Classic Poem

SHIN

Proud potentates, on no pretence,
And with unbounded insolence,
 Against me have inveigh'd;
But with thy word my heart I arm,
And all their terror and alarm
 Is clamour and parade.

When from thy word of light supreme
Some new illuminations beam,
 I with the prize am pleas'd,
As one, that after blood and toil,
Upon some rich and gorgeous spoil
 With eager hand has seiz'd.

All lies, and wretches who suborn
Their brethren to deceit, I scorn,
 Of thought and speech the shame;
But I have fix'd my heart's delight
Upon those blessed rules of right,
 Which bear our Saviour's name.

Each day, at sev'n appointed hours,
My soul to thee in fervour tow'rs
 To bless thy pow'r divine;
Because thy gifts for homage call
And thy blest dispensations all
 Are righteous and benign.

All those that keep themselves from sin,
Have great tranquillity within,
 As they thy name adore,
Nor are offended at the course
Of practice which thy laws inforce,
 But bless them more and more.

Lord, by a long-protracted space,
With love's impatience for thy grace,
 I have devoutly sigh'd,
And thy divine commands pursu'd,
And heav'n-conducted, self-subdu'd,
 In every point comply'd.

In all the laws of life adept,
My soul thy covenant has kept
 As of her love the test,
And tenders it exceeding dear,
The rather as she verges near
 To her eternal rest.

Thy covenant and each decree
Thou made, I keep, and bow the knee
 To thee, O Lord, alone;
For I am prov'd upon thy scale,
And all my thoughts themselves unveil
 Before thine awful throne.