BAXTER'S POEMS. Live if thou canst when God saith, come away. Try whether all thy friends can cause thy stay. Wilt thou tell death and God thou wilt not die ? And wilt .thou the consuming fire defy ? Art thou not sure to let go what thou hast? And doth not reason bid thee then forecast, And value the least hope of endless joys, Before known vanities, and dying toys ? And can the Lord that is most just and wise, Found all man's duty in deceit and lies? Get thee behind me, Satan; thou dost savour , The things of flesh, and not his dearest favour, Who is my life, and light, and love, and all, And so shall be whatever shall befall. It is not thou, but I that must discern, And must resolve; it's I that hold the stern: Be silent, flesh; ·speak not against my God; Or else he'll teach thee better by the rod. I am resolved thou shalt live and die, ,A servant, or a conquer'd enemy. LoRD charge ·not on me what this rebel says, That always was against me and thy ways ! 63 Now stop its mouth by grace, that shortly must Throughjust, but gainful death, bestopp'd with dust . The thoughts and words of flesh are none of mine : Let flesh say what it will, I will be thine. Whatever this rebellious ·flesh shall prate, Let me but serve thee. Lord, at any rate. Use me on earth as seemeth good to thee, So I in Heav'n thy glorious face may see.
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