The Burning Babe As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow, Surpris’d I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow; And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near, A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear; Who, scorched with excessive heat, such […]
The Nativity of Christ Behold the father is his daughter’s son, The bird that built the nest is hatched therein, The old of years an hour hath not outrun, Eternal life to live doth now begin, The Word is dumb, the mirth of heaven doth weep, Might feeble is, and force doth faintly creep. O […]
Content and Rich I dwell in Grace’s court, Enriched with Virtue’s rights; Faith guides my wit, Love leads my will, Hope all my mind delights. In lowly vales I mount To pleasure’s highest pitch; My silly shroud true honour brings; My poor estate is rich. My conscience is my crown, Contented thoughts my rest; My […]
Look Home Retired thoughts enjoy their own delights, As beauty doth in self-beholding eye ; Man’s mind a mirror is of heavenly sights, A brief wherein all marvels summed lie, Of fairest forms and sweetest shapes the store, Most graceful all, yet thought may grace them more. The mind a creature is, yet can create, […]
Man’s Civil War MY hovering thoughts would fly to heaven And quiet nestle in the sky, Fain would my ship in Virtue’s shore Without remove at anchor lie. But mounting thoughts are haled down With heavy poise of mortal load, And blustring storms deny my ship In Virtue’s haven secure abode. When inward eye to […]
Love’s Servile Lot LOVE, mistress is of many minds, Yet few know whom they serve; They reckon least how little Love Their service doth deserve. The will she robbeth from the wit, The sense from reason’s lore; She is delightful in the rind, Corrupted in the core. She shroudeth vice in virtue’s veil, Pretending good […]
The Burning Babe As I in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow, Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow; And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near, A pretty babe all burning bright did in the air appear; Who, though scorched with excessive heat, […]
Times Go By Turns The lopped tree in time may grow again Most naked plants renew both fruit and flower The sorriest weight may find release of pain The driest soil suck in some moistening shower Times go by turns and chances change by course From foul to fair from better happ to worse The […]
Christ’s Childhood Till twelve years’ age, how Christ His childhood spent All earthly pens unworthy were to write; Such acts to mortal eyes He did present, Whose worth not men but angels must recite: No nature’s blots, no childish faults defiled, Where grace was guide, and God did play the child. In springing locks lay […]
A Child My Choice Let folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled. I praise Him most, I love Him best, all praise and love is His; While Him I love, in Him I live, and cannot live amiss. […]
The Virgin Mary to Christ on the Cross What mist hath dimm’d that glorious face? What seas of grief my sun doth toss? The golden rays of heavenly grace Lies now eclipsèd on the cross. Jesus, my love, my Son, my God, Behold Thy mother wash’d in tears: Thy bloody wounds be made a rod […]
