Second
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THE GIFTS OF GOD
When God at first made Man,
Having a glass of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) pour on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which disperséd lie,
Contract into a span.
Having a glass of blessings standing by;
Let us (said he) pour on him all we can:
Let the world’s riches, which disperséd lie,
Contract into a span.
So strength first made a way;
Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure.
Rest in the bottom lay.
Then beauty flow’d, then wisdom, honour, pleasure:
When almost all was out, God made a stay,
Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure.
Rest in the bottom lay.
For if I should (said he)
Bestow this jewel also on my creature.
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.
Bestow this jewel also on my creature.
He would adore my gifts instead of me,
And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature:
So both should losers be.
Yet let him keep the rest,
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.
G. Herbert
But keep them with repining restlessness:
Let him be rich and weary, that at least,
If goodness lead him not, yet weariness
May toss him to my breast.
G. Herbert
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THE RETREAT
Happy those early days, when I
Shined in my Angel-infancy!
Before I understood this place
Appointed for my second race,
Or taught my soul to fancy aught
But a white, celestial thought;
When yet I had not walk’d above
A mile or two from my first Love,
Shined in my Angel-infancy!
Before I understood this place
Appointed for my second race,
Or taught my soul to fancy aught
But a white, celestial thought;
When yet I had not walk’d above
A mile or two from my first Love,
