Fruits of Retirement Or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &c. Written on a Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux ... To which is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author |
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Of a Sinful State.
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 | Fruits of Retirement |  |
Of a Sinful State.
My Sins are Numberless, more than the HairUpon my Head; yea, more than I can bear.
O how my Soul doth languish in Distress,
Because polluted with Unrighteousness!
Ah, how my wretched Heart hath often been
Ensnar'd with Folly, and enticing Sin!
Sin, seeming pleasant, subtilly betrays
Poor doting Mortals; but its cursed Ways
Leads to Death's Chambers, and like Poyson sweet,
Lulls on the Soul into a lasting Sleep.
Lord, Rouze me from such Slumbers that arise,
That I may this deformed Sin despise,
And quite forsake all Earthly Vanities,
Which me into Temptation thus hath brought,
That I (instead of Wisdom) Folly sought.
O that I were at Peace with thee, and could
Truly Lament my Sins, so manifold!
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O'erwhelm me with Intolerable Grief.
Awake, awake, my Soul, do not remain
In Slothfulness and Sin; but turn again
To him that made thee: Do not still transgress
His Holy Law; but, whilst he calls thee, cease
From Evil, learn his Precepts, follow Him,
Who freely gave his Life thee to Redeem
From this vain World, from Sin and Slavery,
That brings to Endless Wo and Misery:
He bought thee dear, with his most precious Blood,
Shed on the Cross for thine and others good.
But, ah, how oft have I despis'd true Joys,
And plac'd my Heart on Transitory Toys?
How oft did I the Glorious Pearl refuse,
Vile Empty Husks, that nourish not, to choose?
Look down upon me, and Commiserate,
Most Gracious Lord, my Lamentable State;
And tenderly lead thou me back again
Into the Land of Promise, whence I came
Into this Land of Darkness; where, alas,
I thus was brought to Bondage and Distress:
For, ah, thou King of Kings, if thou reject me,
Phar'oh's pursuing Host would soon afflict me;
And if thou help me not in this Distress,
Then should I perish in the Wilderness.
In what Egyptian-Red-Sea straits am I?
Whither, or to what Refuge, shall I fly,
But unto thee? In whom alone I must
Repose my Confidence, and chiefest Trust.
Renew my Strength (dear Lord) that so I may
O'ercome my great Temptations day by day;
And so support my Soul, that I may bear
The World's Revilings with a thankful Ear;
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Great Spring of Life and Light, in Heart and Voice;
Confessing thee, the only Saviour,
Who sav'st thy People from the Dragon's Pow'r,
And with thy Blood dost wash and purifie
Our Souls from all Sin and Iniquity:
Who art indeed the good Samaritan,
That cast an Eye of Pity on us, when
The Priest pass'd by, and Levite turn'd aside,
And (as it were) Relief and Help deny'd:
But thou hadst Wine and Oyl to Purify,
Supple and Heal our grievous Malady.
Thou, thou alone, the true Physitian, art
The Consolation of a Contrite Heart:
Oh say, Be whole; say likewise, Sin no more,
Lest worse Afflictions happen than before:
Say also, if it please thee, Gracious Lord,
(Who what thou wilt, Effectest by thy Word)
Thy Sin's forgiven, thy Iniquity
Is cover'd; and beget true Faith in me,
That I may Praise thy Name Eternally.
1664.
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