to us impart : Now thou wouldst taste our miserie. There is but joy and grief; If either will convert us, we are thine: Furnish thy table to thy minde. Affliction then is ours; We are the trees, whom shaking fastens more, While blustring windes destroy the wanton bowres, And ruffle all their curious knots and store. My God, so temper joy and wo, That thy bright beams may tame thy bow. 74. MORTIFICATION. How soon doth man decay! When clothes are taken from a chest of sweets To swaddle infants, whose young breath Those clouts are little winding sheets, Which do consigne and send them unto death. |