Him first to love that was so dearly bought, Him first to love great right and reason is, And after, when we fared had amiss, Us wretches from the second death did save; And cast the food of life which now we have, Even He himself in his dear sacrament, To feed our hungry souls unto us lent. Then next we love our brethren that were made That we, and to the same again shall fade, Where they shall have like heritage of land, However here on higher steps we stand. Which also were with self-same price redeemed That we, however of us light esteemed. And were they not, yet sith that loving Lord Even for his sake and for his sacred word, Which is his last bequest He to us spake, We should them love, and with their needs partake, Knowing that whatsoe'er to them we give We give to Him by whom we all do live. Such mercy He by his most holy reed' Unto us taught, and to approve it true, Ensampled it by his most righteous deed, Showing us mercy (miserable crew!) That we the like should to the wretches shew, And love our brethren, thereby to approve How much Himself that loved us we love. 1 Counsel. Then rouse thyself, O Earth! out of thy soil, Unmindful of that dearest Lord of thine: Begin from first where He encradled was In simple cratch, wrapped in a wad of hay Between the wilful ox and humble ass; And in what rags, and in how base array, When Him the silly shepherds came to see, From thence read in the story of his life His humble carriage, his unfaulty ways, And look, at last, how of most wretched wights How with lies, scornful taunts, and fell despites How scourged, how crowned, how buffeted, how And lastly, how 'twixt robbers crucified, With bitter wound through hands, through feet, and side! Then let thy flinty heart, that feels no pain, Empierced be with pitiful remorse; And let thy bowels bleed in every vein At sight of his most sacred heavenly corse, With sense thereof, while thy so softened spirit Is inly touched and humbled with meek zeal, Lift up thy mind to th' Author of thy weal, With all thy heart, with all thy soul and mind, Then shalt thou feel thy spirit so possessed, And ravished with devouring great desire Thenceforth all world's desire will in thee die, And all earth's glory on which men do gaze Seem dust and dross in thy pure-sighted eye, Compared to that celestial beauty's blaze, Whose glorious beams all fleshly sense doth daze With admiration of their passing light, Then shall thy ravished soul inspired be, With heavenly thoughts, far above human skill; And thy bright radiant eyes shall plainly see Th' idea of his pure glory present still FROM THE HYMN OF HEAVENLY BEAUTY. BUT whoso may, thrice happy man him hold, And lets his own beloved to behold; For in the view of her celestial face All joy, all bliss, all happiness have place: Not aught on earth can want unto the wight, Who of herself can win the wishful sight. For she out of her secret treasury Plenty of riches forth on him will pour, E'en heavenly riches, which there hidden lie, Within the closet of her chastest bower, Th' eternal portion of her precious dower, Which mighty God hath given to her free, And to all those which thereof worthy be. None thereof worthy be but those whom she And letteth them her lovely face to see, Whereof such wondrous pleasures they conceive, Their soul of sense, through infinite delight, In which they see such admirable things, Of God's high praise, that fills the brazen sky, Nor from thenceforth doth any fleshly sense, Or idle thought of earthly things, remain; Is fixed all on that which now they see; And that fair lamp, which useth to inflame The hearts of men with self-consuming fire, And all that pomp to which proud men aspire So full their eyes are of that glorious sight, Which they have written in their inward eye, Ah, then, my hungry soul! which long hast fed Which all are fled, and now have left thee naught But late repentance, through thy follies' prief;" 1 Proof. |