I looked on thy furniture so fine,

And made it fine to me;

Thy glorious household-stuffe did me entwine,
And 'tice me unto thee.

Such starres I counted mine: both heav'n and earth
Payd me my wages in a world of mirth.

What pleasures could I want, whose King I served,
Where joyes my fellows were ?

Thus argu'd into hopes, my thoughts reserved
No place for grief or fear;

Therefore my sudden soul caught at the place,
And made her youth and fiercenesse seek thy face:

At first thou gav'st me milk and sweetnesses;
I had my wish and way:

My dayes were straw'd with flow'rs and happinesse ;
There was no moneth but May.
But with my yeares sorrow did twist and grow,
And made a partie unawares for wo.

My flesh began unto my soul in pain,

Sicknesses cleave my bones,

Consuming agues dwell in ev'ry vein,

And tune my breath to grones :
Sorrow was all my soul; I scarce beleeved,
Till grief did tell me roundly, that I lived.

When I got health, thou took'st away my life,
And more; for my friends die :
My mirth and edge was lost; a blunted knife
Was of more use then I.

Thus thinne and lean without a fence or friend,
I was blown through with ev'ry storm and winde.

Whereas my birth and spirit rather took

The way that takes the town;

Thou didst betray me to a lingring book,
And wrap me in a gown.

I was entangled in the world of strife,
Before I had the power to change my life.

eniv.

Ichales.

Yet, for I threatened oft the siege to raise,
Not simpring all mine age,

Thou often didst with academick praise

Melt and dissolve my rage.

I took thy sweetened pill, till I came neare;
I could not go away, nor persevere.

Yet lest perchance I should too happie be

In my unhappinesse,

1

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 reade, 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;
In weaknesse must be stout.

Well, I will change the service, and go seek
Some other master out.

Ah my deare God! though I am clean forgot,
Let me not love thee, if I love thee not.

19: REPENTANCE.

LORD, I confesse my sinne is great ;
Great is my sinne. Oh! gently treat
With thy quick flow'r, thy momentarie bloom;
Whose life still pressing

Is one undressing,

A steadie aiming at a tombe.

Man's age is two houres work, or three ;
Each day doth round about us see.
Thus are we to delights: but we are all
To sorrows old,

If life be told

From what life feeleth, Adam's fall.

Oh let thy height of mercie then
Compassionate short-breathed men,

Cut me not off for my most foul transgression :
I do confesse

My foolishnesse ;

My God, accept of my confession.

Sweeten at length this bitter bowl,

Which thou hast pour'd into my soul;

Thy wormwood turn to health, windes to fair weather,

For if thou stay,

I and this day,

As we did rise we die together.

When thou for sinne rebukest man, Forthwith he waxeth wo and wan: Bitternesse fills our bowels; all our hearts Pine, and decay,

And drop away,

And carrie with them th' other parts.

But thou wilt sinne and grief destroy; That so the broken bones may joy, And tune together in a well-set song,

Full of his praises

Who dead men raises.

Fractures well cur'd make us more strong.

20. FAITH.

LORD, how couldst thou so much appease Thy wrath for sinne, as when man's sight was dimme, And could see little, to regard his ease,

And bring by Faith all things to him?

Hungrie I was, and had no meat:

I did conceit a most delicious feast;

I had it straight, and did as truly eat,
As ever did a welcome guest.

There is a rare outlandish root,
Which when I could not get, I thought it here:
That apprehension cur'd so well my foot,

That I can walk to heav'n well neare.

I owed thousands and much more: I did believe that I did nothing owe, And liv'd accordingly; my creditor Beleeves so too, and lets me go.

Faith makes me any thing, or all
That I beleeve is in the sacred storie:
And where sinne placeth me in Adam's fall,
Faith sets me higher in his glorie.

What can be lower than the common manger?

Faith puts me there with Him, who sweetly took
Our flesh and frailtie, death and danger.

If blisse had lien in art or strength,
None but the wise or strong had gained it :
Where now by Faith all arms are of a length;
One size doth all conditions fit.

A peasant may beleeve as much

As a great clerk, and reach the highest stature.
Thus dost thou make proud knowledge bend and

While grace fills up uneven nature. [crouch,

When creatures had no reall light Inherent in them, thou didst make the sunne, Impute a lustre, and allow them bright:

And in this show, what Christ hath done.

That which before was darkned clean

With bushie groves, pricking the looker's eie,
Vanisht away, when Faith did change the scene:
And then appeared a glorious skie.

D