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HAppy are they, O Lord, who have so much employment; that there remains no room for idle thoughts:
Happy are they who have so litle business; that they want not space to attend their souls:
Happy yet more are they, who in the midst of their work, * can think somtimes of the wa∣ges above:
Whom nothing diverts from that chief con∣cern * of seeking to make their election sure:
But, while their backs are bow'd down with
labor, they freely can raise up their minds to heav'n.
And, while they are tyed to their beds with sicknes, can yet move on towards their eternal rest:
Often they rejoyce with themselvs alone; and silently say in their contented harts:
Here we, alas, are narrowly confin'd; and our time entertain'd with trivial affairs:
But herafter we expect an unbounded en∣largement; and the same glorious office with the blessed Angels:
Here we are subject to a thousand miserys; and the most prosperous life is vain and short:
But herafter we expect an infinity of joy; and the solid pleasures of heav'n for ever.
We, too, O gracious Lord, who now adore Thee; and in thy presence sing these holy words:
We humbly pray thee guide us in the mid∣dle path; that we never decline to any vicious extreme:
Deliver us from the stormy sea of busines; and the dead water of a slothful life:
Lest we be cast away by forgetting thee; or becom corrupted by neglecting our selvs:
Make us, somtimes at least, recollect our thoughts; how much soever our condition di∣stract us:
Make us look up with confidence in our God;
how low soever our afflictions depress us:
Make us look up to the eternal mountains; and feed our souls on this sweet hope:
The day wil come, when, out of this dark world, * we shal joyfully ascend to that beau∣teous light:
The day will come and cannot be far off; when we shal rest for ever in the bosom of blyss. Glory be, &c.
Antiph. Well done thou good and faithful servant, I gave thee two talents, and thou hast gain'd two more; enter into thy Masters joy:
Antiph. Well done thou good and faithful servant: I gave thee five talents, and thou hast gain'd five more; enter into thy Masters joy.