The Approach

That childish thoughts such joys inspire,

Doth make my wonder, and His glory higher,

His bounty, and my wealth .more

It chews His Kingdom, and His work complete.

In which there is not anything,

Not meet to be the joy of

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,

Who else would show us all His Kingdom's joy.3O Lord,

I wonder at Thy Love,

Which did my infancy so early move:

But more at that which did

And move so long, though slighted many a year:

But most of all, at last that

Thyself shouldst me convert,

I scarce know

Thy gracious motions oft in

Assaulted me: my heart did hard remain Longtime!

I sent my God

Grieved much, that He could not give me His joy.

I careless was, nor did

The End for which He all those thoughts

But now, with new and open eyes,

I see beneath, as if above the skies,

And as I backward look

See all His thoughts and mine most clear arid plain.

He did approach,

He me did woo;

I wonder that my God this thing would

From nothing taken first ,

I was;

What wondrous things His glory brought to pass!

Now in the World I Him behold,

And me, enveloped in precious gold;

In deep abysses of delights,

In present hidden glorious

These thoughts His goodness long

Prepared as precious and celestial

With curious art in me inlaid,

That childhood might itself alone be

My Tutor,

Teacher,

Guide to be,

Instructed then even by the Deitie.