The Water-Fall

With what deep murmurs through time's silent

Doth thy transparent, cool, and wat'ry wealth         Here flowing fall,         And chide, and call,

As if his liquid, loose retinue

Ling'ring, and were of this steep place afraid;         The common pass         Where, clear as glass,         All must descend        Not to an end,

But quicken'd by this deep and rocky grave,

Rise to a longer course more bright and brave.        Dear stream! dear bank, where often I        Have sate and pleas'd my pensive eye,        Why, since each drop of thy quick store        Runs thither whence it flow'd before,        Should poor souls fear a shade or night,        Who came, sure, from a sea of light?        Or since those drops are all sent back        So sure to thee, that none doth lack,        Why should frail flesh doubt any more        That what God takes, he'll not restore?        O useful element and clear!        My sacred wash and cleanser here,        My first consigner unto those        Fountains of life where the Lamb goes!        What sublime truths and wholesome themes        Lodge in thy mystical deep streams!        Such as dull man can never find        Unless that Spirit lead his mind        Which first upon thy face did move,        And hatch'd all with his quick'ning love.        As this loud brook's incessant fall        In streaming rings restagnates all,        Which reach by course the bank, and then        Are no more seen, just so pass men.        O my invisible estate,        My glorious liberty, still late!        Thou art the channel my soul seeks,        Not this with cataracts and creeks.