SILEX SCINTILLANS.

PART II.

Silex Scintillans, &c.

Afcenfion-day.

Ord Jefus! with what sweetness and delights,
Sure, holy hopes, high joys, and quickning

flights,

Doft thou feed thine! O thou! the hand

that lifts

To him who gives all good and perfect gifts,
Thy glorious, bright Ascension, though remov'd
So many Ages from me, is fo prov'd
And by thy Spirit seal'd to me, that I
Feel me a sharer in thy victory!

I foar and rife

Up to the skies,

Leaving the world their day;

And in my flight

For the true light

Go seeking all the way;

I greet thy Sepulchre, falute thy Grave,
That bleft inclofure, where the Angels gave
The first glad tidings of thy early light,
And refurrection from the earth and night.
I fee that morning in thy * Convert's tears,

*St. Mary Magdalene.

Fresh as the dew, which but this dawning wears.
I smell her spices; and her ointment yields,
As rich a scent as the now Primros'd-fields.
The Day-star smiles, and light with the deceast
Now shines in all the Chambers of the East.
What ftirs, what posting intercourse and mirth
Of Saints and Angels glorifie the earth?
What fighs, what whispers, bufie ftops and ftays;
Private and holy talk fill all the ways?

They pass as at the last great day, and run
In their white robes to seek the risen Sun;

I see them, hear them, mark their haste, and move
Amongst them, with them, wing'd with faith and love.
Thy forty days more fecret commerce here
After thy death and Funeral, so clear

And indifputable, fhews to my fight

As the Sun doth, which to those days gave light.
I walk the fields of Bethany, which shine

All now as fresh as Eden, and as fine.

Such was the bright world on the first seventh day,
Before man brought forth fin, and fin decay;
When like a Virgin clad in Flowers and green
The pure earth fat, and the fair woods had seen
No frost, but flourish'd in that youthful veft,
With which their great Creator had them dreft:
When Heav'n above them fhin'd like molten glass,
While all the Planets did unclouded pafs;
And Springs, like diffolv'd Pearls their Streams did pour
Ne'er marr'd with floods, nor angered with a showre.
With these fair thoughts I move in this fair place,
And the last steps of my milde Master trace.
I see Him leading out his chosen Train
All fad with tears, which like warm Summer rain
In filent drops fteal from their holy eyes,

Fix'd lately on the Crofs, now on the skies.
And now, eternal Jefus! thou doft heave
Thy bleffed hands to blefs thofe thou doft leave.
The cloud doth now receive thee, and their fight
Having loft thee, behold two men in white!
Two and no more: what two atteft is true,
Was thine own answer to the ftubborn Jew.
Come then, thou faithful witness! come, dear Lord,
Upon the Clouds again to judge this world!

Afcenfion-Hymn.

Uft and clay,

Man's antient wear,
Here you must stay,

But I elsewhere!

Souls fojourn here, but may not reft;
Who will afcend must be undreft.

And yet fome,

That know to die

Before death come,

Walk to the skie

Even in this life; but all fuch can

Leave behinde them the old Man.

If a ftar

Should leave the Sphære,
She must first mar

Her flaming wear,

And after fall, for in her dress
Of glory, fhe cannot tranfgrefs.