4. I dye alive

O LIFE! what letts thee from a quicke decease?

O death! what drawes thee from a present praye?

My feast is done, my soule would be at ease,

My grace is saide; O death! come take awaye.

I live, but such a life as ever dyes;

I dye, but such a death as never endes;

My death to end my dying life denyes,

And life my living death no whitt amends.

Thus still I dye, yet still I do revive;

My living death by dying life is fedd;

Grace more then nature kepes my hart alive,

Whose idle hopes and vayne desires are deade.

Not where I breath, but where I love, I live;

Not where I love, but where I am, I die;

The life I wish, must future glory give,

The deaths I feele in present daungers lye.