The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 102

That Christ did die, the pagan saith; But that He rose, that's Christians' faith.

248. CO-HEIRS.

We are co-heirs with Christ; nor shall His own Heirs.h.i.+p be less by our adoption.

The number here of heirs shall from the state Of His great birthright nothing derogate.

249. THE NUMBER OF TWO.

G.o.d hates the dual number, being known The luckless number of division; And when He bless'd each sev'ral day whereon He did His curious operation, 'Tis never read there, as the fathers say, G.o.d bless'd His work done on the second day; Wherefore two prayers ought not to be said, Or by ourselves, or from the pulpit read.

250. HARDENING OF HEARTS.

G.o.d's said our hearts to harden then, Whenas His grace not supples men.

251. THE ROSE.

Before man's fall the rose was born, St. Ambrose says, without the thorn; But for man's fault then was the thorn Without the fragrant rose-bud born; But ne'er the rose without the thorn.

252. G.o.d'S TIME MUST END OUR TROUBLE.

G.o.d doth not promise here to man that He Will free him quickly from his misery; But in His own time, and when He thinks fit, Then He will give a happy end to it.

253. BAPTISM.

The strength of baptism that's within, It saves the soul by drowning sin.

254. GOLD AND FRANKINCENSE.

Gold serves for tribute to the king, The frankincense for G.o.d's off'ring.

255. TO G.o.d.

G.o.d, who me gives a will for to repent, Will add a power to keep me innocent; That I shall ne'er that trespa.s.s recommit When I have done true penance here for it.

256. THE CHEWING THE CUD.

When well we speak and nothing do that's good, We not divide the hoof, but chew the cud; But when good words by good works have their proof, We then both chew the cud and cleave the hoof.

257. CHRIST'S TWOFOLD COMING.

Thy former coming was to cure My soul's most desp'rate calenture; Thy second advent, that must be To heal my earth's infirmity.

_Calenture_, delirium caused by excessive heat.

258. TO G.o.d, HIS GIFT.

As my little pot doth boil, We will keep this level-coil, That a wave and I will bring To my G.o.d a heave-offering.

_Level-coil_, the old Christmas game of changing chairs; to "keep level-coil" means to change about.

259. G.o.d'S ANGER.

G.o.d can't be wrathful: but we may conclude Wrathful He may be by similitude: G.o.d's wrathful said to be, when He doth do That without wrath which wrath doth force us to.

260. G.o.d'S COMMANDS.

In G.o.d's commands ne'er ask the reason why; Let thy obedience be the best reply.

261. TO G.o.d.

If I have played the truant, or have here Failed in my part, oh! Thou that art my dear, My mild, my loving tutor, Lord and G.o.d!

Correct my errors gently with Thy rod.

I know that faults will many here be found, But where sin swells there let Thy grace abound.

262. TO G.o.d.

The work is done; now let my laurel be Given by none but by Thyself to me: That done, with honour Thou dost me create Thy poet, and Thy prophet Laureate.

263. GOOD FRIDAY: REX TRAGICUS; OR, CHRIST GOING TO HIS CROSS.

Put off Thy robe of purple, then go on To the sad place of execution: Thine hour is come, and the tormentor stands Ready to pierce Thy tender feet and hands.

Long before this, the base, the dull, the rude, Th' inconstant and unpurged mult.i.tude Yawn for Thy coming; some ere this time cry, How He defers, how loath He is to die!

Amongst this sc.u.m, the soldier with his spear And that sour fellow with his vinegar, His sponge, and stick, do ask why Thou dost stay; So do the scurf and bran too. Go Thy way, Thy way, Thou guiltless man, and satisfy By Thine approach each their beholding eye.

Not as a thief shalt Thou ascend the mount, But like a person of some high account; The Cross shall be Thy stage, and Thou shalt there The s.p.a.cious field have for Thy theatre.

Thou art that Roscius and that marked-out man That must this day act the tragedian To wonder and affrightment: Thou art He Whom all the flux of nations comes to see, Not those poor thieves that act their parts with Thee; Those act without regard, when once a king And G.o.d, as Thou art, comes to suffering.

No, no; this scene from Thee takes life, and sense, And soul, and spirit, plot and excellence.

Why then, begin, great King! ascend Thy throne, And thence proceed to act Thy Pa.s.sion To such an height, to such a period raised, As h.e.l.l, and earth, and heav'n may stand amazed.

G.o.d and good angels guide Thee; and so bless Thee in Thy several parts of bitterness, That those who see Thee nail'd unto the tree May, though they scorn Thee, praise and pity Thee.

And we, Thy lovers, while we see Thee keep The laws of action, will both sigh and weep, And bring our spices to embalm Thee dead; That done, we'll see Thee sweetly buried.

_Scurf and bran_, the rabble.