No Pains, No Gains

A long life's-day I've taken pains
For very little, or no gains;
The evening's come, here now I'll stop,
And work no more, but shut up shop.

Afflictions bring us joy in times to come,
When sins, by stripes, to us grow wearisome.

Afflictions they most profitable are
To the beholder and the sufferer:
Bettering them both, but by a double strain,
The first by patience, and the last by pain.

God suffers not His saints and servants dear
To have continual pain or pleasure here;
But look how night succeeds the day, so He
Gives them by turns their grief and jollity.

Love is maintain'd by wealth; when all is spent,
Adversity then breeds the discontent.

In vain our labours are whatsoe'er they be,
Unless God gives the benedicite.