When once thy foot enters the church, be bare. state: All equal are within the church's gate. Resort to sermons, but to prayers most: Stay not for the other pin. A joy for it worth worlds. Why, thou hast lost Thus hell doth jest Away thy blessings, and extremely flout thee, Thy clothes being fast, but thy soul loose about thee. In time of service seal up both thine eyes, Let vain or busy thoughts have there no part; Bring not thy plough, thy plots, thy pleasure thither. Christ purg'd his temple; so must thou thy heart. Judge not the preacher, for he is thy judge: The worst speak something good: if all want sense, God takes a text, and preacheth patience. He that gets patience, and the blessing which Jest not at preachers' language or expression: And love him for his Master: his condition, None shall in hell such bitter pangs endure, cure? They drink with greediness a full damnation. The Jews refused thunder; and we folly. Though God do hedge us in, yet who is holy? THE REPRISAL. I HAVE Consider'd it, and find My sins deserve the condemnation. O make me innocent, that I May give a disentangled state and free; Ah! was it not enough that thou By thy eternal glory didst outgo me? Couldst thou not grief's sad conquest me allow, But in all victories overthrow me ? Yet by confession will I come Into the conquest. Though I can do nought Against thee, in thee I will overcome The man, who once against thee fought. GOOD FRIDAY. O MY chief good, How shall I measure out thy blood? Shall I thy woes Number according to thy foes? Or, since one star show'd thy first breath, Or shall each leaf, Which falls in autumn, score a grief? Then let each hour Of my whole life one grief devour; That thy distress through all may run, Or rather let My sev'ral sins their sorrows get; EASTER. I GOT me flowers to strew thy way; The sun arising in the east, Though he give light, and the east perfume; If they should offer to contest With thy arising, they presume. Can there be any day but this, Though many suns to shine endeavour? HOLY BAPTISM. SINCE, Lord, to thee Is all the passage, on my infancy O let me still Write thee great God, and me a child: Although by stealth My flesh got on; yet let her sister, My soul, bid nothing, but preserve her wealth: The growth of flesh is but a blister; Childhood is health. SIN. LORD, with what care hast thou begirt us round! Pulpits and Sundays; sorrow, dogging sin; Blessings beforehand; ties of gratefulness; Yet all these fences and their whole array |