Part 88 (1/2)

34. LIP-LABOUR.

In the old Scripture I have often read, The calf without meal ne'er was offered; To figure to us nothing more than this, Without the heart lip-labour nothing is.

35. THE HEART.

In prayer the lips ne'er act the winning part, Without the sweet concurrence of the heart.

36. EARRINGS.

Why wore th' Egyptians jewels in the ear?

But for to teach us, all the grace is there, When we obey, by acting what we hear.

37. SIN SEEN.

When once the sin has fully acted been, Then is the horror of the trespa.s.s seen.

38. UPON TIME.

Time was upon The wing, to fly away; And I call'd on Him but awhile to stay; But he'd be gone, For ought that I could say.

He held out then A writing, as he went; And ask'd me, when False man would be content To pay again What G.o.d and Nature lent.

An hour-gla.s.s, In which were sands but few, As he did pa.s.s, He show'd, and told me, too, Mine end near was; And so away he flew.

39. HIS PEt.i.tION.

If war or want shall make me grow so poor, As for to beg my bread from door to door; Lord! let me never act that beggar's part, Who hath Thee in his mouth, not in his heart: He who asks alms in that so sacred Name, Without due reverence, plays the cheater's game.

40. TO G.o.d.

Thou hast promis'd, Lord, to be With me in my misery; Suffer me to be so bold As to speak, Lord, say and hold.

41. HIS LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, And when I my sins confess, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When I lie within my bed, Sick in heart and sick in head, And with doubts discomforted, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the house doth sigh and weep, And the world is drown'd in sleep, Yet mine eyes the watch do keep, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the artless doctor sees No one hope, but of his fees, And his skill runs on the lees, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When his potion and his pill Has, or none, or little skill, Meet for nothing, but to kill; Sweet Spirit, comfort me!

When the pa.s.sing bell doth toll, And the furies in a shoal Come to fright a parting soul, Sweet Spirit, comfort me!