Chapter XIV

As sponges gather moisture from the earth
Whereon there is scarce any sign of dew;
As air infecteth salt: so at my birth
All these were unperceiv'd, yet near and true:
Not by reflexion, and distinctly known,
But by their efficacy all mine own.

THE APPROACH[I]

I

That childish thoughts such joys inspire,
Doth make my wonder and His glory higher:
His bounty and my wealth more great,
It shows His Kingdom and His Work complete:
In which there is not anything
Not meet to be the joy of Cherubim.

II

He in our childhood with us walks,
And with our thoughts mysteriously he talks;
He often visiteth our minds,
But cold acceptance in us ever finds:
We send Him often grieved away;
Else would He shew us all His Kingdom's joy.

III

O Lord, I wonder at Thy Love,
Which did my Infancy so early move:
But more at that which did forbear,
And move so long, tho' slighted many a year:
But most of all, at last that Thou
Thyself shouldst me convert I scarce know how.

IV

Thy Gracious motions oft in vain
Assaulted me: my heart did hard remain
Long time: I sent my God away,
Grieved much that He could not impart His joy.
I careless was, nor did regard
The end for which He all those thoughts prepar'd;

V

But now with new and open eyes,
I see beneath as if above the skies;
And as I backward look again,
See all His thoughts and mine most clear and plain.
He did approach, He me did woo;
I wonder that my God this thing would do.

VI

From nothing taken first I was;
What wondrous things His glory brought to pass!
Now in this world I Him behold,
And me enveloped in more than gold;
In deep abysses of delights,
In present hidden precious benefits.