The Temple
Table of Contents
Catalogue of Titles
Logos Virtual Library
Catalogue
The Temple
The Church
The Priesthood
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Blest Order, which in power dost so excell, That with th’ one hand thou liftest to the sky, And with the other throwest down to hell In thy just censures; fain would I draw nigh, Fain put thee on, exchanging my lay-sword But thou art fire, sacred and hallow’d fire; And I but earth and clay: should I presume To wear thy habit, the severe attire My slender compositions might consume. I am both foul and brittle; much unfit Yet have I often seen, by cunning hand And force of fire, what curious things are made Of wretched earth. Where once I scorn’d to stand, That earth is fitted by the fire and trade Of skilfull artists, for the boards of those But since those great ones, be they ne’re so great, Come from the earth, from whence those vessels come; So that at once both feeder, dish, and meat Have one beginning and one finall summe: I do not greatly wonder at the sight, But th’ holy men of God such vessels are, As serve him up, who all the world commands: When God vouchsafeth to become our fare, Their hands convey him, who conveys their hands. O what pure things, most pure must those things be, Wherefore I dare not, I, put forth my hand To hold the Ark, although it seem to shake Through th’ old sinnes and new doctrines of our land Onely, since God doth often vessels make Of lowly matter for high uses meet, There will I lie, untill my Maker seek For some mean stuffe whereon to show his skill: Then is my time. The distance of the meek Doth flatter power. Lest good come short of ill In praising might, the poore do by submission |
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