I did; and going did a rainbow note: Surely, thought I, This is the lace of Peace's coat; I will search out the matter. But while I lookt, the clouds immediately Did break and scatter. Then went I to a garden, and did spy A gallant flower, The Crown Imperiall. Sure, said I, Peace at the root must dwell. But when I digg'd, I saw a worme devoure What show'd so well. At length I met a rev'rend good old man, Whom when for Peace I did demand he thus began: 'There was a Prince of old At Salem dwelt, Who liv'd with good increase Of flock and fold. He sweetly liv'd; yet sweetnesse did not save But after death out of His grave There sprang twelve stalks of wheat; Which many wond'ring at, got some of those To plant and set. It prosper'd strangely, and did soon disperse Through all the earth; For they that taste it do rehearse 1Ο 15 20 25 the [Apostles 30 That vertue lies therein; A secret vertue, bringing peace and mirth By flight of sinne. Take of this grain, which in my garden grows, Make bread of it; and that repose And peace, which ev'ry where With so much earnestnesse you do Is onely there.' 35 40 pursue, 96. CONFESSION. O, what a cunning guest Is this same grief! within my heart I made And like a master in my trade, In those chests, boxes; in each box a till. No scrue, no piercer can Into a piece of timber worke and winde As God's affections into man, When He a torture hath design'd; They are too subtill for the subt❜llest hearts, 5 10 Like moles within us, heave and cast about; And till they foot and clutch their prey, 15 No smith can make such locks but they have keyes ; Closets are halls to them, and hearts high-wayes. Onely an open breast Doth shut them out, so that they cannot enter; Or if they enter, cannot rest, But quickly seek some new adventure : Smooth open hearts no fastning have; but fiction Doth give a hold and handle to affliction. Wherefore my faults and sinnes, Lord, I acknowledge; take Thy plagues away: Oh, what a thing is man! how farre from power, From settled peace and rest! He is some twentie sev'rall men at least Each sev'rall houre. One while he counts of heav'n, as of his treasure; But then a thought creeps in, And calls him coward, who for fear of sinne Will lose a pleasure. Now he will fight it out, and to the warres; And snudge in quiet; now he scorns increase, He builds a house, which quickly down must go, And crusht the building; and it's partly true His minde is so. O, what a sight were man, if his attires Did alter with his minde, And, like a dolphin's skinne, his clothes combin'd With his desires! Surely if each one saw another's heart, There would be no commerce, No sale or bargain passe; all would disperse Lord, mend, or rather make us; one creation Except Thou make us dayly, we shall spurn 15 20 25 98. THE BUNCH OF GRAPES. Joy, I did lock thee up, but some bad man And now, methinks, I am where I began I did toward Canaan draw, but now I am fashion 5 VOL. I. T For as the Jews of old by God's command Travell'd and saw no town, So now each Christian hath his journeys spann'd; 10 Their storie pennes and sets us down. A single deed is small renown; God's works are wide, and let in future times; Then have we too our guardian fires and clouds, We have sands and serpents, tents and shrowds; 15 But where's the cluster? where's the taste But can he want the grape who hath the wine? Blessed be God, Who prosper'd Noah's vine, 21 And made it bring forth grapes, good store: 25 Who of the Law's sowre juice sweet wine did make, 99.¶LOVE-UNKNOWN. Deare friend, sit down; the tale is long and sad; And in my faintings I presume your love Will more complie then help :-a Lord I had, And have, of Whom some grounds, which may improve, |