The wisdom which we most esteem, in this thing doth consist, With glorious talk to show in words our wisdom when we list: Yet not in talk but seemly deeds our wisdom we should place, To speak so fair and do but ill doth wisdom quite disgrace. To bargain well and shun the loss, a wisdom counted is, And thereby through the greedy coin no hope of grace to miss. To seek by honour to advance his name to brittle praise, Is wisdom which we daily see increaseth in our days. But heavenly wisdom sour seems, too hard for them to win, But weary of the suit they seem, when they do once begin: It teacheth us to frame our life while vital breath we have, When it dissolveth earthly mass, the soul from death to save. By fear of God to rule our steps from sliding into vice A wisdom is, which we neglect, although of greater price: A point of wisdom also this we commonly esteem, That every man should Be indeed that he desires to Seem. To bridle that desire of gain which forceth us to ill, Our haughty stomachs, Lord, repress to tame presuming will: This is the wisdom that we should above each thing desire. O heavenly God, from sacred throne that grace in us inspire! And print in our repugnant hearts the rules of wisdom true, That all our deeds in worldly life may like thereof ensue: Thou only art the living spring from whom this wisdom flows, Oh, wash therewith our sinful hearts from vice that therein grows. RICHARD EDWARDS (Master of Queen Elizabeth's Chapel Royal). 183 JULY 1. HYMN. FROM my lips in their defilement, Spurn me not for all it says, Not for words and not for ways, Or teach me, which I rather seek, I have sinnèd more than she, My God, my Lord, my Christ! With over-dropping tears as free Not a heart-beat-which is gone! JOHN DAMASCENUS. (Trs. Eliz. Barrett Browning.) JULY 2. THE LAW OF FAITH. THE darts of anguish fix not where the seat Soul of our souls, and safeguard of the world! WILLIAM Wordsworth. JULY 3. TO HEAVEN. GOOD and great God! Can I not think of Thee, But it must straight my melancholy be? Is it interpreted in me disease, That, laden with my sins, I seek for ease? First, midst, and last, converted One and Three! I know my state, both full of shame and scorn, I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground |