The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 98

175. YOUTH AND AGE.

G.o.d on our youth bestows but little ease; But on our age most sweet indulgences.

176. G.o.d'S POWER.

G.o.d is so potent, as His power can Draw out of bad a sovereign good to man.

177. PARADISE.

Paradise is, as from the learn'd I gather, _A choir of bless'd souls circling in the Father_.

178. OBSERVATION.

The Jews, when they built houses, I have read, One part thereof left still unfinished, To make them thereby mindful of their own City's most sad and dire destruction.

179. THE a.s.s.

G.o.d did forbid the Israelites to bring An a.s.s unto Him for an offering, Only, by this dull creature, to express His detestation to all slothfulness.

180. OBSERVATION.

The Virgin Mother stood at distance, there, From her Son's cross, not shedding once a tear, Because the law forbad to sit and cry For those who did as malefactors die.

So she, to keep her mighty woes in awe, Tortured her love not to transgress the law.

Observe we may, how Mary Joses then, And th' other Mary, Mary Magdalen, Sat by the grave; and sadly sitting there, Shed for their Master many a bitter tear; But 'twas not till their dearest Lord was dead And then to weep they both were licensed.

181. TAPERS.

Those tapers which we set upon the grave In fun'ral pomp, but this importance have: That souls departed are not put out quite; But as they walked here in their vestures white, So live in heaven in everlasting light.

182. CHRIST'S BIRTH.

One birth our Saviour had; the like none yet Was, or will be a second like to it.

183. THE VIRGIN MARY.

To work a wonder, G.o.d would have her shown At once a bud and yet a rose full-blown.

184. ANOTHER.

As sunbeams pierce the gla.s.s, and streaming in, No crack or schism leave i' th' subtle skin: So the Divine Hand worked and brake no thread, But, in a mother, kept a maidenhead.

185. G.o.d.

G.o.d, in the holy tongue, they call The place that filleth all in all.

186. ANOTHER OF G.o.d.

G.o.d's said to leave this place, and for to come Nearer to that place than to other some, Of local motion, in no least respect, But only by impression of effect.

187. ANOTHER.

G.o.d is Jehovah call'd: which name of His Implies or Essence, or the He that Is.

188. G.o.d'S PRESENCE.

G.o.d's evident, and may be said to be Present with just men, to the verity; But with the wicked if He doth comply, 'Tis, as St. Bernard saith, but seemingly.

189. G.o.d'S DWELLING.

G.o.d's said to dwell there, wheresoever He Puts down some prints of His high Majesty; As when to man He comes, and there doth place His Holy Spirit, or doth plant His Grace.

190. THE VIRGIN MARY.

The Virgin Mary was, as I have read, The House of G.o.d, by Christ inhabited; Into the which He entered, but, the door Once shut, was never to be open'd more.

191. TO G.o.d.

G.o.d's undivided, One in Persons Three, And Three in inconfused unity.

Original of Essence there is none, 'Twixt G.o.d the Father, Holy Ghost, and Son: And though the Father be the first of Three, 'Tis but by order, not by ent.i.ty.

192. UPON WOMAN AND MARY.

So long, it seem'd, as Mary's faith was small, Christ did her woman, not her Mary call; But no more woman, being strong in faith, But Mary call'd then, as St. Ambrose saith.

193. NORTH AND SOUTH.

The Jews their beds and offices of ease, Placed north and south for these clean purposes; That man's uncomely froth might not molest G.o.d's ways and walks, which lie still east and west.