The Hesperides & Noble Numbers Part 96

137. SALUTATION.

Christ, I have read, did to His chaplains say, Sending them forth, Salute no man by th' way: Not that He taught His ministers to be Unsmooth or sour to all civility, But to instruct them to avoid all snares Of tardidation in the Lord's affairs.

Manners are good; but till His errand ends, Salute we must nor strangers, kin, or friends.

_Tardidation_, sloth.

138. LASCIVIOUSNESS.

Lasciviousness is known to be The sister to saturity.

139. TEARS.

G.o.d from our eyes all tears hereafter wipes, And gives His children kisses then, not stripes.

140. G.o.d'S BLESSING.

In vain our labours are whatsoe'er they be, Unless G.o.d gives the benedicite.

141. G.o.d, AND LORD.

G.o.d is His name of nature; but that word Implies His power when He's called the Lord.

142. THE JUDGMENT-DAY.

G.o.d hides from man the reck'ning day, that he May fear it ever for uncertainty; That being ignorant of that one, he may Expect the coming of it every day.

143. ANGELS.

Angels are called G.o.ds; yet of them, none Are G.o.ds but by partic.i.p.ation: As just men are ent.i.tled G.o.ds, yet none Are G.o.ds of them but by adoption.

144. LONG LIFE.

The longer thread of life we spin, The more occasion still to sin.

145. TEARS.

The tears of saints more sweet by far Than all the songs of sinners are.

146. MANNA.

That manna, which G.o.d on His people cast, Fitted itself to ev'ry feeder's taste.

147. REVERENCE.

True rev'rence is, as Ca.s.siodore doth prove, The fear of G.o.d commix'd with cleanly love.

_Ca.s.siodore_, Marcus Aurelius Ca.s.siodorus, theologian and statesman 497-575?

148. MERCY.

Mercy, the wise Athenians held to be Not an affection, but a deity.

149. WAGES.

After this life, the wages shall Not shared alike be unto all.

150. TEMPTATION.

G.o.d tempteth no one, as St. Austin saith, For any ill, but for the proof of faith; Unto temptation G.o.d exposeth some, But none of purpose to be overcome.

151. G.o.d'S HANDS.

G.o.d's hands are round and smooth, that gifts may fall Freely from them and hold none back at all.

152. LABOUR.

Labour we must, and labour hard I' th' forum here, or vineyard.

153. MORA SPONSI, THE STAY OF THE BRIDEGROOM.

The time the bridegroom stays from hence Is but the time of penitence.

154. ROARING.

Roaring is nothing but a weeping part Forced from the mighty dolour of the heart.

155. THE EUCHARIST.

_He that is hurt seeks help_: sin is the wound; The salve for this i' th' Eucharist is found.