Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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WISHING ONLY, THOUGHT MISSPENT. |
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 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
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WISHING ONLY, THOUGHT MISSPENT.
I
I ought to be what I am not,And ought to wish it too;
But wishing only is like thought,
That does itself undo.
II
With time itself to wish beganAnd but with time can end;
From Angels first it seiz'd on man,
Till man became a fiend.
III
The former wish'd what they ought not,The latter did the same;
In both ambition wish'd the thought,
And both reduc'd to shame.
IV
To this perhaps you may reply,“They wish'd from good to ill;”
And, if revers'd, the charge will lie,
“We wish but our own will.”
V
If then I can, I'll wish no more,But try what Grace can do;
And see if that will end the score
Of wants and wishing too!
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |