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| The Crosse. |
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| Since Christ embrac'd the Crosse it selfe, dare I |
| His image, th'image of his Crosse deny? |
| Would I have profit by the sacrifice, |
| And dare the chosen Altar to despise? |
| It bore all other sinnes, but is it fit |
| That it should beare the sinne of scorning it? |
| Who from the picture would avert his eye, |
| How would he flye his paines, who there did dye? |
| From mee, no Pulpit, nor misgrounded law, |
| Nor scandall taken, shall this Crosse withdraw, |
| It shall not, for it cannot; for, the losse |
| Of this Crosse, were to mee another Crosse. |
| Better were worse, for, no affliction |
| No Crosse is so extreme, as to have none; |
| Who can blot out the Crosse, which th'instrument |
| Of God, dew'd on mee in the Sacrament? |
| Who can deny mee power, and liberty |
| To stretch mine armes, and mine owne Crosse to be? |
| Swimme, and at every stroake, thou art thy Crosse, |
| The Mast and yard make one, where seas do tosse. |
| Looke downe, thou spiest out Crosses in small things; |
| Looke up, thou seest birds rais'd on crossed wings; |
| All the Globes frame, and spheares, is nothing else |
| But the Meridians crossing Parallels. |
| Materiall Crosses then, good physicke bee,
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[CW: But] |