Oh that a star, more fit for angels' eyes, Thy ghostly beauty offer'd force to God; It chained Him in links of tender love; It won His will with man to make abode ; It stay'd His sword, and did His wrath remove : It made the vigour of His justice yield, And crowned Mercy empress of the field. This lull'd our heavenly Samson fast asleep, This brought him from the ranks of heavenly quires From flowers of grace into a world of briers, O soul! do not thy noble thoughts abase, If on thy beauty God enamour'd be, THE EPIPHANY. To blaze the rising of this glorious sun, A glittering star appeareth in the east, Whose sight to pilgrim toils three sages won To seek the light they long had in request; And by this star to nobler star they pass, Whose arms did their desirèd sun embrace. Stall was the sky wherein these planets shined, And want the cloud that did eclipse their rays; Yet through this cloud their light did passage find, And pierced these sages' hearts by secret ways, Which made them know the Ruler of the skies, By infant's tongue and looks of babish eyes. Heaven at her light, earth blusheth at her pride, Three gifts they brought, three gifts they bear away; SEEK FLOWERS OF HEAVEN. SOAR up, my soul, unto thy rest, Graze not on worldly wither'd wood, Do grow for thy repast. Their leaves are stain'd in beauty's dye, Their stalks enamell'd with delight, Life-giving juice of living love These flowers do spring from fertile soil, While sovereign scent surpassing sense That worldly weeds needs must he loathe Crashaw. [B. 1615.-D. 1650.] HYMN TO THE NAME OF JESUS. I SING the Name which none can say, The Name of all our lives and loves : The heirs elect of love; whose names belong All ye wise souls, who in the wealthy breast Of this unbounded Name build your warm nest. Awake, my glory! soul (if such thou be, And that fair word at all refer to thee), Awake and sing, And be all wing! Bring hither thy whole self; and let me see What of thy parent heaven yet speaks in thee. Oh, thou art poor Of noble powers I see, And full of nothing else but empty me; Than this great morning's mighty business. One little world or two, We must have store; Go, soul, out of thyself, and seek for more; Great Nature for the key of her huge chest Of nimble art, and traverse round All-sovereign Name, To warn each several kind And shape of sweetness-be they such As sigh with supple wind Or answer artful touch That they convene and come away To wait at the love-crown'd doors of that illustrious Come, lovely Name! life of our hope! Lo, we hold our hearts wide ope! Unlock thy cabinet of day, Dearest sweet, and come away. Lo, how the thirsty lands Gasp for thy golden show'rs with long-stretch'd hands! Lo, how the labouring earth, That hopes to be All heaven by thee, |