A treasury of divine raptures consisting of serious observations, pious ejaculations, select epigrams, alphabetically rank'd and fil'd by a private chaplain to the illustrious and renowned lady, Urania, the divine and heavenly muse : the first part.

364. On Correction.

IT's no small mercy in a Father to Correct his child when he amiss doth do. We have as much need of corrections As Ordinances; God corrects his sons Whom he affects, he doth in love reprove, Correction is an argument of love. This shews our son-ship, for our heinous crimes, We must be under the Black Rod sometimes.

Correction is a School, the Saints therein Learn best, God hath but one son without sin, But no son without stripes; if stripes we have, Know we God smites in love, that he may save. Corrections are Gods corrosives to eat The proud flesh out, the Stockfish being beat Boils soonest, gold is not the worse for trying, Nor corn for being fann'd; when sin is dying Grace lives, some plants grow better in the shade Than in the Sun; so we when griefs invade. The snuffing of the candle makes it burn The brighter, when our edge begins to turn, God whets it; when the Thorn is at the brest, The Saint, God's spir't'al Nightingale, sings best. God is fain to rub hard, we are so stain'd, For to fetch out the dirt in us ingrain'd. Some Birds will hatch but in time of Thunder, Saints are best when correction keeps them under. Before affliction David went astray, But by affliction David learnt t'obey.