SIN. LORD, with what care hast thou begirt us round! Parents first season us: then schoolmasters Deliver us to laws; they send us bound To rules of reason, holy messengers, Pulpits and Sundays, sorrow dogging sin, Blessings beforehand, ties of gratefulness, The sound of glory ringing in our ears; Without, our shame; within, our consciences; Angels and grace, eternal hopes and fears. Yet all these fences and their whole array AFFLICTION. WHEN first thou didst entice to thee my heart, I thought the service brave : So many joys I writ down for my part, Besides what I might have Out of my stock of natural delights, I looked on thy furniture so fine, And made it fine to me; Thy glorious household-stuff did me entwine, And 'tice me unto thee. 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 : My flesh began unto my soul in pain, Sicknesses cleave 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, And more; for my friends die : Thus thin and lean, without a fence or friend, 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, Not simpering all mine age, 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 ; Ah, my dear God! though I am clean forgot, 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 ; If life be told From what life feeleth, Adam's fall. O let thy height of mercy then Cut me not off for my most foul transgression: 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 th' other parts. But thou wilt sin and grief destroy ; Who dead men raises. Fractures well cured make us more strong. 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, |