I looked on thy furniture so fine, And made it fine to me; Thy glorious household-stuff did me entwine, 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 gavest me milk and sweetnesses; My days were strew'd with flowers and happiness; But with my years sorrow did twist and grow, My flesh began unto my soul in pain, Sicknesses clave 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 spirit rather took The way that takes the town; Thou didst betray me to a lingering book, I was entangled in the world of strife, Yet, for I threaten'd oft the siege to raise, Thou often didst with Academic praise Melt and dissolve my rage. I took thy sweeten'd pill, till I came near; Yet lest perchance I should too happy be Turning my purge to food, thou throwest me Thus doth thy power cross-bias me, not making 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, XIX. 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; To sorrows old, 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 pour'd 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, Forthwith he waxeth woe and wan: Bitterness fills our bowels; all our hearts Pine, and decay, And drop away, And carry with them the other parts. But thou wilt sin and grief destroy; And tune together in a well-set song, Full of his praises Who dead men raises. Fractures well cured make us more strong. XX. FAITH. LORD, how couldst thou so much appease Thy wrath for sin, as when man's sight was dim, And could see little, to regard his ease, And bring by Faith all things to him? Hungry I was, and had no meat: I did conceit a most delicious feast; There is a rare outlandish root, Which when I could not get, I thought it here: That apprehension cured so well my foot, That I can walk to heaven well near. I owed thousands and much more: Faith makes me anything, or all That I believe is in the sacred story: And when sin placeth me in Adam's fall, Faith sets me higher in his glory. If I go lower in the book, What can be lower than the common manger? Faith puts me there with him, who sweetly took Our flesh and frailty, death and danger. If bliss had lien in art or strength, None but the wise and strong had gain'd it: A peasant may believe 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 real light Inherent in them, thou didst make the sun, And in this shew, what Christ hath done. That which before was darken'd clean With bushy groves, pricking the looker's eye, Vanish'd away, when Faith did change the scene : And then appear'd a glorious sky. |