Emblem III.6: When prosperous our Affaires doe growe

When prosperous our Affaires doe growe;
God's Grace it is, that makes them so.

SVch pleasant Flowres, as here are shadow'd out
(Full-grown, well trim'd, and strongly fenc'd about)
At first, perchance, had planting (where they stand)
And, husbanding, by some good Gard'ners hand:
But, when to perfect ripenesse, they are grown,
(And, spread forth leaves, and blossomes, fully blowne)
They draw it from the Vertue of the Sunne,
Which worketh, when the Gard'ners worke is done:
For, lost were all his Travaile, and his praise,
Vnlesse that Planet cheare them with his rayes.
In this our Pilgrimage, it fares with us
(In all our hopes, and all our labours) thus.
For, whatsoever bus'nesse wee intend,
On God, our good successes doe depend.
Our Hands may build; but, structures vaine we make,
Till God, to be Chiefe builder, undertake.
To wall a City, wee may beare the cost;
But, he mut guard it, or, the Towne is lost:
The Plow-man useth diligence to sowe;
But, God must blesse it, or, no Corne will grow:
Yea, though Paul plant, and, though Apollo water,
They spend their sweat, upon a fruitlesse matter,
Till God, from heaven, their labours please to blesse,
And crowne their travailes, with a good increase.
Let, therefore, those that flourish, like this Flowre,
(And, may be wither'd, e're another houre)
Give God the praise, for making of their Seeds
Bring forth sweet Flowres, that, else, had proved Weeds:
And, me despise not, though I thrive not so;
For, when, God pleaseth, I shall flourish too.