Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
Occasional verse, moral and sacred | ||
THE COMPLAINT.
I
Sequester'd from the world of noise,And absent as from god,
The chasten'd sufferer hears His voice,
And greets the sacred rod:
With ceaseless sighs his sin he moans,
While Mercy echoes to his groans.
II
Just like a base, unthankful child,The father's graceless heir,
When conquer'd by correction mild,
And trembling to draw near,
The prodigal scarce lifts his eye,
But heaves the deep reflective sigh.
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III
So thus the prodigal of grace,Late wander'd from his home,
When forc'd to see a Father's face,
Who meekly bids him “come,”
With twice ten thousand nameless pangs,
O'er the returning stray he hangs.
IV
And thus the bowels of that BreastThat once for sinners bled,
Are still with equal love imprest,
And still extends its aid:
The only friend that sinners have
To plead their cause—or them to save!
Occasional verse, moral and sacred | ||