"Adopted in God's family, and so My old coat lost, into new Arms I go. The Cross, my Seal in Baptism, spread below, Does by that form into an Anchor grow. Crosses grow Anchors, bear as thou shouldst do Thy Cross, and that Cross grows an Anchor too. But He that makes our Crosses Anchors thus, Is Christ, who there is crucified for us. Yet with this I may my first Serpents hold;-- God gives new blessings, and yet leaves the old-- The Serpent, may, as wise, my pattern be; My poison, as he feeds on dust, that's me. And, as he rounds the earth to murder, sure He is my death; but on the Cross, my cure, Crucify nature then; and then implore All grace from Him, crucified there before. When all is Cross, and that Cross Anchor grown This Seal's a Catechism, not a Seal alone. Under that little Seal great gifts I send, Both works and pray'rs, pawns and fruits of a friend. O! may that Saint that rides on our Great Seal, To you that bear his name, large bounty deal. "John Donne." "IN SACRAM ANCHORAM PISCATORIS "GEORGE HERBERT. "Quod Crux nequibat fixa clavique additi,-- Tenere Christum scilicet ne ascenderet, Tuive Christum-- "Although the Cross could not here Christ detain, When nail'd unto't, but He ascends again; Nor yet thy eloquence here keep Him still, But only whilst thou speak'st--this Anchor will: Nor canst thou be content, unless thou to This certain Anchor add a Seal; and so The water and the earth both unto thee Do owe the symbol of their certainty. Let the world reel, we and all ours stand sure, This holy cable's from all storms secure. "George Herbert." I return to tell the reader, that, besides these verses to his dear Mr. Herbert, and that Hymn that I mentioned to be sung in the choir of St. Paul's Church, he did also shorten and beguile many sad hours by composing other sacred ditties; and he writ an Hymn on his death-bed, which bears this title:-- "AN HYMN TO GOD, MY GOD, IN MY SICKNESS. "_March 23, 1630._ "Since I am coming to that holy room, Where, with Thy Choir of Saints, for evermore I shall be made Thy music, as I come I tune my instrument here at the door, And, what I must do then, think here before. "Since my Physicians by their loves are grown Cosmographers; and I their map, who lie Flat on this bed---- "So, in His purple wrapt, receive my Lord! By these His thorns, give me His other Crown And, as to other souls I preach'd Thy word, Be this my text, my sermon to mine own, 'That He may raise; therefore the Lord throws down.'"