| WHEN God at first made man, | |
| Having a glasse of blessings standing by ; | |
| Let us (said he) poure on him all we can : | |
| Let the worlds riches, which dispersed lie, | |
| Contract into a span. | 5 |
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| So strength first made a way ; | |
| Then beautie flow’d, then wisdome, honour, pleasure : | |
| When almost all was out, God made a stay, | |
| Perceiving that alone, of all his treasure, | |
| Rest in the bottome lay. | 10 |
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| For if I should (said he) | |
| Bestow this jewell also on my creature, | |
| He would adore my gifts in stead of me, | |
| And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature : | |
| So both should losers be. | 15 |
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| Yet let him keep the rest, | |
| But keep them with repining restlesnesse : | |
| Let him be rich and wearie, that at least, | |
| If goodnesse leade him not, yet wearinesse | |
| May tosse him to my breast. | 20 |