Poor world, said I, what wilt thou do
To entertain this ftarry ftranger?

Is this the best thou canft beftow-
A cold and not too cleanly manger?
Contend, the powers of heaven and earth,
To fit a bed for this huge birth.

Proud world, said I, cease your control,
And let the mighty babe alone,
The phoenix builds the phoenix's nest,
Love's architecture is his own.

The babe, whose birth embraves this morn,
Made his own bed ere he was born.

Welcome all wonders in one fight!

Eternity shut in a span ! Summer in winter, day in night!

Heaven in earth, and God in man!

Great little one, whose all-embracing birth
Lifts earth to Heaven, ftoops Heaven to earth!

Gilded 'th' beams of earthly kings,

Slippery souls in smiling eyes

But to poor shepherds, homespun things, Whose wealth's their flocks, whose wit's to be Well read in their fimplicity.

To Thee, meek Majefty, soft King,

Of simple graces and sweet loves!

Each of us his lamb will bring,

Each his pair of filver doves! At laft, in fire of Thy fair eyes,

Ourselves become our own beft sacrifice!

Crafhaw. 1637-1650.

Ο

THE ASCENSION DAY.

UR Lord and brother who put on
Such flesh as this we wear,

Before us up to heaven is gone,
Our places to prepare:
Captivity was captive then,

And He doth from above

Send ghoftly presents down to men,
For tokens of His love.

Each door and everlasting gate

To Him hath lifted been,

And in a glorious wise thereat

Our King is enter'd in:
Whom if to follow we regard,

With love and leave we may,
For He hath all the means prepared,
And made an open way.

Then follow; follow on apace

Our Captain to attend,

In that supreme and bleffed place
Whereto He did ascend;

And for His honor let our voice

A fhout so hearty make,

That heaven may at our joy rejoice,

And hell's foundation fhake.

George Wither.

WHO FOLLOWS IN HIS TRAIN?

HE Son of God goes forth to war,

THE

A kingly crown to gain;

His blood-red banner ftreams afar,

Who follows in His train ?

Who beft can drink his cup of woe,

Triumphant over pain,

Who patient bears his cross below,
He follows in His train !

That martyr firft, whose eagle eye
Could look beyond the grave,
Who saw his Master in the sky,
And called on him to save ;

Like Him, with pardon on his tongue,
In midft of mortal pain,

He prayed for those that did the wrong:
Who follows in his train ?

A noble band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,

Twelve valiant souls, their hope they knew,
And mocked the torch of flame;

They met the tyrant's brandifhed fteel,

The lion's gory mane,

They bowed their necks the stroke to feel, Who follows in their train?

A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the throne of God rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.

They climbed the fteep ascents of heaven, Thro' peril, toil, and pain;

O God! to us may grace be given,

To follow in their train!

Heber.

FOR ST. ANDREW'S DAY.

HILST Andrew, as a fifher, sought

W From

From pinching want his life to free, Chrift call'd him, that he might be taught A fisherman of men to be.

And no delay therein he made, Nor queftionéd his Lord's intent; But quite forsaking all he had, With Him that calléd gladly went.

Would God we were prepared so
To follow Chrift when He doth call,
And could as readily forego

Those nets which we are snared withal!

Yea, would this fisherman of men,

Might us by his example move

To leave the world, as he did then,
And by our works our faith approve.

But precepts and examples fail,
Till thou, O Lord, thy grace inspirest;
Vouchsafe it, and we fhall prevail
In whatsoever thou requireft: