The Poems of John Byrom :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Poems of John Byrom

Edited by Adolphus William Ward

Byrom, John (1692-1763)

VOL. I.—MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

II.

VOL. II.—SACRED POEMS.

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A PENITENTIAL SOLILOQUY.

I

What tho' no Objects strike upon the Sight,—
Thy Sacred Presence is an inward Light.
What tho' no Sounds should penetrate the Ear,—

To list'ning Thought the Voice of Truth is clear.
Sincere Devotion needs no outward shrine:
The Centre of an humble Soul is Thine.

II

There may I worship, and there may'st Thou place
Thy Seat of Mercy and Thy Throne of Grace;
Yea, fix, if Christ my Advocate appear,
The dread Tribunal of Thy Justice there!
Let each vain Thought, let each impure Desire
Meet in Thy Wrath with a consuming Fire!

III

Whilst the kind Rigours of a righteous Doom
All deadly Filth of selfish Pride consume,
Thou, Lord, can'st raise, tho' punishing for Sin,
The Joys of peaceful Penitence within.
Thy Justice and Thy Mercy both are sweet
That make our suff'rings and Salvation meet.

IV

Befall me, then, whatever God shall please!
His Wounds are healing, and His Griefs give Ease;
He, like a true Physician of the Soul,
Applies the Med'cine that may make it whole.
I'll do, I'll suffer whatsoe'er He wills:
I see His Aim thro' all these transient Ills.

V

'Tis to infuse a salutary Grief,
To fit the Mind for absolute Relief,

That, purg'd from ev'ry false and finite Love,
Dead to the World, alive to Things above,
The Soul may rise, as in its first-form'd Youth,
And worship God “in Spirit and in Truth.”