 | Miscellaneous works of George Wither |  |
A Penitential Hymn, composed by occasion of a Dream the 19th. of Octob. 1661. about Midnight.
I
My GOD, thou didst awake me,This night out of a sad and fearful Dream,
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Of Sins, which heretofore small Sins did seem;
And, ere I perfect heed could take,
Whether I slept, or was awake,
He, that is watching ev'ry hour,
Whom he may mischief, and devour,
Sought, how he might thereby advantage make:
Rebuke him, for my Dear Redeemer's sake.
II
Permit thou no Transgression,Whereof, I heretofore have guilty been,
Nor great, nor small Omission,
Which I forgotten have, or overseen,
(Either through want of penitence
Or of confessing my offence)
To rise against me, great or small;
For, LORD, I do repent them all:
And, likewise, (be it more or less)
Renounce all trust, in my own Righteousness.
III
As Job, complain'd, such VisionsTo me seem'd represented this last night
Of failings, and Omissions
That, sleeping, they did much my heart affright;
Me thought a Spirit passed by
Not to be seen with mortal eye;
And, I was minded by a Voice
(That, spake unto me without noise)
Of things preceding, which (then quite forgot)
So, as I ought to do, I heeded not.
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IV
Oh God! most kind, most holy,Remember not the errours of my life;
Call not to minde my folly
To add a new Affliction, to my Grief.
World, Flesh and Devil, my foes are,
And, much more then my strength
On me, they have already cast, (can bear
Unless, that thou compassion hast;
Oh! throw my sins out of thy sight therefore,
That, they may not be seen, or heard of more.
V
My Soul doth now abhor them,Thine onely Son, hath with his precious blood
Made satisfaction for them;
Thou, didst accept it; I believe it good:
And, therefore, though they somtimes make
My heart to tremble and to ake,
My Soul is confident they pard'ned are
As if they ne're committed were;
Confirm it so, that, sleeping and awake
Sweet rest in thee, I may for ever take.
VI
Dear GOD, of my Salvation,Preserve me by thy Love and mighty Pow'r
From perilous Temptation,
In Weal, in Woe, and at my dying hour:
Me, let thy Gardian Angels keep
When I do wake, and while I sleep,
From shame without, and fear within:
From evil thoughts, and Actual Sin,
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No man in vain, doth put his trust in thee.
| Miscellaneous works of George Wither | |