 | Divine Poems |  |
136
Upon his Recovery from his Ague.
What shal I render unto thee my God?
Since thou hast with thy rod
In measure me corrected, to prevent
A sharper punishment,
That I may not condemned be at last,
And in the lake of fire and brimstone cast?
Since thou hast with thy rod
In measure me corrected, to prevent
A sharper punishment,
That I may not condemned be at last,
And in the lake of fire and brimstone cast?
Seven violent fits I had, to shew that I
Am mortal, and must die:
But then such was thy wil, I had no more,
Thou Lord didst me restore
To health, and having brought me neer the grave,
Declaredst then thy mighty power to save.
Am mortal, and must die:
But then such was thy wil, I had no more,
Thou Lord didst me restore
To health, and having brought me neer the grave,
Declaredst then thy mighty power to save.
How much thy mercy doth thy justice passe?
A sinful man I was,
Seven times a day I have offended thee,
Yet thou forgavest me;
Yea though my sins exceed the stars of heaven,
Yet thou my plagues reduced hast to seven.
A sinful man I was,
Seven times a day I have offended thee,
Yet thou forgavest me;
Yea though my sins exceed the stars of heaven,
Yet thou my plagues reduced hast to seven.
Alas, all seven doe scarce to one amount;
Justly I cannot count
Them altogether half a plague, they goe
But for a stroak or so,
And only serve to let me understand
They come not from a judg, but fathers hand.
Justly I cannot count
Them altogether half a plague, they goe
But for a stroak or so,
137
They come not from a judg, but fathers hand.
A wise and tender father that doth smite
In mercy not in spite,
Not to avenge himself, but me t' amend,
Which is the chiefest end
In all his chastisements: he wil not break
The bruised reed, not quite o'rethrow the weak.
In mercy not in spite,
Not to avenge himself, but me t' amend,
Which is the chiefest end
In all his chastisements: he wil not break
The bruised reed, not quite o'rethrow the weak.
But having humbled him, most gently then
Raiseth him up again.
O Lord, do so by me, and shew thy strength
In my weak state at length,
That like a Tree on both sides rock't by th'wind,
I may grow strong in body and in mind.
Raiseth him up again.
O Lord, do so by me, and shew thy strength
In my weak state at length,
That like a Tree on both sides rock't by th'wind,
I may grow strong in body and in mind.
Stronger in both to serve thee, and to give
Thee thanks that yet I live;
And let me use this my recovered health,
Not to increase my wealth,
Or spend it on my lust, as is mens fashion,
But to thy glory and mine own salvation.
Thee thanks that yet I live;
And let me use this my recovered health,
Not to increase my wealth,
Or spend it on my lust, as is mens fashion,
But to thy glory and mine own salvation.
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