XV.

WILT thou love God, as he thee! then digest,

My Soule, this wholsome meditation,

How God the Spirit, by Angels waited on

In heaven, doth make his Temple in thy brest.

5The Father having begot a Sonne most blest,

And still begetting, (for he ne'r begonne)

Hath deign'd to chuse thee by adoption,

Coheire to'his glory,'and Sabbaths endlesse rest.

And as a robb'd man, which by search doth finde

10His stolne stuffe sold, must lose or buy'it againe:

The Sonne of glory came downe, and was slaine,

Us whom he'had made, and Satan stolne, to unbinde.

'Twas much, that man was made like God before,

But, that God should be made like man, much more.

XV. 1635-69: XI. 1633, A18, D, &c.: XII. B, O'F, S96, W

4 brest. W: brest, 1633-69

8 rest.] rest; 1633

11 Sonne 1633: Sunne 1633-69

12 stolne, 1633, A18, D, H49, N, TC: stole, 1635-69, B, O'F, S96, W, Chambers


[Note]

XVI.

FATHER, part of his double interest

Unto thy kingdome, thy Sonne gives to mee,

His joynture in the knottie Trinitie

Hee keepes, and gives to me his deaths conquest.

5This Lambe, whose death, with life the world hath blest,

Was from the worlds beginning slaine, and he

Hath made two Wills, which with the Legacie

Of his and thy kingdome, doe thy Sonnes invest.

Yet such are thy laws, that men argue yet

10Whether a man those statutes can fulfill;

None doth; but all-healing grace and spirit

Revive againe what law and letter kill.

Thy lawes abridgement, and thy last command

Is all but love; Oh let this last Will stand!

XVI. 1635-69: XII. 1633, A18, D, &c.: IV. B, O'F, S96, W

3 Trinitie] Trinitie, 1633

8 doe 1633: om. 1635-69: doth A18, B, D, H49, N, O'F, S96, TC, W

invest. W: invest, 1633-39: invest: 1650-69

9 thy O'F, S96, W: these 1633-69: those A18, D, H49, N, TC

11 doth;] doth, 1633

but all-healing A18, D, H49, N, TC, W: but thy all-healing 1633-69. See note

spirit] Spirit, 1633-69

12 Revive againe] Revive and quicken B, O'F, S96, W

kill. 1635-69: kill, 1633

14 this 1633-69: that A18, D, H49, N, TC, W: thy B, O'F, S96


[Note]