The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 99

194. SABBATHS.

Sabbaths are threefold, as St. Austin says: The first of time, or Sabbath here of days; The second is a conscience trespa.s.s-free; The last the Sabbath of Eternity.

195. THE FAST, OR LENT.

Noah the first was, as tradition says, That did ordain the fast of forty days.

196. SIN.

There is no evil that we do commit, But hath th' extraction of some good from it: As when we sin, G.o.d, the great Chemist, thence Draws out th' elixir of true penitence.

197. G.o.d.

G.o.d is more here than in another place, Not by His essence, but commerce of grace.

198. THIS, AND THE NEXT WORLD.

G.o.d hath this world for many made, 'tis true: But He hath made the World to Come for few.

199. EASE.

G.o.d gives to none so absolute an ease As not to know or feel some grievances.

200. BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS.

Paul, he began ill, but he ended well; Judas began well, but he foully fell: In G.o.dliness not the beginnings so Much as the ends are to be look'd unto.

201. TEMPORAL GOODS.

These temporal goods G.o.d, the most wise, commends To th' good and bad in common for two ends: First, that these goods none here may o'er-esteem Because the wicked do partake of them; Next, that these ills none cowardly may shun, Being, oft here, the just man's portion.

202. h.e.l.l FIRE.

The fire of h.e.l.l this strange condition hath, To burn, not shine, as learned Basil saith.

203. ABEL'S BLOOD.

Speak, did the blood of Abel cry To G.o.d for vengeance? Yes, say I, Ev'n as the sprinkled blood called on G.o.d for an expiation.

204. ANOTHER.

The blood of Abel was a thing Of such a rev'rend reckoning, As that the old world thought it fit Especially to swear by it.

205. A POSITION IN THE HEBREW DIVINITY.

One man repentant is of more esteem With G.o.d, than one that never sinned 'gainst Him.

206. PENITENCE.

The doctors, in the Talmud, say, That in this world one only day In true repentance spent will be More worth than heaven's eternity.

207. G.o.d'S PRESENCE.

G.o.d's present everywhere, but most of all Present by union hypostatical: G.o.d, He is there, where's nothing else, schools say, And nothing else is there where He's away.

_Hypostatical_, personal.

208. THE RESURRECTION POSSIBLE AND PROBABLE.

For each one body that i' th' earth is sown, There's an uprising but of one for one; But for each grain that in the ground is thrown, Threescore or fourscore spring up thence for one: So that the wonder is not half so great Of ours as is the rising of the wheat.

209. CHRIST'S SUFFERING.

Justly our dearest Saviour may abhor us, Who hath more suffered by us far, than for us.

210. SINNERS.

Sinners confounded are a twofold way, Either as when, the learned schoolmen say, Men's sins destroyed are when they repent, Or when, for sins, men suffer punishment.

211. TEMPTATIONS.

No man is tempted so but may o'ercome, If that he has a will to masterdom.

212. PITY AND PUNISHMENT.

G.o.d doth embrace the good with love; and gains The good by mercy, as the bad by pains.

213. G.o.d'S PRICE AND MAN'S PRICE.

G.o.d bought man here with His heart's blood expense; And man sold G.o.d here for base thirty pence.