S. BERN. Ser. liv. in Cant. There is nothing so effectual to obtain grace, to retain grace, and to regain grace, as always to be found before GOD not over wise, but to fear: happy art thou, if thy heart be replenished with three fears; a fear for received grace, a greater fear for lost grace, a greatest fear to recover grace. S. AUGUST. Super Psal. Present fear begetteth eternal security: fear GOD, which is above all, and no need to fear man at all. EPIG. 4. LORD,Shall we grumble when thy flames do scourge us? Our sins breathe fire; that fire returns to purge us. LORD, what an alchymist art thou, whose skill Transmutes to perfect good from perfect ill! Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity. How like the threads of flax That touch the flame, are my inflam'd desires! How like to yielding wax, My soul dissolves before these wanton fires! The fire but touch'd, the flame but felt, Like flax I burn; like wax I melt. O how this flesh doth draw Is baffled by the law of my desire! O wretched state of men, The height of whose ambition is to borrow With griping int'rest of the next day's sorrow! How intricate and nice Is man's perplexed way to man's desire; Sometimes upon the ice He slips, and sometimes falls into the fire; Or very hot or very cold. The common food he doth Sustain his soul-tormenting thoughts withal, Is honey in his mouth To-night, and in his heart, to-morrow, 'Tis oftentimes, within an hour, Both very, sweet and very sour. gall; If sweet Corinna smile, A Heav'n of joys breaks down into his heart: Hell's torments are but copies of his smart: Thus worthless, vain, and void Of comfort, are the fruits of earth's employment, Which, ere they be enjoy'd, Distract us, and destroy us in th' enjoyment; LORD, quench these hasty flashes, Which dart as lightning from the thund'ring skies, And ev'ry minute dashes Against the wanton windows of mine eyes: Behind the curtain of thy hand. S. AUGUST. Soliloq. Cap. iv. O thou sun, that illuminateth both Heaven and earth! woe be unto those eyes which do not behold thee: woe be unto those blind eyes which cannot behold thee: woe be unto those which turn away their eyes that they will not behold thee: woe be unto those that turn away their eyes that they may behold vanity. S. CHRYS. Sup. Mat. xix. What is the evil woman but the enemy of friendship, an avoidable pain, a necessary mischief, a natural temptation, a desirable calamity, a domestic danger, a delectable inconvenience, and the nature of evil, painted over with the colour of good? EPIG. 5. 'Tis vain, great GOD, to close mine eyes from ill, |