The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 87

_Verse._ My G.o.d, I'm wounded by my sin, And sore without, and sick within.

_Ver. Chor._ I come to Thee, in hope to find Salve for my body and my mind.

_Verse._ In Gilead though no balm be found To ease this smart or cure this wound, _Ver. Chor._ Yet, Lord, I know there is with Thee All saving health, and help for me.

_Verse._ Then reach Thou forth that hand of Thine, That pours in oil, as well as wine, _Ver. Chor._ And let it work, for I'll endure The utmost smart, so Thou wilt cure.

18. UPON G.o.d.

G.o.d is all fore-part; for, we never see Any part backward in the Deity.

19. CALLING AND CORRECTING.

G.o.d is not only merciful to call Men to repent, but when He strikes withal.

20. NO ESCAPING THE SCOURGING.

G.o.d scourgeth some severely, some He spares; But all in smart have less or greater shares.

21. THE ROD.

G.o.d's rod doth watch while men do sleep, and then The rod doth sleep, while vigilant are men.

22. G.o.d HAS A TWOFOLD PART.

G.o.d, when for sin He makes His children smart, His own He acts not, but another's part; But when by stripes He saves them, then 'tis known He comes to play the part that is His own.

23. G.o.d IS ONE.

G.o.d, as He is most holy known, So He is said to be most one.

24. PERSECUTIONS PROFITABLE.

Afflictions they most profitable are To the beholder and the sufferer: Bettering them both, but by a double strain, The first by patience, and the last by pain.

25. TO G.o.d.

Do with me, G.o.d, as Thou didst deal with John, Who writ that heavenly Revelation.

Let me, like him, first cracks of thunder hear, Then let the harps enchantments stroke mine ear: Here give me thorns, there, in Thy kingdom, set Upon my head the golden coronet; There give me day; but here my dreadful night: My sackcloth here; but there my stole of white.

_Stroke_, text _strike_.

26. WHIPS.

G.o.d has His whips here to a twofold end: The bad to punish, and the good t' amend.

27. G.o.d'S PROVIDENCE.

If all transgressions here should have their pay, What need there then be of a reckoning day?

If G.o.d should punish no sin here of men, His providence who would not question then?

28. TEMPTATION.

Those saints which G.o.d loves best, The devil tempts not least.

29. HIS e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n TO G.o.d.

My G.o.d! look on me with Thine eye Of pity, not of scrutiny; For if Thou dost, Thou then shalt see Nothing but loathsome sores in me.

O then, for mercy's sake, behold These my eruptions manifold, And heal me with Thy look or touch; But if Thou wilt not deign so much, Because I'm odious in Thy sight, Speak but the word, and cure me quite.

30. G.o.d'S GIFTS NOT SOON GRANTED.

G.o.d hears us when we pray, but yet defers His gifts, to exercise pet.i.tioners; And though a while He makes requesters stay, With princely hand He'll recompense delay.

31. PERSECUTIONS PURIFY.

G.o.d strikes His Church, but 'tis to this intent, To make, not mar her, by this punishment; So where He gives the bitter pills, be sure 'Tis not to poison, but to make thee pure.

32. PARDON.

G.o.d pardons those who do through frailty sin, But never those that persevere therein.

33. AN ODE OF THE BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR.

In numbers, and but these few, I sing Thy birth, O JESU!

Thou pretty baby, born here, With sup'rabundant scorn here; Who for Thy princely port here, Hadst for Thy place Of birth a base Out-stable for Thy court here.

Instead of neat enclosures Of interwoven osiers, Instead of fragrant posies Of daffodils and roses, Thy cradle, Kingly Stranger, As Gospel tells, Was nothing else But here a homely manger.

But we with silks, not crewels, With sundry precious jewels, And lily-work will dress Thee; And as we dispossess Thee Of clouts, we'll make a chamber, Sweet babe, for Thee Of ivory, And plaister'd round with amber.

The Jews they did disdain Thee, But we will entertain Thee With glories to await here, Upon Thy princely state here; And more for love than pity, From year to year, We'll make Thee, here, A freeborn of our city.

_Crewels_, worsteds.

_Clouts_, rags.