Classic Poem

Lord those whom thou in Vowes hast ty'd,
Yet now by distance dost divide,
Here or in Heav'n unite.
Defend Us from despightfull Foes,
And by the sufferings they impose,
Prepare Us for thy sight.

Though in Religion we dissent,
Hear our Devotions jointly bent
Thy sacred Truth to finde:
Love in our equall hearts infuse
Of thee, and him, who us t'excuse
His sinless life resign'd.

With judgement and desire endue,
Goodness to know and to pursue;
These in our Souls prevent:
Ere Disobedience Harbour win,
Or Blindness, be not that our sin;
Nor this our punishment.

O let no Truth my Foes profess,
Be blemish'd by the wickedness
That in their actions thrives;
May Mine and others Constancy,
An Antidote more pow'rfull be
Against their poys'nous lives.

Let that sole Faith thou do'st approve,
In Loyall Peace, and humble Love,
(Their native dresse) appear:
Not in the loathsome black disguise,
Of new Rebellious Heresies,
Which they would force her weare.

That she whom Vowes make part of me,
Thy sacred saving Truth may see,
From humane Drosse refin'd;
And (in that Christall Glass display'd)
The mercies in his Blood convey'd,
Whose life his Precepts sign'd:

May knowledge of Earths vain delights,
Ecclips'd by unexpected Nights,
By sudden Stormes ore-cast;
Enflame our Spirits with desire,
To those Celestiall joyes t'aspire,
Which time shall never wast.