Classic Poem

Speake Gracious Lord, thy servant heares,
For I both am & will be soe,
And in thy pleasant paths will goe
When the Sun shines, or disappeares.

Give me thy spirit, that I may perceive,
What by my Soul thou would'st have done,
Let me have no desire but one,
Thy Will to practise and believe.

But yet, thy Eloquence disarme,
And as a whisper to my heart,
Let it like dew, plenty impart,
And like that, let it freely charm.

The Jews fear'd Thunder-bolts would fall,
And that thy words would death procure,
Nor in the Desart could endure
To hear their Maker speak at all.

They courted Moses to declare thy will,
And begg'd to hear no more thy voice,
They could not stand the dreadfull noise,
Lest it should both surprise & kill.

Without these terrours, I implore,
And other favours I entreate,
With confident, though humble heat,
I beg what Samuel did of yore.

Though thou art all that I can dread,
Thy voice is musick to my Ears,
Speak Lord then, for thy servant heare's,
And will obey what thou hast said.

I ask no Moses that for thee should speak,
Nor Prophet to enlighten me,
They are all taught, & sent by thee,
And 'tis thy voice I only seek.

Those beams proceed from thee alone,
Which through their words on us do flow;
Thou without them canst all bestow
But they without thee can give none.

They may repeate the sound of words,
But not confer their hidden force,
And without thee, their best discourse
Nothing but scorn to men affords.

Let them thy Miracles impart,
And vigourously thy will declare;
Their voice; perhaps, may strike the Ear;
But it can never move the heart.

Th'obscure, & naked Word they sow,
But thou dost open our dim Eye,
And the dead letter to supply,
The Living Spirit doest bestow.

Mysterious truth's to us they brought,
But thou expound'st the Ridle too,
And thou alone, canst make us doe
All the great things that they have taught.

They may indeed the way direct,
But thou enablest us to walke;
In ye barke sticks all they can talke,
But thou dost all the Heart dessect.

They wash ye surface of ye mind,
But all her fruit, thy Goodness claims,
All that enlightens, or inflames,
Must be to that alone assign'd.

A Fragment

M r . Corneille upon the Imitation of Jesus==Christ: Lib 3. Cap 2 Englished.

Speake Gracious Lord, thy servant heares,
For I both am & will be soe,
And in thy pleasant paths will goe
When the Sun shines, or disappeares

Give me thy spirit, that I may perceive,
What by my Soul thou would'st have done,
Let me have no desire but one,
Thy Will to practise and believe

But yet, thy Eloquence disarme,
And as a whisper to my heart,
Let it like dew, plenty impart,
And like that, let it freely charm.

The Jews fear'd Thunder-bolts would fall,
And that thy words would death procure,
Nor in the Desart could endure
To hear their Maker speak at all

They courted Moses to declare thy will,
And begg'd to hear no more thy voice,
They could not stand the dreadfull noise,
Lest it should both surprise & kill.

Without these terrours, I implore,
And other favours I entreate,
With confident, though humble heat,
I beg what Samuel did of yore

Though thou art all that I can dread,
Thy voice is musick to my Ears,
Speak Lord then, for thy servant heare's,
And will obey what thou hast said.

I ask no Moses that for thee should speak,
Nor Prophet to enlighten me,
They are all taught, & sent by thee,
And 'tis thy voice I only seek

Those beams proceed from thee alone,
Which through their words on us do flow;
Thou without them canst all bestow
But they without thee can give none

They may repeate the sound of words,
But not confer their hidden force,
And without thee, their best discourse
Nothing but scorn to men affords.

Let them thy Miracles impart,
And vigourously thy will declare;
Their voice; perhaps, may strike the Ear;
But it can never move the heart.

Th'obscure, & naked Word they sow,
But thou dost open our dim Eye,
And the dead letter to supply,
The Living Spirit doest bestow.

Mysterious truth's to us they brought,
But thou expound'st the Ridle too,
And thou alone, canst make us doe
All the great things that they have taught

They may indeed the way direct,
But thou enablest us to walke;
In ye barke sticks all they can talke,
But thou dost all the Heart dessect

They wash ye surface of ye mind,
But all her fruit, thy Goodness claims,
All that enlightens, or inflames,
Must be to that alone assign'd