do come if we want them to come.  “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”  But when we ask our Lord for gifts we must remember that the giving is not a mechanical giving.  What our Lord gives is the Might of the Spirit to effect what we desire.  If a man ask of God a good harvest the prayer is answered if there be given the conditions under which a good harvest can be produced; it will not be produced without the appropriate human labour.  And when we ask of God the Fruits of the Spirit the prayer is granted if the conditions are given under which this Fruit may be brought forth.  But neither here may we expect Fruit without appropriate action on our part.  God gives, but He gives to those who want.

I

others do of grace bereave, When, in their mother’s womb, they life receive, God, as his sole-borne Daughter, loved thee:  To match thee like thy birth’s nobility, He thee his Spirit for thy Spouse did leave, Of whom thou didst his only Son conceive; And so was linked to all the Trinity.  Cease, then, O queens, who earthly crowns do wear, To glory in the pomp of worldly, things:  If men such respect unto you bear Which daughters, wives and mothers are of kings; What honour should unto that Queen be done Who had your God for Father, Spouse and Son?

II

Sovereign of Queens, if vain ambition move My heart to seek an earthly prince’s grace, Show me thy Son in his imperial place, Whose servants reign our kings and queens above:  And, if alluring passions I do prove By pleasing sighs—­show me thy lovely face, Whose beams the angels’ beauty do deface, And even inflame the seraphins with love.  So by ambition I shall humble be, When, in the presence of the highest King, I serve all his, that he may honour me; And love, my heart to chaste desires shall bring, When fairest Queen looks on me from her throne, And jealous, bids me love but her alone.

III

Why should I any love, O Queen, but thee, If favor past a thankful love should breed?  Thy womb did bear, thy breast my Saviour feed, And thou didst never cease to succour me.  If love do follow worth and dignity, Thou all in thy perfections dost exceed; If love be led by hope of future meed, What pleasure more than thee in heaven to see?  An earthly sight doth only please the eye, And breeds desire, but doth not satisfy:  Thy sight gives us possession of all joy; And with such full delights each sense shall fill, As heart shall wish but for to see thee still, And ever seeing, ever shall enjoy.

IV

Sweet Queen, although thy beauty raise up me From sight of baser beauties here below, Yet, let me not rest there; but, higher go To him, who took his shape from God and thee.  And if thy form in him more fair I see, What pleasure from his deity shall flow, By whose fair beams his beauty shineth so, When I shall it behold eternally?  Then, shall my love of pleasure have his fill, When beauty’s self, in whom all pleasure is, Shall my enamoured soul embrace and kiss, And shall new loves and new delights distill, Which from my soul shall gush into my heart, And through my body flow to every part.