We lookt on this side of thee, shooting short; Where we did finde

The shells of fledge souls left behinde,

Dry dust, which sheds no tears, but may extort.

But since our Saviour's death did put some bloud Into thy face;

Thou art grown fair and full of grace,

Much in request, much sought for, as a good.

For we do now behold thee gay and glad,
As at dooms-day;

When souls shall wear their new aray,
And all thy bones with beautie shall be clad.

Therefore we can go die as sleep, and trust
Half that we have

Unto an honest faithfull grave;
Making our pillows either down, or dust.

159. DOOMS-DAY.

COME away,
Make no delay.

Summon all the dust to rise,

Till it stirre, and rubbe the eyes;
While this member jogs the other,
Each one whispering, Live you, brother?

Come away,

Make this the day.

Dust, alas, no musick feels,

But thy trumpet: then it kneels,
As peculiar notes and strains

Cure Tarantulaes raging pains.

Come away,

O make no stay!

Let the graves make their confession,
Lest at length they plead possession :
Fleshes stubbornnesse may have
Read that lesson to the grave.

Come away,

Thy flock doth stray.

Some to the windes their bodie lend,
And in them may drown a friend :
Some in noisome vapours grow
To a plague and publick wo.

Come away,

Help our decay.

Man is out of order hurl'd,

Parcel'd out to all the world.

Lord, thy broken consort raise,
And the musick shall be praise.

160. JUDGEMENT.

ALMIGHTIE Judge, how shall poore wretches brook Thy dreadfull look,

Able a heart of iron to appall,

When thou shalt call

For ev'ry man's peculiar book?

What others mean to do, I know not well;
Yet I heare tell,

That some will turn thee to some leaves therein

So void of sinne,

That they in merit shall excell.

But I resolve, when thou shalt call for mine,
That to decline,

And thrust a Testament into thy hand :

Let that be scann'd.

There thou shalt finde my faults are thine.

161. HEAVEN.

O WHO will show me those delights on high?

Thou Echo, thou art mortall, all men know.

Wert thou not born among the trees and leaves?

And are there any leaves, that still abide ?

Echo.

What leaves are they? impart the matter wholly.

Echo.

Are holy leaves the Echo then of blisse?

Echo.

Bide.

Holy.

Yes.

Then tell me what is that supreme delight?

Echo.

Light.

Light to the minde: what shall the will enjoy?

But are there cares and businesse with the pleasure?

Light, joy, and leisure; but shall they persever?

LOVE bade me welcome yet my soul drew back, Guiltie of dust and sinne.

But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,

Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning,
If I lack'd any thing.

A guest, I answer'd, worthy to be here:
Love said, you shall be he.

I the unkinde, ungratefull? Ah my deare,
I cannot look on thee.

Love took my hand, and smiling did reply,
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord, but I have marr'd them: let my shame Go where it doth deserve.

And know you not, sayes Love, who bore the blame? My deare, then I will serve.

You must sit down, sayes Love, and taste my meat : So I did sit and eat.

Glorie be to God on high, and on earth peace,
good will towards men.

2. The Church Militant.

ALMIGHTIE LORD, who from thy glorious throne
Seest and rulest all things ev'n as one :

The smallest ant or atome knows thy power,
Known also to each minute of an hour:
Much more do Common-weals acknowledge thee,
And wrap their policies in thy decree,
Complying with thy counsels, doing nought

Which doth not meet with an eternall thought.
But above all, thy Church and Spouse doth prove
Not the decrees of power, but bands of love.
Early didst thou arise to plant this vine,
Which might the more indeare it to be thine.
Spices come from the East; so did thy Spouse
Trimme as the light, sweet as the laden boughs
Of Noah's shadie vine, chaste as the dove,
Prepar'd and fitted to receive thy love.

The course was westward, that the sunne might light
As well our understanding as our sight.

Where th' Ark did rest, there Abraham begau

To bring the other Ark from Canaan.

Moses pursu'd this: but King Solomon
Finish'd and fixt the old religion.

When it grew loose, the Jews did hope in vain
By nailing Christ to fasten it again.

But to the Gentiles he bore crosse and all,
Rending with earthquakes the partition-wall.

Onely whereas the Ark in glorie shone,