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Yet, while some rays of that great light
Shine here below within thy book,

They never shall so blinde my sight,
But I will know which way to look.

For though thou doest that great light lock,
And by this lesser commerce keep,

Yet, by these glances of the flock,
I can discern wolves from the sheep.

Not but that I have wishes too,

And pray,

"These last may be as first,

Or better;" but thou long ago

Hast said, "These last should be the worst."

Besides, thy method with thy own,

Thy own dear people, pens our times;
Our stories are in theirs set down,

And penalties spread to our crimes.

Again, if worst and worst implies
A state that no redress admits,
Then, from thy cross unto these days,
The rule without exception fits.

And yet, as in night's gloomy page
One silent star may interline;
So, in this last and lewdest age,

Thy antient love on some may shine.

For though we hourly breathe decays,
And our best note and highest ease
Is but meer changing of the keys,
And a consumption that doth please;

Yet thou the great eternal Rock,
Whose height above all ages shines,
Art still the same, and canst unlock
Thy waters to a soul that pines.

Since, then, thou art the same this day
And ever as thou wert of old,
And nothing doth thy love allay,
But our heart's dead and sinful cold;

As thou long since wert pleas'd to buy
Our drown'd estate, taking the curse
Upon thyself, so to destroy
The knots we tyed upon thy purse,·

So let thy grace now make the way
Even for thy love; for by that means
We, who are nothing but foul clay,
Shall be fine gold which thou didst cleanse.

O come! refine us with thy fire!
Refine us! we are at a loss:

Let not thy stars for Balaam's hire
Dissolve into the common dross!

THE PROFFER.

Be still, black parasites,

Flutter no more;

Were it still winter, as it was before,
You'd make no flights;

But now the dew and sun have warm'd my bowres
You flie and flock to suck the flowers.

But you would honey make:

These buds will wither,

And what you now extract, in harder weather
Will serve to take;

Wise husbands will, you say, their wants prevent;
Who do not so, too late repent.

O poysonous, subtile fowls!

The flyes of hell,

That buz in every ear, and blow on souls
Until they smell

And rot, descend not here, nor think to stay!
I've read, who 'twas drove you away.

Think you these longing eyes,
Though sick and spent,

And almost famish'd, ever will consent

To leave those skies,

That glass of souls and spirits, where well drest They shine in white, like stars, and rest.

Shall my short hour, my inch,
My one poor sand,

And crum of life now ready to disband,
Revolt and flinch;

And having born the burthen all the day,
Now cast at night my crown away?

No, no; I am not he:

Go, seek elsewhere!

I skill not your fine tinsel, and false hair,

Your sorcery,

And smooth seducements: I'le not stuff my story With your poor commonwealth and glory.

There are that will sow tares

And scatter death

Amongst the quick, selling their souls and breath For any wares;

But when thy Master comes, they'll finde and see,

There's a reward for them and thee.

Then keep the antient way!

Spit out their phlegm,

And fill thy brest with home; think on thy dream
A calm, bright day!

A land of flowers and spices! the word given-
If these be fair, O what is Heaven!

COCK-CROWING.

FATHER of lights! what sunnie seed,
What glance of day hast thou confin'd
Into this bird? To all the breed
This busie ray thou hast assign'd;

Their magnetisme works all night,
And dreams of paradise and light.

Their eyes watch for the morning hue,
Their little grain expelling night
So shines and sings, as if it knew
The path unto the house of light.

It seems their candle, howe'r done,
Was tinn'd and lighted at the sunne.

If such a tincture, such a touch,
So firm a longing can impowre,
Shall thy own image think it much
To watch for thy appearing hour?

If a meer blast so fill the sail,

Shall not the breath of God prevail?

O thou immortall light and heat!

Whose hand so shines through all this frame,

That, by the beauty of the seat,

We plainly see who made the same.

Seeing thy seed abides in me,

Dwell thou in it, and I in thee!

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