 | Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) |  |
Psalm xlii. Verse 5.
Why art thou cast down, O my Soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? &c.
I
Say, O my Soul, why thus opprest with Woe?Why so dismay'd and mightily cast down?
Tell me the Cause thou agonizes so?
What Floods of Grief thy chearful Temper drown?
79
II
Thou seem'st afraid as Dangers were at hand,Or mourn as if you felt a present Pain.
Thy Pow'rs and Passions lie at the Command
Of Melancholy and her ghostly Train.
III
I'm pain'd to find thee in so wretch'd a Case,So hoarse with Groans, and delug'd o'er with Tears;
Darkness o'erspreads thy former shining Face,
And all thy Courage sinks in muddy Cares.
IV
But wilt thou always feed the raging Flame,Indulge the Sorrows that so fatal prove?
Resolv'd art thou to glory in thy Shame,
And, fond of Woe, in gloomy Lab'rinths rove?
80
V
Is dire Despair so pleasing to the Mind?Dost thou rejoice in sullen Shades of Night?
Or is it just thou should'st afflict thy Friend?
And is thy Flesh no more thy Favourite?
VI
Fly to thy God, who can redress thy Pain,Take off thy Burden, and dispel thy Fears.
Why dully passive do'st thou thus complain,
Since he can help, who mercifully hears?
VII
He has engag'd his everlasting TruthIn favour of dejected Souls, that fly
To him in trouble.—Can'st thou trust his Oath?
Is he no Friend to Men in Misery?
81
VIII
Hope in his Name will cure thy wretched Woe,Compose thy Grief, and silence thine Alarms:
His Strength's almighty, and engaged too
For those that shelter in his friendly Arms.
IX
When fix'd thou art on this immortal Rock,From Persecution and Distress secure,
Thou may'st exult, nor fear Affliction's Shock,
Or roaring Lion's Efforts to devour.
| Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) | |