A SOLILOQUY, On reading the 5th and 8th Verses of the 37th Psalm.
“Leave off from wrath, and let go displeasure: fret not thyself, else
shalt thou be moved to do evil.”—Psalm xxxvii. 8 (Prayer-book Version.)
I
In Psalm, this Evening order'd to be read,
“Fret not thyself,” the Royal Psalmist said.
His Reason why, succeeding Words instil:
“Or else,” says he, “'twill move thee to do ill.”
Now, tho' I know that Fretting does no Good,
Its evil Movement have I understood?
II
“Move to do Evil.”—Then, dear Soul of mine,
Stir it not up, if that be its Design!
Its being vain, is Cause enough to shun;
But, if indulg'd, some Evil must be done,
And thou, according to the holy King,
Must be the Doer of this evil Thing.
III
Men use the ill;—that Fault is theirs alone;
But if thou use thyself ill, that's thy own.
Meekness and Patience is much better Treasure:
Then, “leave off Wrath,” and “let go all Displeasure;”
Tho' thou art ever so ill-treated, yet
Remember David, and forbear to “fret!”
“Commit thy way unto the Lord, and put thy trust in Him: and He
shall bring it to pass.”—Ib., v. 5.
“Commit thy Way unto the Lord;”—resign
Thyself entirely to the Will Divine.
All real Good, all Remedy for Ill
Lies in conforming to His Blessèd Will.
By all Advice that Holy Books record,
Thou must “commit thy Way unto the Lord;
V
“And put thy Trust in Him;”—all other Trust,
Plac'd out of Him, is foolish and unjust.
His Loving-Kindness is the only Ground
Where Solid Peace and Comfort can be found.
What other Prospects either sink or swim,
Do thou stand Firm, “and put thy Trust in Him;
VI
“And He will bring thy Way to pass.”—The whole
Of all that thou can'st wish for to thy Soul,
He wills to give it, and thy seeking Mind
By Faith and Patience cannot fail to find.
To Him, whatever good Desire it has,
“Commit and trust, and He will bring to pass!”
