O light inaccessible, in respect of which my light is utter darkness; so reflect upon my weakness, that all the world may behold thy strength! O majesty incomprehensible, in respect of which, my glory is mere shame: so shine upon my misery, that all the world may behold thy glory!

EPIG. 7.

Wilt thou complain, because thou art bereav'n
Of all thy light? wilt thou vie lights with heav'n ?
Can thy bright eye not brook the daily light?
Take heed: I fear, thou art a child of night.

MAT

MATTHEW V. 16.

Let your light so shine, that men, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1

AS it for this, the breath of heav'n was blown

W Into the nostrils of this heav'nly creature?

Was it for this, that sacred Three in One
Conspir'd to make this quintessence of nature?
Did heav'nly Prov'dence intend

So rare a fabric for so poor an end?

2.

Was man, the highest master-piece of nature,
The curious abstract of the whole creation,
Whose soul was copy'd from his great Creator,
Made to give light, and set for observation,
Ordain'd for this? to spend his light
In a dark lantern, cloister'd up in night?

3.

Tell me, recluse monastic, can it be
A disadvantage to thy beams to shine?
A thousand tapers may gain light from thee:
Is thy light less or worse for light'ning mine?
If wanting light, I stumble, shall

Thy darkness not be guilty of my fall?

4.

Why dost thou lurk so close? Is it for fear
Some busy eye should pry into thy flame,
And spy a thief, or else some blemish there ?
Or, being spy'd, shrink'st thou thy head for shame?
Come, come, fond taper, shine but clear,
Thou need'st not shrink for shame, nor shroud for fear.

Remem

5.

Remember, O remember, thou wert set
For men to see the great Creator by ;
Thy flame is not thine own; it is a debt
Thou ow'st thy Master. And wilt thou deny
To pay the int'rest of thy light?

And skulk in corners, and play least in sight?

6.

Art thou afraid to trust thy easy flame
To the injurious waste of fortune's puff?
Ah! coward, rouse, and quit thyself for shame :
Who dies in service, hath liv'd long enough:
Who shines, and makes no eye partaker,
Usurps himself, and closely robs his Maker.

7.

Make not thyself a pris'ner, that art free:
Why dost thou turn thy palace to a jail?
Thou art an eagle: and befits it thee
To live immured like a cloyster'd snail?
Let toys see corners; things of cost
Gain worth by view: hid jewels are but lost.

8.

My God, my light is dark enough at lightest,
Increase her flame, and give her strength to shine:
'Tis frail at best; 'tis dim enough at brightest;
But 'tis his glory to be foil'd by thine :

Let others lurk my light shall be

:

Propos'd to all men ; and by them to thee.

* His; read its.

S. BERN

S. BERN.

If thou be one of the foolish virgins, the congregation is necessary for thee; if thou be one of the wise virgins, thou art necessary for the congregation.

HUGO.

Monastics make cloysters to inclose the outward man : O would to God they would do the like to restrain the inward man!

EPIG. 8.

Afraid of eyes? what, still play least in sight?
'Tis much to be presum'd all is not right:
Too close endeavours bring forth dark events:
Come forth, monastic; here's no parliaments.

JOB

JOB xiv. 2. .

He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down.

1.

Behold,

How short a span

Was long enough of old

To measure out the life of man ;

In those well temper'd days! his time was then Survey'd, cast up, and found but threescore years and ten.

2. Alas!

And what is that!

They come, and slide, and pass,
Before my pen can tell thee what.

The posts of time are swift, which having run Their seven short stages o'er, their short-liv'd task is done.

3.

Our days
Begun we lend

To sleep, to antic plays

And toys, until the first stage end: Twelve waning moons, twice five times told, we give To unrecover'd loss: we rather breathe than live.

4.

We spend

A ten years breath

Before we apprehend

What 'tis to live, or fear a death :

Our childish dreams are fill'd with painted joys,

Which please our sense awhile, and, waking prove but

[toys.

How