University of Virginia Library

2555.

[He doth not seek the light]

Suddenly there shined round about him, &c. —ix 3.

He doth not seek the light,
Or labour or inquire,
It shines into his deepest night
Preventing his desire;
Not waiting for his call
It stops his mad career:
And thus the grace which ransoms all
Doth once to all appear.
It visits us unsought
That first celestial ray,
Preventing every serious thought
And every wish to pray;
We no advances make
To meet the God unknown,
Till mercy doth our souls attack
And seizes for its own.