University of Virginia Library

Morning Thoughts.

Both God and Satan by my Bed-side stand;
My Morning-thoughts are crav'd on either hand:
He that gets these, is like to have the day.
What, then, shall God be empty sent away?
No, Lord, but let the whole made holy be,
By these First-fruits I offer up to thee.
I praise thee for this last Nights quiet rest,
The Peace and Safety wherewith I am blest.
I praise thee, my good God, that to my sight
Once more thou hast restor'd the Morning-light:
My Strength and Time, which thou do'st thus renew,
I Consecrate to thee, they are thy due.
Be with me this whole day: Save me herein
From danger, if thou please, chiefly from sin.
All the day long, Lord, keep me in thy fear;
And make me ever sensible how near
Thou art: In private, or in company,
Let me remember thy all-seeing Eye
Upon me plac'd, that I my self may frame
To do thy Will, to glorifie thy Name.
In sin with others let me not comply,
But speak, act, think, as knowing thou art by.
Good Lord, preserve me from that hainous Crime,
Mis-spence of short, uncertain, precious Time.
O let me not my golden hours wast,
But live this day as if it were my last:
That I may mind the work I have to do:
Set Death and Judgment, Heav'n and Hell in view.
Let me from Christ my Head, fresh strength derive,
That I by Faith in thy dear Son may live.
Let me do others good, my self at least;
Let sin this day be weakned, grace increast.
Help me to spend it so, that I at Night
May, looking back upon it, take delight;
And in Eternity thy Name may praise,
For this, and all my well-improved Days.