The Muses Sacrifice [by John Davies] |
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The Sinner acknowledging repugnant
desires in himselfe; desireth to be enabled to performe his good desires.
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 | The Muses Sacrifice |  |
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The Sinner acknowledging repugnant desires in himselfe; desireth to be enabled to performe his good desires.
I would be thine, and I would haue thee mine
(deare Lord) and yet I crosse mine owne desires:
For still I sinne; then, cannot I be thine;
yet faine I would with thee be still entire.
(deare Lord) and yet I crosse mine owne desires:
For still I sinne; then, cannot I be thine;
yet faine I would with thee be still entire.
Then, I desire what my desires resist:
ô strange repugnance! would I thee enioy,
And yet in that, which seuers vs, persist?
then, my desires doe my desires destroy.
ô strange repugnance! would I thee enioy,
And yet in that, which seuers vs, persist?
then, my desires doe my desires destroy.
True (Lord) how euer false this seemes to be;
it false but seemes; but, it's too true herein:
For, my poore Soule would nothing more then thee,
and yet my Soule doth nothing more then sinne.
it false but seemes; but, it's too true herein:
For, my poore Soule would nothing more then thee,
and yet my Soule doth nothing more then sinne.
Lord help me in this strange extremitie
of crosse desires, which in my Soule are found;
My Will is bound to Sinne, but would be free;
then, if it would, how should my Will be bound?
of crosse desires, which in my Soule are found;
My Will is bound to Sinne, but would be free;
then, if it would, how should my Will be bound?
Were it my Flesh alone, desir'd to sinne
(my Soule resisting) t'were not so amisse:
Such crosse-desires in thy best Saints haue bin;
but in my Soule my Sinne conceiued is.
(my Soule resisting) t'were not so amisse:
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but in my Soule my Sinne conceiued is.
And yet shee's barraine, gauly, and impure;
of emptinesse not emptie; and thereby
A soulelesse Soule; so, lifelesse doth endure;
yet liues in Death, because she cannot dye.
of emptinesse not emptie; and thereby
A soulelesse Soule; so, lifelesse doth endure;
yet liues in Death, because she cannot dye.
Then empt mine empty Soule; for, Sinne doth fill
with nought but vacuum her capatious thought:
For, Sinne is nothing, sith thou mad'st not Ill,
without whom nought was made; then, empt this nought.
with nought but vacuum her capatious thought:
For, Sinne is nothing, sith thou mad'st not Ill,
without whom nought was made; then, empt this nought.
For, tis that Law (though nought) that still rebels
against both grace and natures Gouernment;
This lawlesse Law my members still compels
to bowe as Sinnes vnrighteous Rule is bent.
against both grace and natures Gouernment;
This lawlesse Law my members still compels
to bowe as Sinnes vnrighteous Rule is bent.
Lord, I beleeue; yet, help mine vnbeliefe;
and well doe will; yet, better my desire:
Cure thou the Wound my Will receiu'd (in chiefe)
through Adams Fall; and make our Wils entire.
and well doe will; yet, better my desire:
Cure thou the Wound my Will receiu'd (in chiefe)
through Adams Fall; and make our Wils entire.
Giue me both Will and Pow'r to doe thy Will;
and let me neither haue to crosse the same:
For, when I see my Will would thine fulfill
yet doth it not, I pine with griefe and shame.
and let me neither haue to crosse the same:
For, when I see my Will would thine fulfill
yet doth it not, I pine with griefe and shame.
I cannot will aright (but right resist)
without thy grace preuent my crooked will:
And, willing well, without thy grace assist,
I cannot (for my bloud) my will fulfill.
without thy grace preuent my crooked will:
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I cannot (for my bloud) my will fulfill.
So, thy preuenting, and assisting grace
makes my Will worke: for, of my selfe, I am
So fraile, by nature, and so beastly base,
that my best thoghts are more then much too blame.
makes my Will worke: for, of my selfe, I am
So fraile, by nature, and so beastly base,
that my best thoghts are more then much too blame.
Then let thy Grace my wayward Will preuent;
and helpe me to performe it, so preuented:
Yea, make my thoughts and deedes most innocent;
else, let me ioy in nought but them lamented:
Nay, make my Heart (deare Lord) so apt to waile
That it may weepe, when I to weepe doe faile.
and helpe me to performe it, so preuented:
Yea, make my thoughts and deedes most innocent;
else, let me ioy in nought but them lamented:
Nay, make my Heart (deare Lord) so apt to waile
That it may weepe, when I to weepe doe faile.
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