IX.

PHILIPPIANS 1. 23.

I am in a strait between two, having a desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ.

WE

J.

HAT meant our careful parents, so to wear
And lavish out their ill-extended hours,

To purchase for us large possessions here,

Which (though unpurchas'd) are too truly ours?

What meant they, ah! what meant they to endure
Such loads of needless labour, to procure

And make that thing our own, which was our own too

2.

[sure?

What mean these liv'ries and possessive keys?
What mean these bargains, and these needless sales?
What need these jealous, these suspicious ways,
Of law-devis'd and law-dissolv'd entails?

No need to sweat for gold, wherewith to buy
Estates of high-priz'd land; no need to tie
Earth to their heirs, were they but clogg'd with earth,

3.

[as I.

O were their souls but clogg'd with earth, as I,
They would not purchase with so salt an itch;
They would not take of alms, what now they buy ;
Nor call him happy, whom the world counts rich,
They would not take such pains, project and prog,
To charge their shoulders with so great a log
Who hath the greater lands, hath but the greater clog.

Liveries ; a law term, expressive of legal conveyance of an estate. 1 can

4.

I cannot do an act which earth disdains not;

I cannot think a thought which earth corrupts not;
I cannot speak a word which earth profanes not;
I cannot make a vow earth interrupts not :
If I but offer up an early groan,

[throne, Or spread my wings to heav'n's long long'd-for She darkens my complaint, and drags my off'ring down.

5.

Ev'n like the hawk (whose keeper's wary hands
Have made a pris'ner to her weath'ring stock),
Forgetting quite the pow'r of her fast bands,
Makes a rank-bate* from her forsaken block;
But her too faithful leash † doth soon retain
Her broken flight, attempted oft in vain ;
It gives her loins a twitch, and tugs her back again.

6.

So, when my soul directs her better eye

To heav'n's bright palace, where my treasure lies,
Í spread my willing wings, but cannot fly;

Earth hales me down, I cannot, cannot rise:
When I but strive to mount the least degree,

Earth gives a jerk, and foils me on my knee;
Lord, how my soul is rack'd betwixt the world and thee!

7.

Great God! I spread my feeble wings in vain ;
In vain I offer my extended hands:

I cannot mount till thou unlink my chain :
I cannot come till thou release my bands:

Which if thou please to break, and then supply
My wings with spirit, th' eagle shall not fly

A pitch that's half so fair, nor half so swift as I.

* Rank-bate; i. e. a strong spring for flight.

+ Leash ; i. e. thong, by which she is fastened to her stock or perch

S. BO

S. BONAVENT. Soliloq. Cap. i.

Ah! sweet Jesus, pierce the marrow of my soul with the healthful shafts of thy love, that it may truly burn and melt and languish with the only desire of thee; that it may desire to be dissolved, and to be with thee: let it hunger alone for the bread of life: let it thirst after thee, the spring and fountain of eternal light, the stream of true pleasure: let it always desire thee, seek thee, and find thee, and sweetly rest in thee.

EPIG. 9.

What, will thy shackles neither loose nor break?
Are they too strong, or is thine arm too weak?
Art will prevail where knotty strength denies ;
My soul, there's aqua-fortis in thine eyes.

PSALM