Poems on Several Occasions | ||
68
Another on the same.
To you, my Friend, my dearest best Delight,
In fond Epistles I could ever write:
For since your Merit and your Form I knew,
My kindest Thoughts have all been turn'd to you.
Whate'er my searching Soul has most admir'd,
Whate'er my warmest Wishes have requir'd,
To meet in one, that should my Heart divide,
In whom I might an equal Trust confide,
I find in Thee most perfectly exprest;
Thou faithful Inmate of my secret Breast!
Thou art complete, thou hast no Faults to mend,
My most engaging and instructive Friend.
Thou art become my chief and constant Care,
The precious Burden of my daily Pray'r:
And now the Year, to a full Period brought,
Inflames my Zeal, and wakes each pious Thought.
Deign then the Purport of my Soul to know,
See what Desires within my Bosom glow.
In fond Epistles I could ever write:
For since your Merit and your Form I knew,
My kindest Thoughts have all been turn'd to you.
Whate'er my searching Soul has most admir'd,
Whate'er my warmest Wishes have requir'd,
To meet in one, that should my Heart divide,
In whom I might an equal Trust confide,
I find in Thee most perfectly exprest;
Thou faithful Inmate of my secret Breast!
Thou art complete, thou hast no Faults to mend,
My most engaging and instructive Friend.
Thou art become my chief and constant Care,
The precious Burden of my daily Pray'r:
69
Inflames my Zeal, and wakes each pious Thought.
Deign then the Purport of my Soul to know,
See what Desires within my Bosom glow.
O thou! who dost Eternity possess,
Who never canst be more or ever less,
Who still unchang'd for ever shalt remain,
The First and Last, confirm'd in endless Reign;
Most gracious Father, thy Indulgence show,
(If Sinners may presume to call thee so)
While for my self and one more dear I plead,
Incline thine Ear, and my Desires succeed.
For our Offences past, Remission grant,
And give us all things which our Frailties want.
Preserve us thro' the Year we now begin
From Sorrow, from Disease, and ev'ry Sin.
For all thy boundless Love my Thanks receive
And let thy Servants in thy Favour live.
Her, whom I most esteem, do thou prefer,
O, let thy brightest Gifts be sav'd for her.
And while my Pray'rs before thy Throne ascend,
Bless me, my God, and doubly bless my Friend.
Who never canst be more or ever less,
Who still unchang'd for ever shalt remain,
The First and Last, confirm'd in endless Reign;
Most gracious Father, thy Indulgence show,
(If Sinners may presume to call thee so)
While for my self and one more dear I plead,
Incline thine Ear, and my Desires succeed.
For our Offences past, Remission grant,
And give us all things which our Frailties want.
Preserve us thro' the Year we now begin
From Sorrow, from Disease, and ev'ry Sin.
70
And let thy Servants in thy Favour live.
Her, whom I most esteem, do thou prefer,
O, let thy brightest Gifts be sav'd for her.
And while my Pray'rs before thy Throne ascend,
Bless me, my God, and doubly bless my Friend.
Poems on Several Occasions | ||