I ask not why the first BelieverDid love to be a country liver?Who to secure pious contentDid pitch by groves and wells his tent;Where he might view the boundless sky,And all those glorious lights on high;With flying meteors, mists and show’rs,Subjected hills, trees, meads and flow’rs;And ev’ry minute bless the KingAnd wise Creator of each…
Fair shade or mountain,Whose undiscovered virgin gloryBoasts it this day, though not in story,Was then thy dwelling? Did some cloud,Fixed to a tent, descend a shroudMy distressed Lord? Or did a star,Beckoned by Thee, though high and far,In sparkling smiles haste gladly downTo lodge light and increase her own?My dear, dear God! I do not…
And wealth! on whose soft bosom laidMy love’s fair steps I first betrayed:Henceforth no melancholy flight,No sad wing, or hoarse bird of night,Disturb this air, no fatal throatOf raven, or owl, awake the noteOf our laid echo, no voice dwellWithin these leaves, but Philomel.The poisonous ivy here no moreHis false twists on the oak shall…
Green will remind you of the spring,Though this great day denies the thing.And mortifies the earth and allBut your wild revels, and loose hall.Could you wear flowers, and roses strowBlushing upon your breasts’ warm snow,That very dress your lightness willRebuke, and wither at the ill.The brightness of this day we oweNot unto music, masque, nor…
Were now that chronicle alive,Those white designs which children drive,And the thoughts of each harmless hour,With their content, too, in my power,Quickly would I make my path even,And by mere playing go to heaven.Why should men loveA wolf more than a lamb or dove?Or choose hell-fire and brimstone streamsBefore bright stars and God’s own beams?Who…
I.MY God ! Thou that didst die for me,These Thy death’s fruits I offer Thee ;Death that to me was life and light,But dark and deep pangs to Thy sight.Some drops of Thy all-quick’ning bloodFell on my heart ; those made it bud,And put forth thus, though, Lord, beforeThe ground was curs’d, and void of…
Thine host of spies,The stars, shine in their watches,I do surveyEach busy ray,And how they work, and wind ;And wish each beamMy soul doth streamWith the like ardour shin’d ;What emanations,Quick vibrations,And bright stirs are there !What thin ejections,Cold affections,And slow motions here !2.Thy heav’ns, some say,Are a fiery-liquid light,Which mingling ayeStreams, and flames thus…
My lot is fallen, blest be Thy will!And since these biting frosts but killSome tares in me which choke or spillThat seed Thou sow’st, blest be Thy skill!Blest be Thy dew, and blest Thy frost,And happy I to be so crossed,And cured by crosses at Thy cost.The dew doth cheer what is distressed,The frosts ill…
3 Where stands a winged sentry4 All skillful in the wars;5 There, above noise and danger6 Sweet Peace sits, crown’d with smiles,7 And One born in a manger8 Commands the beauteous files.9 He is thy gracious friend10 And (O my Soul awake!)11 Did in pure love descend,12 To die here for thy sake.13 If thou…
Abuse not, shun not holy fire,But with true tears wash off your mire.Tears and these flames will soon grow kind,And mix an eye-salve for the blind.Tears cleanse and supple without fail,And fire will purge your callous veil,Then comes the light ! which when you spy,And see your nakedness thereby,Praise Him, Who dealt His gifts so…
