Although by stealth My flesh get on, yet let her sister, My soul, bid nothing, but preserve her wealth. The growth of flesh is but a blister; Childhood is health. Nature. FULL of rebellion, I would die, That thou hast aught to do with me. O tame my heart! It is thy highest art To captivate strong holds to thee. If thou shalt let this venom lurk, And thence by kind Making thy workmanship deceit. O smooth my rugged heart, and there Is sapless grown, And a much fitter stone To hide my dust, than thee to hold. Sín. LORD, with what care hast thou begirt us round! Pulpits and Sundays; sorrow dogging sin; Blessings beforehand; ties of gratefulness; The sound of glory ringing in our ears; Without, our shame; within, our consciences; Angels and grace; eternal hopes and fears Yet all these fences, and their whole array, Amfiction. WHEN first thou didst entice to thee my heart, So many joys I writ down for my part! Besides what I might have Out of my stock of natural delights, Augmented with thy gracious benefits. I looked on thy furniture so fine, And made it fine to me. Thy glorious household stuff did me entwine, And 'tice me unto thee. Such stars I counted mine: both heaven and earth Paid me my wages in a world of mirth. What pleasures could I want, whose King I served? Thus argued into hopes, my thoughts reserved Therefore my sudden soul caught at the place, At first, thou gav'st me milk and sweetnesses; My days were strewed with flowers and happiness: But with my years sorrow did twist and grow, My flesh began unto my soul in pain— "Sicknesses cleave my bones; Consuming agues dwell in every vein, And tune my breath to groans." Sorrow was all my soul. I scarce believed, Till Grief did tell me roundly, that I lived. When I got health, thou took'st away my life: Thus thin and lean, without a fence or friend, I was blown through with every storm and wind. Whereas my birth and spirits rather took The way that takes the town; Thou didst betray me to a lingering book, I was entangled in a world of strife, Yet, for I threatened oft the siege to raise, Thou often didst, with academic praise, Melt and dissolve my rage. I took thy sweetened pill, till I came where Yet, lest perchance I should too happy be Turning my purge to food, thou throwest me Into more sicknesses. Thus doth thy power cross-bias me, not making Thine own gift good, yet me from my ways taking. Now I am here; what thou wilt do with me, None of my books will show. I read, and sigh, and wish I were a tree; For sure then I should grow To fruit, or shade; at least some bird would trust Her household to me, and I should be just. Yet, though thou troublest me, I must be meek; Well, I will change the service, and go seek Ah, my dear God! though I am clean forgot, Let me not love thee, if I love thee not. Repentance. LORD, I confess my sin is great, Is one undressing, A steady aiming at a tomb. Man's age is two hours' work, or three: If life be told From what life feeleth, Adam's fall. O let thy height of mercy then My foolishness;— My God, accept of my confession. Sweeten, at length, this bitter bowl, Which thou hast poured into my soul. Thy wormwood turn to health; winds, to fair weather. For if thou stay, I and this day, As we did rise, we die, together. When thou for sin rebukest man, |