Classic Poem

My God, my King, incline thine Eare,
My cry to Thee directed hear.
Incens'd I said, we from Thy Care
Are cast: yet Thou receiv'st my Pray'r.

Thy Rigor who can satisfie?
But to thy mercys sinners fly.
Lord I acknowledg my offence,
Dilated in my Eminence.

The sins I act, or do permit
By unimproved Pow'r acquit.
Rebellious I to Thee became,
Now, Prisoner to my Subjects am.

Yet though restrain'd my Person be,
By grace enlarge my Heart to Thee;
Though Davids Piety I want,
His griefs I have; His comforts grant!

O be my Penitentiall sense
Of sins, their Pardons evidence.
Esteem not our Afflictions small,
Though our loud Crimes for greter call.

Turn Thee, O Lord, Thy mercy shew,
For I am desolate and Low.
The sorrows of my Heart increase,
O give my miseries release.

Hast Thou forgotten to be kind?
In wrath thy tender Care confin'd?
O call to mind thy Love of old,
And thy Compassions manifold.

Amongst the living I expected
Thy Goodness, else had been dejected.
Let not our prosperous sins make less
The benefits of our distress.

Consume the Dross in this sharp fire,
Which by long Peace, we did acquire:
On us if Thou Affictions lay,
Take not thy strength'ning Grace away.

With patient Penitence supply
The want of our Prosperity.
And if thy Wrath not yet shall end,
If still thy Justice thou extend:

Me and my Fathers House ore-run;
As for these sheep what have they done?
O let my sufferings satiate those,
Who to thy Church and me are Foes.

But not when they most cruell grow,
My wider Charity out-goe:
No vengefull thought my Patience stain,
Whose glory's thine, but mine the gain.

Me thou to Pardon hast inclin'd,
Let both our Foes thy Pardon find:
And now as Thou my heart dost bow
To Pray'r, hear, and accept my vow.

If thou remember us in Love,
Nor wilt thy sacred Light remove;
Of Law and Justice repossest,
Faction and Heresie supprest.

If me and mine thou wilt restore
To the just Rights we held before:
If thou each subjects stubborn Heart
By Piety to Thee convert:

By humble Loyalty to Me,
And to themselves by Charity;
From civil Broyles, if thou release,
And mak'st their fatal causes cease:

If thou free Councels wilt dispence,
Not curb'd by vulgar insolence:
If thou my Conscience wilt defend:
Nor to Church Rapins let me bend:

If me with Power thou reinvest,
Such as thy Glorys may attest,
Then shall my soul thy Prayse proclaim,
And to thy people laud thy Name:

Then shall thy truth, and thy Renown
My only treasure be and Crown,
Then I with Equity shall sway;
In Justice shall my Realms obay.

That as my Right from Thee alone,
I may my Restitution owne:
If I by thy Assistance come
With Honor, Peace, and safety home.

If thou once more the awfull sword
To punish and protect afford,
Then all shall see my Foes partake,
This Vow which now to Thee I make.

What now as Christian I forgive,
No snare of law shall back retrieve.
Me from my self their Skill can part,
But I will never learn that art.

A full Indemnity shall clear
The growing doubts of jealous fear:
Strict Amnesty shall Peace prefer,
And in Oblivion wrongs interre.

No future Councells shall controle
This solemne purpose of my Soul:
To me let Mercy so increase,
As I resolve on Truth and Peace.

To my Petition, Lord, attend,
Which Lips with guile untainted send:
His Name be blest who hears my Cry,
Nor his full mercy will deny.

My Soul thy way to God commit,
Him trust, and he shall perfect it.
If not restor'd, yet who am I,
That I should charge thee foolishly?

Thou gav'st! thou, Lord, hast tane away,
We blessings to thy Name shall pay.
Happy thy Church, my People, be,
At least without, if not by Me.