MAN. WEIGHING the stedfastness and state Of some mean things which here below reside, Where birds like watchful clocks the noiseless date And intercourse of times divide, Where bees at night get home and hive, and flowrs, Early as well as late, Rise with the sun, and set in the same bowrs; II. I would, said I, my God would give The staidness of these things to man! for these And no new business breaks their peace; Yet Solomon was never drest so fine. III. Man hath still either toyes or care; He hath no root, nor to one place is ty'd, About this earth doth run and ride. He knows he hath a home, but scarce knows where; He sayes it is so far, That he hath quite forgot how to go there. IV. He knocks at all doors, strays and roams; Nay, hath not so much wit as some stones have, Which in the darkest nights point to their homes By some hid sense their Maker gave; Man is the shuttle, to whose winding quest I WALKT THE OTHER DAY. I. I WALKT the other day, to spend my hour, Where I sometimes had seen the soil to yield But winter now had ruffled all the bowre I knew there heretofore. II. Yet I, whose search lov'd not to peep and peer Thought with myself there might be other springs Which, like cold friends, sees us but once a year; And so the flowre Might have some other bowre. III. Then, taking up what I could neerest spie, That place where I had seen him to grow out; I saw the warm recluse alone to lie, Where fresh and green He lived of us unseen. IV. Many a question intricate and rare Did I there strow; But all I could extort was, that he now Such losses as befel him in this air, Come forth most fair and young. V. This past, I threw the clothes quite o'er his head; Of my own frailty dropt down many a tear Then sighing whisper'd, "Happy are the dead! Rock him asleep below!" VI. And yet, how few believe such doctrine springs Which all the winter sleeps here under foot, To raise it to the truth and light of things; By ev'ry wandring clod. VII. O Thou whose spirit did at first inflame And warm the dead, And by a sacred incubation fed With life this frame, Which once had neither being, forme, nor name! Grant I may so Thy steps track here below, VIII. That in these masques and shadows I may see And by those hid ascents climb to that day Which breaks from Thee, Who art in all things, though invisibly! Thy mercy, love, and ease! IX. And from this care, where dreams and sorrows raign, Lead me above, Where light, joy, leisure, and true comforts move There, hid in thee, shew me his life again, Thus all the year I mourn! BEGGING. KING of mercy, King of love, Let my youth, my bloom of dayes, I may find thy hand therein Wiping out my shame and sin! O it is thy only art To reduce a stubborn heart; Strong holds should belong to thee. Lord, then take it, leave it not Unto my dispose or lot; But since I would not have it mine, O my God, let it be thine! Jude 24, 25. Now unto Him that is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and ever. Amen. END OF THE FIRST PART. |