Classic Poem

1

Though Liberty it self
Is greatly to be sought;
And they are happy that know how
To use it as they ought;
Especially whose hearts
Esteem and highly prize
And likewise carefully improve
Their Spiritual Liberties.

2

Yet when the Lord is pleas'd
Such freedom to deny,
He can another Freedome give
Ev'n in Captivity,
When he our Will subdues,
And helps us be content
With his dispose, there's Libertie
Even in Imprisonment.

3

Man's unsubdued Will
Is a most heavy Chain:
That man may walk at Liberty
That can this freedom gain.
When as the Will is brought
Into Captivity
Unto the holy Will of God;
This is sweet Liberty.

4

Let but the Will be broke;
Its Tyranny undone,
And other Bands that us restrain
Will quickly be as none.
For then the Soul applies
It self to get that good
Thereby, which God intends, and Christ
Hath purchas'd with his Blood.

5

And God that can bring good
Out of the greatest ill,
If that we seek him seriously,
His Promise will fulfill.
He will unfetter us,
And set our Souls more free,
Ev'n by restraining Bands, from sin
And Satan's Tyranny.

6

He'l wean us from the world,
And all things here below;
And better things instead of these
He will on us bestow
He'l set our hearts upon
The things that are above:
And give us more and more to taste
The sweetness of his Love.

7

He will enlarge our Souls
To run his Precepts way:
The love of Christ shall us restrain
Most gladly to obey.
And his Commandements
They shall delightful be.
Thus he can make Restraint a means
Of greatest Libertie.

8

God hedges up with thorns
The Path of Wanderers,
That have of Creature-comforts been
Too eager Followers,
Stops their pursuit, them brings
Into a Wilderness,
That thereunto their humble Souls
He may more Love express.