The Virgin Mary was, as I have read, The House of God, by Christ inhabited; Into the which He entered, but, the door Once shut, was never to be open'd more. 191. TO GOD. God's undivided, One in Persons Three, And Three in inconfused unity. Original of Essence there is none, 'Twixt God the Father, Holy Ghost, and Son: And though the Father be the first of Three, 'Tis but by order, not by entity. 192. UPON WOMAN AND MARY. So long, it seem'd, as Mary's faith was small, Christ did her woman, not her Mary call; But no more woman, being strong in faith, But Mary call'd then, as St. Ambrose saith. 193. NORTH AND SOUTH. The Jews their beds and offices of ease, Placed north and south for these clean purposes; That man's uncomely froth might not molest God's ways and walks, which lie still east and west. 194. SABBATHS. Sabbaths are threefold, as St. Austin says: The first of time, or Sabbath here of days; The second is a conscience trespass-free; The last the Sabbath of Eternity. 195. THE FAST, OR LENT. Noah the first was, as tradition says, That did ordain the fast of forty days. 196. SIN. There is no evil that we do commit, But hath th' extraction of some good from it: As when we sin, God, the great Chemist, thence Draws out th' elixir of true penitence. 197. GOD. God is more here than in another place, Not by His essence, but commerce of grace. 198. THIS, AND THE NEXT WORLD. God hath this world for many made, 'tis true: But He hath made the World to Come for few. 199. EASE. God gives to none so absolute an ease As not to know or feel some grievances. 200. BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS. Paul, he began ill, but he ended well; Judas began well, but he foully fell: In godliness not the beginnings so Much as the ends are to be look'd unto. 201. TEMPORAL GOODS. These temporal goods God, the most wise, commends To th' good and bad in common for two ends: First, that these goods none here may o'er-esteem Because the wicked do partake of them; Next, that these ills none cowardly may shun, Being, oft here, the just man's portion. 202. HELL FIRE. The fire of hell this strange condition hath, To burn, not shine, as learned Basil saith. 203. ABEL'S BLOOD. Speak, did the blood of Abel cry To God for vengeance? Yes, say I, Ev'n as the sprinkled blood called on God for an expiation. 204. ANOTHER. The blood of Abel was a thing Of such a rev'rend reckoning, As that the old world thought it fit Especially to swear by it. 205. A POSITION IN THE HEBREW DIVINITY. One man repentant is of more esteem With God, than one that never sinned 'gainst Him. 206. PENITENCE. The doctors, in the Talmud, say, That in this world one only day In true repentance spent will be More worth than heaven's eternity.