And who most magnifies best understands,
And best expresseth what the heads, and hands,
And hearts, of all men living,

When most they try

To glorify,

And raise on high,

Fall short, and lie,

Grovelling below: Man's giving

Is but restoring by retail, with loss,
What from his God he first received in gross.

Faith must perform the office of invention,
And Elocution, struck with apprehension
Of wonder, silence keep.

Not tongues, but eyes
Lift to the skies

In reverend wise,
Best solemnize

This day whereof the deep

Mysterious subject lies out of the reach
Of wit to learn, much more of Art to teach.

Then write Non ultra here; Look not for leave To speak of what thou never canst conceive Worthily, as thou shouldst :

And it shall be

Enough for thee,

If none but he

Himself doth see,

Though thou canst not, thou wouldst

Make his praise glorious, who is alone
Thrice blessed one in three, and three in one.

INVITATION.

TURN in, my Lord, turn in to me ;
Mine heart's a homely place;

But thou canst make corruption flee,
And fill it with thy grace:

So furnished it will be brave,
And a rich dwelling thou shalt have.

It was thy lodging once before,
It builded was by thee:

But I to sin set ope the door,
It render'd was by me.

And so thy building was defaced,
And in thy room another placed.

But he usurps, the right is thine :
O dispossess him, Lord.

Do thou but say, This heart is mine,
He's gone at the first word.

Thy word's thy will, thy will's thy power,
Thy time is always; now's mine hour.

Now say to sin, depart :

And, Son, give me thine heart.

Thou, that by saying, Let it be, didst make it, Canst, if thou wilt, by saying, Give't me, take it.

Lift up thine eyes, sad soul, and see Thy Saviour here. Lo, I am he.

Alas! shall I present
My sinfulness

To thee? thou wilt resent

The loathsomeness.

Be not afraid, I'll take

Thy Sins on me,

And all my favour make

To shine on thee.

Lord, what thou'lt have me, thou must make me. As I have made thee now, I take thee.

RESOLUTION AND ASSURANCE.

LORD, thou wilt love me. Wilt thou not?
Beshrew that not:

It was my sin begot

That question first: Yes, Lord, thou wilt:
Thy blood was spilt
To wash away my guilt,

Lord, I will love thee. Shall I not?
Beshrew that not.

"Twas death's accursed plot

To put that question; Yes, I will,

Lord, love thee still,

In spite of all my ill.

Then life, and love continue still

We shall, and will,
My Lord and I, until,

In his celestial hill,

We love our fill,

When he hath purged all mine ill.

VOWS BROKEN AND RENEWED.

SAID I not so, that I would sin no more?
Witness my God, I did;

Yet I am run again upon the score:
My faults cannot be hid.

What shall I do?

Make vows, and break them still?

"Twill be but labour lost?

My good cannot prevail against mine ill:
The business will be crost.

O, say not so: thou canst not tell what strength
Thy God may give thee at the length:
Renew thy vows, and if thou keep the last,

Thy God will pardon all that's past.

Vow, whilst thou canst; while thou canst vow, thou may'st Perhaps perform it, when thou thinkest least.

Thy God hath not denied thee all,
Whilst he permits thee but to call:
Call to thy God for grace to keep

Thy vows; and if thou break them, weep.
Weep for thy broken vows, and vow again :
Vows made with tears cannot be still in vain.
Then once again

I vow to mend my ways;

Lord, say Amen,

And thine be all the praise.

CONFUSION.

O How my mind

Is gravell❜d!

Not a thought,

That I can find,

But's ravell'd

All to naught.

Short ends of threads,

And narrow shreds