I. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
X. |
XI. |
XII. |
XIII. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
X. |
XI. |
XII. |
XIII. |
XIV. |
XV. |
XVI. |
XVII. |
XVIII. |
XIX. |
XX. |
XXI. |
XXII. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
X. |
XI. |
XII. |
XIII. |
XIV. |
XV. |
XVI. |
XVII. |
XVIII. |
XIX. |
XX. |
XXI. |
XXII. |
XXIII. |
XXIV. |
XXV. |
SOLILOQUY XXV.
|
XXVI. |
XXVII. |
XXVIII. |
XXIX. |
XXX. |
XXXI. |
XXXII. |
XXXIII. |
XXXIV. |
XXXV. |
XXXVI. |
XXXVII. |
XXXVIII. |
XXXIX. |
XL. |
XLI. |
XLII. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
The miscellaneous works (1739) | ||
SOLILOQUY XXV.
The solemn hour draws near, when I must stand
Before the holy, the tremendous judge
Of all the earth, whose quick, all-searching eye
Views all the dark recesses of my soul;
Those secret, those impenetrable deeps
To mortal search unknown, the close disguise,
The specious flatteries, whose soothing wiles
Impose, with fair delusions, on my thoughts.
I know not what I am; mistaken views
And partial judgment hide me from my self.
Before the holy, the tremendous judge
Of all the earth, whose quick, all-searching eye
Views all the dark recesses of my soul;
Those secret, those impenetrable deeps
220
The specious flatteries, whose soothing wiles
Impose, with fair delusions, on my thoughts.
I know not what I am; mistaken views
And partial judgment hide me from my self.
O thou that know'st my heart! disclose its depths,
Take off the specious, the deceiving mask,
And shew me to my self. I am undone,
If here mistaken, flatter'd and deluded
With empty hopes, and airy expectations:
An error here will prove eternal ruin,
Remediless despair—O gracious Lord!
Avert the sad presage, the fatal doubt;
Nor leave me in this comfortless suspense,
If I shall see thy glorious face in peace,
If I shall meet the beatific light,
And view that glorious vision all unveil'd,
If those bright hopes are not a vain delusion,
O seal the blissful, the transporting truth
With sacred demonstration to my soul;
Dispel these cruel, these tormenting doubts,
With one propitious ray! for oh! my care
Is of important weight; 'tis vast eternity,
'Tis boundless glory hangs on the event.
Take off the specious, the deceiving mask,
And shew me to my self. I am undone,
If here mistaken, flatter'd and deluded
With empty hopes, and airy expectations:
An error here will prove eternal ruin,
Remediless despair—O gracious Lord!
Avert the sad presage, the fatal doubt;
Nor leave me in this comfortless suspense,
If I shall see thy glorious face in peace,
If I shall meet the beatific light,
And view that glorious vision all unveil'd,
If those bright hopes are not a vain delusion,
O seal the blissful, the transporting truth
With sacred demonstration to my soul;
Dispel these cruel, these tormenting doubts,
With one propitious ray! for oh! my care
Is of important weight; 'tis vast eternity,
'Tis boundless glory hangs on the event.
O could I know my worthless name is writ
Among the chosen race; that in the book.
Of life (transporting thought!) eternal love,
And sov'reign grace has mark'd my glorious lot!
Among the chosen race; that in the book.
Of life (transporting thought!) eternal love,
And sov'reign grace has mark'd my glorious lot!
221
Where-e'er thou giv'st, the blessing must be free
And undeserv'd; for who among the ranks
That shine about thy throne can plead desert?
Who has presented thee with benefits,
That he should proudly claim a recompence?
And undeserv'd; for who among the ranks
That shine about thy throne can plead desert?
Who has presented thee with benefits,
That he should proudly claim a recompence?
The miscellaneous works (1739) | ||