O GOD, to Thy doings, a time there is sent, Forgotten full soon, as the tune of a chime. TIME AND THE YEAR. In Spring-time we rear, we do sow, and we plant; The year I compare, as I find for a truth, Time past is forgotten, ere men be aware; Time present is thought on, with wonderful care; The lands and the riches that here we possess, Thomas Tusser. POSIES FOR THINE OWN BED-CHAMBER. WHAT wisdom more, what better life, than pleaseth God to send? What worldly goods, what longer use, than pleaseth God to lend? What better fare, than well content, agreeing with thy wealth, What better guest than trusty friend in sickness and in health? What better bed than Conscience good, to pass the night with sleep, What better work, than daily care, from sin thyself to keep? What better thought than think on God, and daily Him to serve, What greater praise of God and man, than mercy for to shew, What worse despair, than loth to die, for fear to go to hell? Same. REMEMBER. To die, dame Nature did man frame; Death hath in all the earth a right; His power is great, it stretcheth far; No lord, no prince, can 'scape his might; No creature can his duty bar. The wise, the just, the strong, the high, The chaste, the meek, the free of heart, The rich, the poor,-who can deny Have yielded all unto his dart. Seeing no man then can Death 'scape, If thou in God hast thy delight, Each wight, therefore, while he lives here, . In midst of wealth, in midst of cheer, This thought makes man to God a friend; Thomas Marshall. |