"If I Could Shut the Gate" E'en so we met; and after long pursuit, E'en so we joined; we both became entire; No need for either to renew a suit, For I was flax, and He was flames of fire: Our firm-united souls did more than twine; So I my Best-belovèd's am; so He is mine. 3497 If all those glittering Monarchs, that command "IF I COULD SHUT THE GATE AGAINST MY THOUGHTS" IF I could shut the gate against my thoughts, Or memory could cancel all the notes Of my misdeeds, and I unthink my sin: Or were there other rooms within my heart That did not to my conscience join so near, Where I might lodge the thoughts of sin apart, That I might not their clamorous crying hear; What peace, what joy, what ease should I possess, Freed from their horrors that my soul oppress. But, O my Saviour, who my refuge art, Let Thy dear mercies stand 'twixt them and me, And be the wall to separate my heart So that I may at length repose me free; That peace, and joy, and rest may be within, And I remain divided from my sin. John Daniel [A. 1625] HIS LITANY TO THE HOLY SPIRIT IN the hour of my distress, When temptations me oppress, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When I lie within my bed, When the house doth sigh and weep, When the artless doctor sees When his potion and his pill, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When the passing-bell doth toll, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When the tapers now burn blue, And that number more than true, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When the priest his last hath prayed, And I nod to what is said 'Cause my speech is now decayed, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When, God knows, I'm tossed about Yet, before the glass be out, When the tempter me pursu'th When the flames and hellish cries Sweet Spirit, comfort me! When the Judgment is revealed, When to Thee I have appealed, Sweet Spirit, comfort me! Robert Herrick [1591-1674] TO KEEP A TRUE LENT Is this a fast, to keep The larder lean, And clean From fat of veals and sheep? Is it to quit the dish Of flesh, yet still To fill The platter high with fish? Is it to fast an hour, Or ragged to go, Or show A downcast look, and sour? No; 'tis a fast to dole Thy sheaf of wheat And meat Unto the hungry soul. It is to fast from strife, To circumcise thy life. To show a heart grief-rent; And that's to keep thy Lent. Robert Herrick (1591-1674] THE FALLEN STAR A STAR is gone! a star is gone! He sat upon the orb of fire And lent his music to the choir But when his thousand years are passed, He vanished with his car at last, For even cherubs die! Hear how his angel-brothers mourn- The planetary Sisters all Join in the fatal song. And weep this hapless brother's fall, But deepest of the choral band And with a bass-according hand From the deep chambers of the dome His rude harmonic thunders come The thousand car-borne cherubim, All join to chant the dirge of him George Darley [1795-1846] "WE NEED NOT BID, FOR CLOISTERED WE need not bid, for cloistered cell, The trivial round, the common task, Seek we no more; content with these As Heaven shall bid them, come and go:- John Keble [1792-1866] "A CHILD MY CHOICE" LET folly praise that fancy loves, I praise and love that Child Whose heart no thought, whose tongue no word, whose hand no deed defiled. I praise Him most, I love Him best, all praise and love is His, While Him I love, in Him I live, and cannot live amiss. |