The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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SOLEMN REFLECTIONS. |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
SOLEMN REFLECTIONS.
My life wastes away, o'erburden'd with care;
My days are o'erclouded with gloom;
I'm toss'd through the night on the verge of despair,
And shudder to think on the tomb.
My days are o'erclouded with gloom;
I'm toss'd through the night on the verge of despair,
And shudder to think on the tomb.
When backward I look, nought but folly and sin
Have been my employment below;
I've err'd from the way I should have walk'd in,
And run in the high road to woe.
Have been my employment below;
I've err'd from the way I should have walk'd in,
And run in the high road to woe.
The strength of my passions has hurried me on,
Until I've run so far astray:
I'm afraid ev'ry beam of Heaven's mercy is gone,
And my bosom too harden'd to pray!
Until I've run so far astray:
I'm afraid ev'ry beam of Heaven's mercy is gone,
And my bosom too harden'd to pray!
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Shall the blessings, the threat'nings, the sermons I've heard,
Against me in judgment arise?
Or in vain mortal pride shall I question the Word
Which points to a crown in the skies?
Against me in judgment arise?
Or in vain mortal pride shall I question the Word
Which points to a crown in the skies?
The time soon will come when all I have read
Will be lost in the thoughts of the grave;
And my tongue, which so many light verses has said,
Will be asking for mercy to save—
Will be lost in the thoughts of the grave;
And my tongue, which so many light verses has said,
Will be asking for mercy to save—
To save a lost soul which has stray'd from the road
Wherein it once ran with delight—
Which has sought lying vanities rather than God,
And, like Samson, is robb'd of its might.
Wherein it once ran with delight—
Which has sought lying vanities rather than God,
And, like Samson, is robb'd of its might.
If yet there is mercy, O may I return
To Him who is mercy above!
In deepest repentance, O Lord! let me mourn,
And this rock from my bosom remove.
To Him who is mercy above!
In deepest repentance, O Lord! let me mourn,
And this rock from my bosom remove.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |