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A SWEET MEDITATION OF THE AVTHORS, (LONG AGOE) of the benefit of reading, conference, musing on holy things, and prai∣er: conteining a complaint, that these holy exercises are neglected for that which is worse than nothing, euen mens sinfull will.
1
OH, what a blessed thing it is
with godly learn'd to talke,
By reading and by conference,
both as we sit and walke!
2
And oft to thinke vpon the ioy
by God for his prepar'd,
And eke to pray with groanes to him!
the like hath not beene hard.
3
It doth reuiue our hearts most dull,
and bring our mindes in frame:
It doth indue our soules with light,
made fit to praise Gods name.
4
It causeth vs our time to spend
in fruit, and heauenly sort:
It keeps from euery euill way,
and so from ill report.
5
It holds our minds frō earthly thoghts
and vanities most vaine:
It doth become pleasant and sweet,
instead of irkesome paine.
6
By this, ill tidings are not fear'd,
afflictions are not heard:
But from impatience and ire,
hereby we are preseru'd.
7
By meditation and reading,
with prayer annext thereto,
We make our gaine of that which we
are loth once to forgo.
8
It maketh vs a sauour sweet
in places where we come;
That some are gain'd to God thereby,
and folly hath no roome.
9
Blessed is he whose portion this,
in stead of toile is giuen
Whereby some cannot read a line
from morning vnto euen.
10
And as his lot in fairer ground
is cast whom this behighteth,
In reading and in studie sweet
that ioyfully delighteth:
11
So he that seeth not this grace
and priuiledge most great,
Sorrow and shame shall him pursue,
and folly be his meat.
12
I speake of those whose calling is
by learning for to liue:
Whom God would haue be free from world,
and good example giue.
13
And so of euery one, as he
hath liberty and leaue,
That he do not for fond delight••
himselfe hereof bereaue.
14
But Lord, what griefe it is to thinke
that this so happie a lot
Should be trod downe, as pearles of swine,
of many a drunken sot!