Think well some region where they dwell may wrack, | Wip'd from our eyes now shall be every tear,
But that the whole nor time nor force can shake; Sighs stopt, since our salvation is so near.
Yet, frantic, muse to see Heaven's stately lights, What long we long'd for, God at last hath given,
Like drunkards, wayless reel amidst their heights. Earth's chosen bands to join with those of Heaven,
Such as do nations govern, and command

Now poble souls a guerdon just shall find,
Vasts of the sea and emperies of land,

And rest and glory be in one combin'd;
Repine to see their countries overthrown,

Now, more than in a mirror, by these eyne,
And find no foe their fury to make known: Even face to face, our Maker shall be seen.
* Alas!" they say, "what boots our toils and pains, O welcome wonder of the soul and sight!
Of care on Earth is this the furthest gains ? O welcome object of all true delight!
No riches now can bribe our angry fate ;

Thy triumphs and return we did expect, no! to blast our pride the Heavens do threat : Of all past toils to reap the dear effect: In dust now must our greatness buried lie,

Since thou art just, perform thy holy word; Yet is it comfort with the world to die."

O come still hop'd for, come long wish'd for, Lord." As more and more the warning signs increase, While thus they pray, the Heavens in flames apWild dread deprives lost Adam's race of peace; As if they shew fire's elemental sphere; [pear, From out their grand-dame Earth theyfain would ây, The Earth seems in the Sun, the welkin gone; But whither know not, Heavens are far and high : Wonder all hushes; straight the air doth groan Each would bewail and mourn his own distress; With trumpets, which thrice louder sounds do yield But public cries do private tears suppress : Than deaf ning thunders in the airy field. Laments, plaints, shrieks of woe, disturb all ears, Created nature at the clangour quakes; And fear is equal to the pain it fears.

Immur'd with flames, Earth in a palsy shakes, Amidst this mass of cruelty and slights, And from her womb the dust in several heaps This galley, full of God-despising wights,

Takes life, and must'reth into human shapes : This jail of sin and shame, this filthy stage, Hell bursts, and the foul prisoners there bound Where all act folly, misery, and rage;

Come howling to the day, with serpents crown'd. Amidst those throngs of old prepard for Hell, Millions of angels in the lofty height, Those numbers which no Archimede can tell, Clad in pure gold, and the electre bright, A silly crew did lurk, a harmless rout,

Ushering the way still where the Judge should move, Wand'ring the Earth, which God had chosen out In radiant rainbows vault the skies above; To live with him, (few roses which did blow Which quickly open, like a curtain driven, Among those weeds Earth's garden overgrow, And beaming glory shows the King of Heaven. A dew of gold stillid on carth’s sandy mine,

What Persian prince, Assyrian most renown'd, Small diamonds in world's rough rocks which shine,) What Scythian with conquering squadrons crown'd, By purple tyrants which pursu'd and chas'd, Ent'ring a breached city, where conspire Liv'd recluses, in lonely islands plac'd;

Fire to dry blood, and blood to quench out fire; Or did the mountains haunt, and forests wild, (mild; Where cutted carcasses' quick members reel, Which they than towns more harmless found and And by their ruin blunt the reeking steel, Where many an hymn they, to their Maker's praise, Resembleth now the ever-living King ? Teach'd groves and rooks, which did resound their What face of Troy which doth with yelling ring, lays.

And Grecian flames transported in the air; Nor sword, nor famine, nor plague poisoning air, What dreadful spectacle of Carthage fair; Nor prodigies appearing every where,

What picture of rich Corinth's tragic wrack, Nor all the sad disorder of this all,

Or of Numantia the hideous sack; Could this small handful of the world appal; Or these together shown, the image, face, But as the flow'r, which during winter's cold Can represent of Earth, and plaintful case, Runs to the root, and lurks in sap uprolld, Which must lie smoking in the world's vast womb, So soon as the great planet of the year

And to itself both fuel be and tomb? Begins the Twins' dear mansion to clear,

Near to that sweet and odoriferous clime, Lifts up its fragrant head, and to the field

Where the all-cheering emperor of time A spring of beauty and delight doth yield: Makes spring the cassia, nard, and fragrant balms, So at those signs and apparitions strange,

And every hill and collin crowns with palms; Their thoughts, looks, gestures, did begin to change; Where incense sweats, where weeps the precious Joy makes their hands to clap, their hearts to dance, And cedars overtop the pine and fir: [myrrh, In voice turns music, in their eyes doth glance. Near where the aged phenix, tir'd of breath,

“What can,”saythey,“these changes else portend, Doth build her nest, and takes new life in death ; Of this great frame, save the approaching end ! A valley into wide and open fields Past are the signs, all is perform'd of old,

Far it extendeth * * * * * *
Which the Almighty's heralds us foretold.

The rest is wanting.
Heaven now no longer shall of God's great power
A turning temple be, but fixed tower;
Burn shall this mortal mass amidst the air,

HYMNS.
Of divine justice turn'd a trophy fair;

I.
Near is the last of days, whose light embalms
Past griefs, and all our stormy cares becalms. Saviour of mankind! Man Emanuel !
O happy day! O cheerful, holy day!

Who sinless died for sin, who vanquish'd Hell, Which night's sad sables shall not take away! The first fruits of the grave, whose life did give Farewel complaints, and ye yet doubtful thought Light to our darkness, in whose death we live Crown now your hopes with comforts long time o strengthen thou my faith, correct my will, sought;

That mine may thine obey: protect me still, VOL. y.

Z z

So that the latter death may not devour

Who for the state of mankind grievid,
My soul seal'd with thy seal; so in the hour That it by death destroy'd should be,
When thou, whose body sanctified thy tomb, Hast the diseased world reliev'd,
(Unjustly judg’d) a glorious judge shalt come, And given the guilty remedy.
To judge the world with justice; by that sign
I may be known and entertain'd for thine.

When tb'evening of the world drew near,

Thou as a bridegroom deign'st to come
Out of the wedding chamber dear,

Thy virgin mother's purest womb:
11.

To the strong force of whose high reigo

All knees are bow'd with gesture low, Him, whom the earth, the sea, and sky

Creatures which Heav'n on Earth contain
Worship, adore, and magnify,

With rev'rence their subjection show.
And doth this threefold engine steer,
Mary's pure closet now doth bear:

O holy Lord ! we thee desire,

Whom we expect to judge all faults, Whom Sun and Moon, and creatures all,

Preserve us, as the times require, Serving at times, obey his call,

From our deceitful foes' assaults. Pouring from Heaven his sacred grace, l'th' virgin's bowels hath ta'en place.

Praise, honour, strength, and glory great, Mother most blest by such a dower,

To God the Father, and the Son, Whose Maker, Lord of highest power,

And to the holy Paraclete,

Whilst time lasts, and when time is done.
Who this wide world in hand contains,
lo thy womb's ark himself restrains.
Blest by a message from Heaven brought,
Fertile with Holy Ghost full fraught,

HYMN FOR SUNDAY.
Of nations the desired King,
Within thy sacred womb doth spring.

O BLEST Creator of the light,

Who bringing forth the light of days, Lord, may thy glory still endure,

With the first work of splendour bright
Who born wast of a virgin pure;

The world didst to beginning raise;
The Father's and the Sp'rit's love,
Which endless worlds may not remove.

Who morn with evening join'd in one

Commandedst should be callid the day:
The foul confusion now is gone ;

O hear us when with tears we pray:
III.

Lest that the mind, with fears full fraugbt,
Jesu, our prayers with mildness hear,

Should lose best life's eternal gains, Who art the crown which virgins decks,

While it hath no immortal thought, Whom a pure maid did breed and bear,

But is enwrapt in sinful chains The sole example of her sex

O may it beat the inmost sky, Thou feeding there where lilies spring,

And the reward of life possess ! While round about the virgins dance,

May we from hurtful actions fly, Thy spouse dost to glory bring,

And purge away all wickedness! And them with high rewards advance.

Dear Father, grant what we entreat, The virgins follow in thy ways

And only Son, who like pow'r hast, Whithersoever thou dost go,

Together with the Paraclete,
They trace thy steps with songs of praise,

Reigning whilst times and ages last.
And in sweet hymns thy glory show.
Cause thy protecting grace, we pray,

In all our senses to abound,
Keeping from them all harms which may

HYMN FOR MONDAY.
Our souls with foul corruption wound.

GREAT Maker of the Heavens wide,
Praise, honour, strength, and glory great,

Who, lest things mix'd should all confound,
To God the Father, and the Son,

The floods and waters didst divide,
And to the holy Paraclete

And didst appoint the Heav'ns their bound;
While time lasts, and when time is done.

Ordering where heav'nly things shall stay,

Where streams shall run on earthly soil,

That waters may the flames allay,
IV.

Lest they the globe of Earth should spoil.
BENIGN Creator of the stars,

Sweet Lord, into our minds infuse Eternal Light of faithful eyes,

The gift of everlasting grace, Christ, whose redemption none debars,

That no old faults which we did use Do not our humble prayers despise.

May with new frauds our souls deface.

May our true faith obtain the light,

That sin no soul opprest may thrall, And such clear beams our hearts possess,

That none be lifted high with pride, That it vain things inay banish quite,

That minds cast downwards do not fall, And that no falsehood it oppress.

Nor raised up may backward slide. Dear Father, grant what we entreat, &c.

Dear Father, &c.

HYMN.

The highest Heaven, the earth, and seas,

Let thine own goodness to thee bend, And all that is within them found,

That thou our sins may'st put to fight; Because he sent thee us to ease,

Spare us—and, as our wishes tend, With mirthful songs his praise resound.

O satisfy us with thy sight! We also, who redeemed are

May'st thou our joyful pleasures be, With thy pure blood from sinful state,

Who shall be our expected gain ; For this thy birth-day will prepare

And let our glory be in thee, New hymns this feast to celebrate.

While any ages shall remain. Glory, O Lord, be given to thee,

Whom the unspotted Virgin bore; And glory to thee, Father, be,

HYMN FOR WHITSUNDAY. And th' Holy Ghost, for evermore.

Creator, Holy Ghost, descend;

Visit our minds with thy bright flame;

And thy celestial grace extend
HYMN UPON THE INNOCENTS.

To fill the hearts which thou didst frame:
Hail you, sweet babes! that are the flow'rs, Who Paraclete art said to be,
Whom, when you life begin to taste,

Gift which the highest God bestows;
The enemy of Christ devours,

Fountain of life, fire, charity, As whirlwinds down the roses cast :

Ointment whence ghostly blessing flors. First sacrifice to Christ you went,

Thy sevenfold grace thou down dost send, Of offer'd lambs a tender sort ;

Of God's right hand thou finger art; With palms and crowns, you innocent

Thou, by the Father promised,
Before the sacred altar sport.

Unto our mouths dost speech impart.
In our dull senses kindle light;

Infuse thy love into our hearts;
UPON THE SUNDAYS IN LENT.

Reforming with perpetual light

Th'infirmities of fleshly parts. O MERCIFUL Creator, hear

Par from our dwelling drive our foe, Our pray’rs to thee devoutly bent,

And quickly peace unto us bring; Which we pour forth with many a tear

Be thou our guide, before to go, In this most holy fast of Lent.

That we may shun each hurtful thing. Thou mildest searcher of each heart,

Be pleased to instruct our mind, Who know'st the weakness of our strength,

To know the Father and the Son; To us forgiving grace impart,

The Spirit, who them both doth bind, Since we return to thee at length.

Let us believe while ages run. Much have we sinned, to our shame;

To God the Father glory great, But spare us, who our sins confess;

And to the Son, who from the dead And, for the glory of thy name,

Arose, and to the Paraclete, To our sick souls afford redress.

Beyond all time imagined.
Grant that the flesh may be so pin'd

By means of outward abstinence,
As that the sober watchful mind
May fast from spots of all offence,

TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD,
Grant this, O blessed Trinity !
Pure Unity, to this incline-

THE SIXTH OF AUGUST.
That the effects of fasts may be

A HYMN. A grateful recompense for thine.

All you that seek Christ, let your sight

Up to the height directed be,

For there you may the sign most bright
ON THE ASCENSION DAY.

Of everlasting glory see.
Jesu, wbo our souls dost save,

A radiant light we there behold, On whom our love and hopes depend;

Endless, unbounded, lofty, high; God from whom all things being have,

Than Heaven or that rude heap more old Man when the world drew to an end;

Wherein the world confus'd did lie. What clemency thee vanquish'd so,

The Gentiles this great prince embrace; Upon thee our foul crimes to take,

The Jews obey this king's command,
And cruel death to undergo,

Promis'd to Abraham and his race
That thou from death us free might make ? A blessing while the world shall stand.

ON THE

By mouths of prophets free from lyes,

It was not pity, pain, grief, did possess Who seal the witness which they bear,

The mother, but an agony more strange: His Father bidding testifies

Cheeks' roses in pale lilies straight did change; That we should him believe and hear.

Her sp'rits, as if she bled his blood, turn'd less;

When she him saw, we did all words deny, Glory, O Lord, be given to thee,

And grief her only suffer'd sigb, O my!
Who hast appear'd upon this day;
And glory to the Father be,

“ O my dear Lord and Son!" then she began; And to the Holy Ghost, for aye.

“ Immortal birth, though of a mortal born;
Eternal bounty, which doth Heav'n adorn;

Without a mother, God; a father, man!
ON THE

Ah! what hast thou deserv'd? what hast thou

done, FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL.

Thus to be treat? Woe's me, my son, my son ! To thee, O Christ! thy Father's light, Life, virtue, which our heart inspires,

" Who bruis'd thy face, the glory of this all ? In presence of thine angels bright,

Who eyes engord, load-stars to paradise? We sing with voice and with desires :

Who, as thou wert a trimmed sacrifice, Ourselves we mutually invite,

Did with that cruel crown thy brows impale ? To melody with answering choirs.

Who rais'd thee, whom so oft the angels serv'd,

Between those thieves who that foul death deservd ? With reverence we these soldiers praise, Who near the heavenly throne abide ;

“ Was it for this thou bred wast in my womb } And chiefly him whom God doth raise,

Mine arms a cradle serv'd thee to repose ? His strong celestial host to guide

My milk thee fed, as morning dew the rose ? Michael, who by his power dismays

Did I thee keep till this sad time should come, And beateth down the Devil's pride.

That wretched men should nail thee to a tree,

And I a wituess of thy pangs must be ?
PETER,

“ It is not long, the way's bestrew'd with flow'rs,

With shouts to echoing Heav'ns and mountains rollid, AFTER THE DENIAL OF HIS MASTER.

Since, as in triumph, I thee did behold LIKE to the solitary pelican,

In royal pomp approach proud Sion's tow'rs : The shady groves, I haunt, and deserts wild, Lo, what a change! Who did thee then embrace, Amongst wood's burgesses; from sight of man,

Now at thee shake their heads, inconstant race! Prom Earth's delight, from mine own self exil'd. But that remorse, which with my fall began,

“ Eternal Father! from whose piercing eye Relenteth not, nor is by change turn'd mild; Hid nought is found that in this all is form’d, But rends my soul, and, like a famish'd child, Deign to vouchsafe a look unto this round, Renews its cries, though nurse does what she can. This round, the stage of a sad tragedy: Look bow the shrieking bird that courts the night Look but if thy dear pledge thou here canst know, In ruin'd wall doth lurk, and gloomy place : On an unhappy tree a shameful show! Of Sun, of Moon, of stars, I shun the light, Not knowing where to stay, what to embrace:

« Ah ! look if this be he, Almighty King, How to Heaven's lights should I lift these of mine, Before Heav'ns spangled were with stars of gold, Sith I denied him who made them shine!

Ere world a center had it to uphold,

Whom from eternity thou forth didst bring;
With virtue, form, and light who did adorn

Sky's radiant globes-see where he hangs a scorn!
ON THE VIRGIN MARY.
The woful Mary, 'midst a blubber'd band

“ Did all my prayers tend to this? Is this Of weeping virgins, near unto the tree

The promise that celestial herald made
Where God death suffer'd, man from death to free,

At Nazareth, when full of joy he said,
Like to a plaintful nightingale did stand,

I happy was, and from thee did me bless? Which sees her younglings reft before her eyes,

How am I blest? No, most unhappy I
And hath nought else to guard them, save her cries:

Of all the mothers underneath the sky.
Love thither had her brought, and misbelief

“ How true and of choice oracles the choice Of these sad news, which charg'd her mind to fears; Mild death did close ere they saw this disgrace,

Was that blest Hebrew, whose dear

peace But now her eyes, more wretched than her tears, Bear witness (ah, too true!) of feared grief :

When he forespake with more than angel's voice; Her doubts made certain did her hopes destroy,

The Son should (malice sign) be set apart, Abandoning her soul to black annoy.

Then that a sword should pierce the mother's heart! Long fixing downcast eyes on earth, at last “ But whither dost thou go, life of my soul ? She longing them did raise (O torturing sight!) O stay a little till I die with thee! To view what they did shun, their sole delight And do I live thee languishing to see?

Imbru'd in his own blood, and naked plac'd And cannot grief frail laws of life controul ? To sinful eyes; naked, save that black veil If grief prove weak, come, cruel squadrons, kill Which Heaven him shrouded with, that did bewail. The mother, spare the Son, he knows no ill :

eyes in