 | Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) |  |
The Panting Soul.
I
When, O my God, my Soul surveysThe Wonders of thy Grace,
And glimpses the celestial Rays
Of thy refulgent Face,
Transported to an Ectasy
Of Gratitude and Love,
I spurn the Bliss beneath the Sky,
And pant for Joys above.
95
II
The World and its Delights are vain,Ev'n Riches sudden fly;
Our Pleasures are allay'd with Pain,
And in th' Enjoyment dye.
The only solid Peace below
Is spiritual and refin'd;
In heav'nly Channels all doth flow,
That satisfies the Mind.
III
If Faith at distant Views can raiseThe Soul a rapt'rous Height;
From Pisgah's Top to Canaan gaze,
With Wonder and Delight:
What Glories do the Saints explore,
On the Empyreal Plains,
Where Angels round the Throne adore,
And try celestial Strains?
96
IV
Were thou, my Soul, amidst the ThrongOf Spirits blest above,
How would'st thou raise thy Heav'nly Song,
Inspir'd by purer Love;
When fix'd in the Eternal View
Of thy Redeemer's Rays,
Which then, unveil'd, to thee shall shew
His Smiles without allays?
V
Could I behold his radiant Face,And see his Heav'nly Court,
I'd welcome Death with fond Embrace,
And wish my Life was short:
Beneath the Load of Flesh I'd groan,
And bless the friendly Hand,
That knocks my Tabernacle down,
And hastes me to the Land.
97
VI
Oh how I pant to see the DawnOf that expected Day!
Ah, Time, thy Chariot's Wheels are drawn
Too slowly! Fly away.
My Soul aspires to purer Food
Than it can share below;
I grasp at an immortal Good,
Where Joys unmixed flow.
| Poems on several grave and important subjects (1719) | |