The Muses Sacrifice [by John Davies] |
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For Power and Grace to withstand the Flesh, the World, and the Diuell.
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 | The Muses Sacrifice |  |
For Power and Grace to withstand the Flesh, the World, and the Diuell.
When I looke vp and see the Heau'nly Spheares
roule on my Time, and my Lifes Line therin,
Thus say I to my Soule; Vaine Soule thy yeares
are nothing, sith thou nothing dost but sinne?
roule on my Time, and my Lifes Line therin,
Thus say I to my Soule; Vaine Soule thy yeares
are nothing, sith thou nothing dost but sinne?
Yet art thou made eternall (like thy Sire)
and all conceiu'st (like him) beneath the Sunne;
Th'art in my Whole and Parts (like him) intire;
and hast (like him) right Reason Ill to shunne!
and all conceiu'st (like him) beneath the Sunne;
Th'art in my Whole and Parts (like him) intire;
and hast (like him) right Reason Ill to shunne!
And yet, ô yet, thou dost, but Ill withall;
so all that good thou turn'st to Euill still:
Who, through Infirmitie, to Sinne dost fall,
when thou stand'st highest in grace of Pow'rs goodwill.
so all that good thou turn'st to Euill still:
Who, through Infirmitie, to Sinne dost fall,
when thou stand'st highest in grace of Pow'rs goodwill.
Then Lord of Pow'r and Grace, with both so arme
my falling Soule, that she thereby may stand
Against th'Assaults of all that would her harme:
for, she can foile but with thy Forces Band.
my falling Soule, that she thereby may stand
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for, she can foile but with thy Forces Band.
Great Lord of Hostes, Iehouah, God of Pow'r,
then leaue me not alone among my Foes;
But strengthen me from thy Strengths trusty Tow'r,
that I, by Thee, may euer vanquish those.
then leaue me not alone among my Foes;
But strengthen me from thy Strengths trusty Tow'r,
that I, by Thee, may euer vanquish those.
The Flesh, the World, the Diuell, with their Bands
of strong as fraudfull Foes, me still assaile;
While all my Pow'r lyes onely in thy Hands,
which when I hold, I foile; with-held, I faile!
of strong as fraudfull Foes, me still assaile;
While all my Pow'r lyes onely in thy Hands,
which when I hold, I foile; with-held, I faile!
If then thou wouldst I still should Victor be,
giue me those helps that in thy hand still lye:
Flesh fights not with it selfe; but thou in me
canst foile it quite, and make it Mercy cry.
giue me those helps that in thy hand still lye:
Flesh fights not with it selfe; but thou in me
canst foile it quite, and make it Mercy cry.
The World doth loue it selfe (and, so, her Owne)
too well t'endamage eyther; and doth charge
Too strongly on me to be ouerthrowne
by my small pow'r, if thou it not enlarge.
too well t'endamage eyther; and doth charge
Too strongly on me to be ouerthrowne
by my small pow'r, if thou it not enlarge.
And Sathan, in himselfe, is not diuided,
though, in himselfe, still turbulent he be:
He is too crafty, strong, and well-prouided,
for me t'encounter, if thou help not me.
though, in himselfe, still turbulent he be:
He is too crafty, strong, and well-prouided,
for me t'encounter, if thou help not me.
Then ô eftsoones (againe, and still againe)
I thine assistance humbly doe inuoke;
That so I may still vanquish, so, still raigne
o'er these our Foes that euer vs prouoke.
I thine assistance humbly doe inuoke;
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o'er these our Foes that euer vs prouoke.
So will I yeeld the glory vnto Thee,
That foilst such strength by Weaknesse; that's by me!
That foilst such strength by Weaknesse; that's by me!
| The Muses Sacrifice | |