Whitsunday
Whitsunday Listen sweet Dove unto my song,And spread thy golden wings in me; Listen sweet Dove unto my song,And spread thy golden wings in me;Hatching my tender heart so long,Till it get wing, and fly away with thee. Where is that fire which once descendedOn thy Apostles? thou didst thenKeep open house, richly attended,Feasting all […]
Vanity
Vanity The fleet astronomer can boreAnd thread the spheres with his quick piercing mind: The fleet astronomer can boreAnd thread the spheres with his quick-piercing mind:He views theirs stations, walks from door to door,Surveys, as if he had designedTo make a purchase there: he sees their dances,And knoweth long before,Both their full-eyed aspects, and secret […]
The World
The World Love built a stately house, where Fortune came,And spinning fancies, she was heard to say Love built a stately house, where Fortune came,And spinning fancies, she was heard to sayThat her fine cobwebs did support the frame,Whereas they were supported by the same;But Wisdom quickly swept them all away. The Pleasure came, who, […]
The Windows
The Windows Lord, how can man preach thy eternall word?He is a brittle crazie glasse: Lord, how can man preach thy eternall word?He is a brittle crazie glasse:Yet in thy temple thou dost him affordThis glorious and transcendent place,To be a window, through thy grace. But when thou dost anneal in glasse thy storie,Making thy […]
The Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving Oh King of grief! (a title strange, yet true,To thee of all kings only due) Oh King of grief! (a title strange, yet true,To thee of all kings only due)Oh King of wounds! how shall I grieve for thee,Who in all grief preventest me? Shall I weep blood? why thou has wept such […]
The Temper II
The Temper II It cannot be. Where is that mighty joy,Which just now took up all my heart? It cannot be. Where is that mighty joy,Which just now took up all my heart?Lord, if thou must needs use thy dart,Save that, and me; or sin for both destroy. The grosser world stand to thy word […]
The Temper
The Temper How should I praise thee, Lord! how should my rhymesGladly engrave thy love in steel, How should I praise thee, Lord! how should my rhymesGladly engrave thy love in steel,If what my soul doth feel sometimesMy soul might ever feel! Although there were some forty heav’ns, or more,Sometimes I peer above them all;Sometimes […]
The Storm
The Storm If as the winds and waters here belowDo fly and flow, If as the winds and waters here belowDo fly and flow,My sighs and tears as busy were above;Sure they would moveAnd much affect thee, as tempestuous timesAmaze poor mortals, and object their crimes. Stars have their storms, ev’n in a high degree,As […]
The Sinner
The Sinner Lord, how I am all ague, when I seekWhat I have treasur’d in my memory! Lord, how I am all ague, when I seekWhat I have treasur’d in my memory!Since, if my soul make even with the week,Each seventh note by right is due to thee.I find there quarries of pil’d vanities,But shreds […]
The Holdfast
The Holdfast I threatened to observe the strict decreeOf my deare God with all my power and might: I threatened to observe the strict decreeOf my dear God with all my power and might:But I was told by one, `It could not be;Yet I might trust in God to be my light.’ `Then will I […]