The Muses Sacrifice :: :: University of Virginia Library

When I (sweet Sauiour) minde the Orison
thou mad'st thy Maundy-night (with strong effect)
When as thou praid'st for perfect vnion
betweene thy Father, thee, and thine elect.

I am thereby encouraged to pray,
that in that Vnion (though too base I be)
I may b'included, if so be I may
(being so vile) so inward be with thee.

Which can be hardly (if at all it can)
without my Soule forsake the Flesh and Fiend
And all besides thee, be it Angell, Man,
or what soe'er, for Thee her onely END!

But, this shee cannot doe without thy Grace,
thy grace preuenting, and assisting both:
Then grace her so that she may thee embrace;
and in respect of thee, all others lothe.

By that deare vnexampled Loue that made
thee hang all naked on the Crosse, vouchsafe

That I may liue with thee, as nought I had
besides: though I the World besides, should haue.

And if it may be (Lord) ô let me liue
without the least Sinne: for, the least that is
Doth let out Vnion, and doth euer striue
to seuer me for euer from thy Blisse.

Then, grant that I my body so may keepe
from all transgressing, that I may not moue
One Ioynt t'vmoyne vs; but my Soule to sweepe
from all Pollution, that doth let thy Loue.

That, from offending, it may be as cleare,
as it was made by thee (in Thee to rest)
And though she cannot be so perfect here,
yet make Her still desire the same, at least.

Yea, make me will no Ioy (for that is none)
that is not in thee: and, the Bread I eate,
Let it no more delight me than a Stone;
but onely, but to serue Thee, take my meate!

And, when my Palate proues some Foode too sweet,
then let me thinke how much more sweet thou art,
That mad'st it such; so, make me make it mecte
to make me taste thy Sweetnesse in my Heart.

So let me vse all Creatures, pleasing Sense,
to send me to Thee, Cause of that Effect.

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So, in them still, taste but thine Excellence;
and, by them still, the more the same affect.

Yea, let no Sweet (of whatsoeuer kinde,
that's but created) once my Soule allure
From thee (sweet Lord) or from continuall minde
of thy deare Sweetnesse, that all Sweetes procures.

But, Loue and Meeknesse are the onely two
to make vs one (deare Sweet) that diuers be:
Then let high'st Loue, and lowest Meeknesse too
make one of two; that's, one of thee and mee.

And, meeke to make me, let me euer minde,
I am nought, haue nought, know nought, nought can do,
And nought desire; nor se ke but Grace to finde
to loue thee highly and be lowly too.

Then make me rich in Soule and poore in spirit;
rich in good deeds, and yet most poore in thought:
When I doe best, to weene I worst doe merit;
and, when most good, to thinke I am most nought.

So, by the By-path (that but Fooles doe finde)
of true Simplicitie, that's iust, and free,
To runne to Thee, and leaue the World behinde
to thinke me mad, for running so to Thee.

But let me so be still besides my selfe,
and still besides the Way the World doth roame,

Though it with Flowers be strowde, and pau'd with pe[illeg.],
yet let me flie it in my hying home.

The Heau'n-rapt Saint was so himselfe beside:
for, hee all earthly Dainties held as Doung;
And while, as mad, the most did him deride,
he went to Thee a narrow way and long.

Nay, thou thy selfe (dear Lord that all dost schoole)
because thou didst elect this Way to goe
And that reiect, attir'd wast like a Foole,
and so esteem'd: then let me foole it so.

But hide my life in thee; so, shall I liue
a light to all that walke in wayward moode;
For, them thou hid'st that good example giue
from eu'ry Ill; then let me giue this good.

But when I giue it, let me thinke I giue
the good thou gau'st: for, all good gifts are thine:
So shall I rightly thinke, while so I liue;
and all the praise thereof to thee resigne;
So let me doe and thinke; so shall I gaine
True Vnitie with thee, in Ioy and Paine!