What the gains in having thee

Doth amount to, only He

Who for man was sold, can see:

That transferr'd the account to me.'

'That is all, if that I could
Get without repining,
And my clay, my creature would

Follow my designing;

That as I did freely part

With my glory and desert,

Left all joys to feel all smart '

Ah! no more: thou break'st my

heart!

Herbert.

THE EYE IS NOT SATISFIED WITH SEEING ;

NOR THE EAR WITH HEARING."

HEN God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessing standing by ; Let us, said He, pour on him all we can: Let the world's riches, which dispersed lie,

Contract into a span.

So strength first made a way:

Then beauty flow'd, then wisdom, honour, plea

sure:

When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all His treasure,
Rest, in the bottom lay.

For if I should, said He,

Bestow this jewel also on my creature,
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in nature, not the God of nature:
So both should losers be.

Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness :
Let him be rich, and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

May toss him to my breast.

Herbert.

EPIPHANY.

REAT, without controversy great,
They that do know it will confess
The mystery of godliness,

Whereof the Gospel doth intreat.

God in the flesh is manifest,

And that which hath for ever been

Invisible, may now be seen,

The eternal Deity new drest.

Angels to shepherds brought the news:
And wise men guided by a star,

To seek the sun, are come from far :
Gentiles have got the start of Jews.

The stable and the manger hide

His glory from His own; but these,
Though strangers, His resplendent rays
Of Majesty divine have spied.

Gold, frankincense, and myrrh they give,
And, worshipping Him, plainly show
That unto Him they all things owe,
By whose free gift it is they live.

57

Though clouded in a veil of flesh,
The Sun of righteousness appears,
Melting cold cares, and frosty fears,
And making joys spring up afresh.

Oh that his light and influence
Would work effectually in me
Another new Epiphany,
Exhale and elevate me hence :

That, as my calling doth require,
Star-like I may to others shine,
And guide them to that Sun divine,
Whose daylight never shall expire.

Ch. Harvey.

A HYMN TO THE FATHER.

ILT Thou forgive that sin where I begun, Which was my sin, though it were done before?

Wilt Thou forgive that sin, through which I run,
And do run still, though still I do deplore?

When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done;
For I have more.

Wilt Thou forgive that sin, which I have won
Others to sin, and made my sins their door?
Wilt Thou forgive that sin, which I did shun
A year or two, but wallow'd in a score?
When Thou hast done, Thou hast not done;
For I have more.

I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun
My last thread, I shall perish on the shore;
But swear by Thyself that at my death Thy Son
Shall shine as He shines now and heretofore;
And having done that Thou hast done,

I fear no more!

Donne.

PSALM XLVI.

OD is our refuge, our strong tower;
Securing by his mighty power,
When dangers threaten to devour.

Thus arm'd, no fears shall chill our blood,
Though earth no longer stedfast stood,
And shook her hills into the flood:

Although the troubled ocean rise

In foaming billows to the skies;

And mountains shake with horrid noise.