| |
| THOUGH, Lord, to Israel thy graces plenteous be; | |
| I mean to such, with pure intent as fix their trust in Thee, | |
| Yet whiles the Faith did faint that should have been my guide, | |
| Like them that walk in slipper paths, my feet began to slide; | |
| Whiles I did grudge at those that glory in their gold, | 5 |
| Whose loathsome pride enjoyeth wealth, in quiet as they would. | |
| To see by course of years what nature doth appair, 1 | |
| The palaces of princely form succeed from heir to heir. | |
| From all such travails free, as ’long to Adam’s seed, | |
| Neither withdrawn from wicked works by danger, nor by dread. | 10 |
| Whereof their scornful pride, and gloried with their eyes; | |
| As garments clothe the naked man, thus are they clad in vice. | |
| Thus, as they wish, succeeds the mischief that they mean; | |
| Whose glutted cheeks sloth feeds so fat, as scant their eyes be seen. 2 | |
| Unto whose cruel power most men for dread are fain | 15 |
| To bend or bow; with lofty looks, whiles they vaunt in their reign; | |
| And in their bloody hands, whose cruelty that frame | |
| The wailful works that scourge the poor, without regard of blame. | |
| To tempt the living God they think it no offence; | |
| And pierce the simple with their tongues that can make no defence. | 20 |
| Such proofs before the just, to cause the hearts to waver, | |
| Be set like cups mingled with gall, of bitter taste and savour. | |
| Then say thy foes in scorn, that taste no other food, | |
| But suck the flesh of thy Elect, and bathe them in their blood; | |
| ‘Should we believe the Lord doth know, and suffer this? | 25 |
| Fooled be he with fables vain that so abused is.’ | |
| In terror of the just, that reigns iniquity, | |
| Armed with power, laden with gold, and dread for cruelty. | |
| Then vain the war might seem, that I by faith maintain | |
| Against the flesh, whose false effects my pure heart would disdain. | 30 |
| For I am scourged still, that no offence have done, | |
| By wrathès children; and from my birth my chastising begun. | |
| When I beheld their pride, and slackness of thy hand, | |
| I gan bewail the woful state wherein thy chosen stand. | |
| And when I sought whereof thy sufferance, Lord, should grow, | 35 |
| I found no wit could pierce so far, thy holy dooms to know: | |
| And that no mysteries, nor doubt could be distrust, | |
| Till I come to the holy place, the mansion of the just; | |
| Where I shall see what end thy justice shall prepare, | |
| For such as build on worldly wealth, and dye their colours fair. | 40 |
| Oh! how their ground is false! and all their building vain! | |
| And they shall fall; their power shall fail that did their pride maintain. | |
| As charged hearts with care, that dream some pleasant turn, | |
| After their sleep find their abuse, and to their plaint return; | |
| So shall their glory fade; thy sword of vengeance shall | 45 |
| Unto their drunken eyes in blood disclose their errors all. | |
| And when their golden fleece is from their back y-shorn; | |
| The spots that underneath were hid, thy chosen sheep shall scorn: | |
| And till that happy day, my heart shall swell in care, | |
| My eyes yield tears, my years consume between hope and despair. | 50 |
| Lo! how my spirits are dull, and all thy judgments dark, | |
| No mortal head may scale so high, but wonder at thy work. | |
| Alas! how oft my foes have framed my decay; | |
| But when I stood in dread to drench, 3 thy hands still did me stay. | |
| And in each voyage that I took to conquer sin, | 55 |
| Thou wert my guide, and gave me grace, to comfort me therein. | |
| And when my wither’d skin unto my bones did cleave, | |
| And flesh did waste, thy grace did then my simple spirits relieve. | |
| In other succour then, O Lord! why should I trust; | |
| But only thine, whom I have found in thy behight 4 so just. | 60 |
| And such for dread, or gain as shall thy name refuse, | |
| Shall perish with their golden gods that did their hearts seduce. | |
| While 5 I, that in thy word have set my trust and joy, | |
| The high reward that ’longs thereto shall quietly enjoy. | |
| And my unworthy lips, inspired with thy grace, | 65 |
| Shall thus forespeak thy secret works, in sight of Adam’s race. | |
