 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
The Penitent.
Inscrib'd to ------
The base Usurpers of my Soul are gone,
And Reason long depos'd regains her Throne
She comes at last, a Friend sincerely kind,
With prudent Counsel to reform my Mind:
With gentle Force she bends my stubborn Will,
Points out the Good, and bids me shun the Ill.
A wond'rous Glass the wise Dictatress shews,
Which, Objects long forgot, again renews:
There's not an Action past, but she'll recall,
For her clear Mirror can reflect them all.
My Passions all are represented there,
My Joy, my Hope, my Sorrow and my Fear.
What-e'er I know, is all at once display'd,
And Friends and Foes together are survey'd.
But so alike in Colour and in Show,
I know not which the Friend or which the Foe.
And Reason long depos'd regains her Throne
She comes at last, a Friend sincerely kind,
With prudent Counsel to reform my Mind:
With gentle Force she bends my stubborn Will,
Points out the Good, and bids me shun the Ill.
A wond'rous Glass the wise Dictatress shews,
Which, Objects long forgot, again renews:
There's not an Action past, but she'll recall,
For her clear Mirror can reflect them all.
My Passions all are represented there,
My Joy, my Hope, my Sorrow and my Fear.
168
And Friends and Foes together are survey'd.
But so alike in Colour and in Show,
I know not which the Friend or which the Foe.
Among the various Figures that arise,
On thy distinguish'd Form I fix my Eyes.
A tempting glorious Thing thou dost appear,
The only Blessing that I sought with Care.
Each Act of Thine I surely did approve,
And next to Adoration was my Love.
Neglectful of my self, my God forgot,
Thou wert the Vision of my constant Thought.
Thee, but his Image, I an Idol made,
So foolishly my wanton Heart has stray'd.
My Folly, now, with Penitence I see,
And Mercy ask for too much loving Thee.
On thy distinguish'd Form I fix my Eyes.
A tempting glorious Thing thou dost appear,
The only Blessing that I sought with Care.
Each Act of Thine I surely did approve,
And next to Adoration was my Love.
Neglectful of my self, my God forgot,
Thou wert the Vision of my constant Thought.
Thee, but his Image, I an Idol made,
So foolishly my wanton Heart has stray'd.
My Folly, now, with Penitence I see,
And Mercy ask for too much loving Thee.
169
May that great Pow'r, that I've offended high,
Blot the Affronts, done to his Deity.
May he forgive the Errors of my Youth,
And kindly lead me in the Way of Truth.
To him I with unfeign'd Contrition move,
To him I look with Fervency and Love.
May he, All-gracious, to my Pray'rs attend,
And be my God, my Saviour, and my Friend.
Blot the Affronts, done to his Deity.
May he forgive the Errors of my Youth,
And kindly lead me in the Way of Truth.
To him I with unfeign'd Contrition move,
To him I look with Fervency and Love.
May he, All-gracious, to my Pray'rs attend,
And be my God, my Saviour, and my Friend.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |