In flesh at first the guilt committed was, And that most blessed body, which was born Of cruel hands, who, with despiteful shame O blessed well of love! O flower of grace! O glorious morning star! O lamp of light! Most lively image of thy father's face, Eternal King of Glory, Lord of Might, Meek Lamb of God before all worlds belight,' Yet naught thou ask'st in lieu of all this love But love of us, for guerdon of thy pain. Ay me! what can us less than that behove? Had He required life of us again, Had it been wrong to ask his own again? He gave us life, He it restored lost; But He our life hath left unto us free, Free that was thrall, and blessed that was banned,' Nor aught demands but that we loving be, As He himself hath loved us aforehand, And bound thereto with an eternal band 1 Named. 2 Reward. • Cursed Him first to love that was so dearly bought, Him first to love great right and reason is, Us wretches from the second death did save; To feed our hungry souls unto us lent. Then next we love our brethren that were made That we, and to the same again shall fade, Where they shall have like heritage of land, However here on higher steps we stand. Which also were with self-same price redeemed That we, however of us light esteemed. And were they not, yet sith that loving Lord Which is his last bequest He to us spake, We should them love, and with their needs partake, Knowing that whatsoe'er to them we give We give to Him by whom we all do live. Such mercy He by his most holy reed' Unto us taught, and to approve it true, Ensampled it by his most righteous deed, Showing us mercy (miserable crew!) That we the like should to the wretches shew. And love our brethren, thereby to approve How much Himself that loved us we love. Then rouse thyself, O Earth! out of thy soil, Unmindful of that dearest Lord of thine: Begin from first where He encradled was In simple cratch,' wrapped in a wad of hay Between the wilful ox and humble ass; And in what rags, and in how base array, When Him the silly shepherds came to see, From thence read in the story of his life His humble carriage, his unfaulty ways, And look, at last, how of most wretched wights How with lies, scornful taunts, and fell despites How scourged, how crowned, how buffeted, how And lastly, how 'twixt robbers crucified, With bitter wound through hands, through feet, and side! Then let thy flinty heart, that feels no pain, Empierced be with pitiful remorse ; And let thy bowels bleed in every vein At sight of his most sacred heavenly corse, So torn and mangled with malicious force; And let thy soul, whose sins and sorrows wrought, Melt into tears, and groan in grieved thought. With sense thereof, while thy so softened spirit Is inly touched and humbled with meek zeal, Lift up thy mind to th' Author of thy weal, With all thy heart, with all thy soul and mind, Thou must Him love, and his behests embrace; And give thyself unto Him full and free, Then shalt thou feel thy spirit so possessed, And ravished with devouring great desire Thenceforth all world's desire will in thee die, And all earth's glory on which men do gaze Seem dust and dross in thy pure-sighted eye, Compared to that celestial beauty's blaze, Whose glorious beams all fleshly sense doth daze With admiration of their passing light, Blinding the eyes and lumining the sprite. Then shall thy ravished soul inspired be, With heavenly thoughts, far above human skill; And thy bright radiant eyes shall plainly see Th' idea of his pure glory present still Before thy face, that all thy spirit shall fill With sweet enragement of celestial love, Kindled through sight of those fair things above. FROM THE HYMN OF HEAVENLY BEAUTY. BUT whoso may, thrice happy man him hold, And lets his own beloved to behold; For in the view of her celestial face All joy, all bliss, all happiness have place: Not aught on earth can want unto the wight, Who of herself can win the wishful sight. For she out of her secret treasury Plenty of riches forth on him will pour, E'en heavenly riches, which there hidden lie, Within the closet of her chastest bower, Th' eternal portion of her precious dower, Which mighty God hath given to her free, And to all those which thereof worthy be. None thereof worthy be but those whom she Vouchsafeth to her presence to receive, And letteth them her lovely face to see, Whereof such wondrous pleasures they conceive, Their soul of sense, through infinite delight, In which they see such admirable things, |