A Posie of Gilloflowers eche differing from other in colour and odour, yet all sweete. By Humfrey Gifford |
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A Prayer.
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 | A Posie of Gilloflowers |  |
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A Prayer.
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The following acrostic is made up from the first letters of alternate lines: DOROTHY SAMVEL DANIEL DANVERS HVMFRI; then starting from the beginning of the poem again at the second line, and following subsequent alternative lines: TEMPERANCE IVSTICE PRVDENCE GIFFARD
that I walke not astray:
O who can mount thy holy hill,
Except thou leade the way?
Renew me with such grace, that I
May learne thy lawes aright:
Order my steppes, so shal I be
Preserued day and night.
The wicked Serpent euery houre,
Endeuours me to spil:
Haste to my helpe, so shall I, Lorde,
Right well eschew the il.
In thee I put mine onely trust,
Assist me then at neede.
Stand on my side; but thee alone,
None els my sute can speede.
Amidst the sea of sinne and death,
Continually we ride,
Making still shipwracke of our soules,
except thou be our guide.
Vnto the Lorde with humble sute,
I lift my heart and handes:
Encline thine eares to my request,
Vnlose my sinfull bandes.
Let not vile Satans crafty traynes,
So sore our soules assayle:
Doe thou protect vs with thy shield,
Then shal he not preuayle.
As to a Rocke of safe refuge,
I stil to thee doe fly.
None els there is I know, that can
Cause al my sinnes to die.
I doe confesse my force is weake,
Encrease my fayth (O Lorde)
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Protect me with thy worde.
Let not the fiende that seekes my foyle,
Reioyce at my decay,
Doe make mee strong in liuely fayth.
Vnto thee still I pray.
All trueth, al good and godly deedes,
Doe still proceede from thee:
No man can thinke one holy thought,
Except their guide thou bee.
Vnlesse thou Lord doe giue increase,
No fruite our deedes bring forth.
Esteemd we are as rotten weedes,
Corrupt and nothing worth.
Remember not my sinnes forepast,
Eluminate my wayes:
So shall I still with heart and voyce,
Giue thee all laud and prayes.
Happy are they that doe thee serue,
In thought and eke in deede:
Vnturned neuer is thy face,
From them in time of neede.
Make Lord in mee a stedfast fayth,
For euer to abyde.
Frame still my lyfe to keepe thy lawes,
And I shall neuer slide.
Remoue from me all errors blockes,
Right so shall I remaine.
In perfect footesteppes of thy paths,
Deuoyde of worldly paine.
| A Posie of Gilloflowers | |