 | Sion in distress |  |
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The AUTHOR's REQUEST.
I
Some things, great God, my Soul doth long to have,Before these transient days of mine be o'er;
Which things in deep humility I crave,
Before I go from hence, and be no more.
Till my Requests I can of thee obtain,
I shall be fill'd with sorrow, grief, and pain.
II
Alas my Griefs are now increased double!O that thou would'st be pleas'd to hear O Lord!
Then should my Soul be free from inward trouble
If what I humbly ask thou would'st afford
Until thy grace allows me my Request,
I cannot cease, nor give thee any rest.
III
'Tis not for fading Riches of this World,Nor empty Honour, that to thee I cry;
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They get them Wings, and from Possessors fly.
All sublunary things uncertain be;
I ask them not, some better things I see.
IV
'Tis not for Pleasures that are transitory,Which fill vain Fancies with a foolish Joy;
But for some Glimpses of Diviner Glory,
Which my transported Soul longs to enjoy.
Can Riches, Honours, fading Pleasures give
The things I want, whilst on the Earth I live?
V
The things that I am longing to receive,Most precious are; O let me humbly urge,
That thou thy presence unto me would'st give,
My heart from sin that thou wouldst also purge.
These are the things my never-ceasing Cry
Petitions for; Lord grant them e'er I die.
VI
Thy presence does more consolate my heart,Then sweetest Honey, or the Honey-Comb:
I will (with Mary) chuse the better part:
'Tis Sin my Soul would be deliver'd from:
Then I thy Name in Songs will magnifie,
And happy be, when e'er I come to die.
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VII
Let thy good Spirit be my blessed Guide,And in thy House let me for ever dwell;
From Gospel-Truths O let me never slide,
Nor find my Conscience like another Hell:
And I thy Name for evermore shall praise
And happy be when I shall end my Days.
VIII
Lord whatsoever my Estate is here,With sweet Submission let me be content,
When I'm most troubled, then be thou most near,
And never from me thy dear self absent:
This will my prostrate Spirit highly raise,
And if I suffer, to thy Name be praise.
IX
Teach me, I pray thee, that Celestial Skill,My Days to number, as thy Saints have done;
Let me still yield unto thy blessed Will,
And wait upon thee till my Glass be run:
So shall my Raptur'd Tongue thy praise proclaim
And sing Hosanna's to thy Glorious Name.
X
O regulate my Tongue, and make me see,How few my days are, and how short their length,
Let all my Trust be still repos'd in thee;
Relax thy scourge, or add unto my strength:
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May learn to live, and in thy favour die.
XI
When hungry, let thy Manna be my meat;When circled in the dark, enlighten me;
When I am weary, O! be thou my Seat;
And when imprison'd, do thou set me free:
So fill'd, enlightned, after sweet repose,
Enlarg'd from Bonds, I will thy praise disclose.
XII
In time of wrath, when fury waxes great,Be thou my Bulwark and securest Tower;
To thy transcending Name let me retreat,
And be defended by thy mighty Power.
Secure me till thy Vengeance is past over,
That I thy Praises may to all discover.
XIII
Let me with Patience run that blessed Race,And from my weights, which very sore have bin,
Be now set free, that with a swifter pace
I may the Prize of lasting Glory win.
Be thou my Guide, do thou direct my Path,
Lord give me Patience, & with Patience Faith.
XIV
Thy Children are as (many) Members joyn'dWhich make one body, whose blest Head thou art,
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And perfect Union, to have all one heart:
Then shall I hope to see a blest increase
Of Sion's Glory, and of Israel's Peace.
XV
Thy Children have in many things provok'dThee, but in Mercy pass Offences by.
By Grace, O Lord, let Judgment be revok'd
That they may live thy Name to magnifie;
And I thy Goodness will proclaim to all,
And warning take, lest I my self do fall.
XVI
Remember Sion in her aking grief,She mourns, she weeps, and is in inward pain,
Do thou in Mercy, send her such relief
That she (with cause) may never more complain;
Then (not till then) my sorrows will be over,
And I thy goodness will to all discover.
XVII
O let thy Gospel through the Earth be spread!Rome's black design, O let thy Grace prevent!
Permit not them to grow into a Head,
As they have purpos'd, with a full intent.
Then shall I (quickned by a holy Flame)
Ascribe the Glory to thy Blessed Name.
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XVIII
I pray thee scatter our inraged Foes,And baffle all who proudly have combin'd
Against thine Heritage, do thou expose
Them to be tost as Chaff before the Wind;
Preserve thy Flock from bloudy Babels hand,
Establish Truth and Quiet in the Land.
XIX
O God whose dreadful Judgments are severe,And whose great Mercy's full of sweet compassion
Destroy thy Churches Foes both far and near,
And grant to me the joy of thy Salvation;
Then will I spend the Remnant of my days.
In Psalms of Thanks to thee, and Hymns of Praise.
XX
Make hast to judge the Persecuting Whore,Thy righteous Judgments quickly execute;
Let her so fall that she may rise no more.
O Lord be pleas'd to grant my earnest suit,
That I may see her fall before I die.
That I thy Name may therefore magnifie.
XXI
O Lord, establish thiee own interest,And set thy Son upon his blessed Throne;
Destroy the Kingdom of the Scarlet Beast,
Let Christ his Foes to conquer now go on,
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Aloud, Hosanna to the Highest King.
XXII
What thou, O Lord, hast to thy Sion toldOf Blessings that thou hast for her in Store;
Them once fulfill'd, O let mine Eyes behold,
And then let me go hence and be no more
In this disturbing World, but let me be
Translated to a blest Eternity.
XXIII
In all the course of my short Pilgrimage,Be thou my Load-Star, let my heedful Eye
Be fixt on thee, that when I leave the Stage,
I may be fitted and prepar'd to die;
That when this transitory life is o'er,
With Angels I may sing for evermore.
XXIV
Whate'er of any Suit thou dost deny,Grant me True Faith, that I may still believe
That through Christs Ransom, when I come to dy
A Glorious Crown from thee I shall receive,
O Lord of Hosts, vouchsafe me my request,
Let me enjoy but thee, and I will rest;
For having thee, all precious things I have,
And in the World there's nothing else I crave.
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