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Original, serious, and religious poetry

by the Rev. Richard Cobbold

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 I. 
 II. 
 III. 
 IV. 
 V. 
 VI. 
  
 VII. 
  
 VIII. 
 IX. 
 X. 
 XI. 
  
 XII. 
  
  
 XIII. 
 XIV. 
  
 XV. 
 XVI. 
REFLECTION XVI.
  
 XVII. 
  
  
  
  
 XVIII. 
  
 XIX. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 XX. 
 XXI. 
  
  
 XXII. 
  
 XXIII. 
  
 XXIV. 
  
  
  
 XXV. 
  
  
  
  
  
 XXVI. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


51

REFLECTION XVI.

Lord let my prayer ascend to thee,
I feel my own impiety;
I know there's sin,
Within, within;
I feel it tear,
My vitals there;
Forgive me Lord, and if I live;
Forgive me Lord, forgive! forgive!
Lord let my prayer ascend to thee,
Deep is my heart's humility!
I know my crime,
At present time,

52

I know and feel,
And need not tell,
For thou around me seest me live,
And know'st my ways; forgive! forgive!
Great God unto thee I my errors declare,
Thou knowest my heart, and my sins what they are,
I need not proclaim them, I need not name sin,
For I feel in my conscience a burning within.
Ah who Lord can ever from presence like thine,
Seek to cover his errors, I cover not mine.
I do not defend them, I cannot with thee;
With mercy behold them! I offer no plea.
From Heaven, thy goodness has day after day,
Been pour'd upon worthless, and arrogant clay,
Yet the spirit within me is ever expressing,
Thy goodness, thy love, pity, mercy, and blessing.

53

O pardon me Lord for my errors now past,
O pardon through Him who alone can be chaste,
My God, I will trust, I will hope, I will say,
For ever permit me in duty to pray.
I will pray to the Lord,
Through his Spirit and Word:
God be with me both now and for ever!
O merciful maker,
May I be partaker,
Of thy Heaven and part from it never.