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: Why, thou hast lost Thus hell doth jest extremely flout 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 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 |