Classic Poem

Thou hast commanded ( Lord ) in eu'ry Want ,
that Man , thy Creature, still should call on thee;
And thou his iust desires hast said to grant.
then now (├┤ now) thy Promise keepe with mee:

For now , eu'n from the Bottome of the Deepe ,
I cry to thee that art all Heights aboue:
I, crying, call; or rather, calling, weepe
for what I want; that is, thy Grace , and Loue .

Then, as thou art still soothfast, grant them me
that by them still I may thy Heasts performe;
Then if thou would'st I should obedient be,
let Loue and Grace my will to thine conforme.

Lo, I entend , and by thy holy Grace
will still contend , thy holy Will to doe;
Then, through the luster of thy brightest Face
shew it, that I may know , and doe it too.

Giue that which thou hast giu'n me Pow'r to craue,
and Promise to obtaine: thy guiding Spirit
Thou still dost tender that which I would haue;
yet cannot take it, if I lacke thy light .

A Chaos (Lord) of Darknesse still I am.
without th' inlightning Spirit still moue thereon;
Then let thy Spirit with light so cleare the same,
that it may be an Heau'n for thee alone.

Vnseele mine Eyes , that long thy Light to see;
for, they are blinded with black Ignorance
Then Light of Lights , to Heau'n direct thou me
the rightest way with thy bright Countenance .

Men are of various mindes about this Way ;
some this , some say that way the world doth lie:
And to it Scripture ( Truths right Rule ) doe lay;
but Truth ne'er lay in such diuersitie .

For, Truth is one , but these are manifold;
then lead me in this way , else stray I shall:
Incline my Will this rightest way to hold
(how euer strait) and in it neuer fall.

O trade me in thy Paths , I begge of thee
with all the forces of my minde and mouth;
And when I step awry, straight shew it me
by inspiration of thy Spirit of Truth.

If in thy Word I looke for help herein
from all Presumption keepe my priuate Spright ;
For, many Doctors so deceiu'd haue beene;
then make my Soule still see and take the right .

Thy Word's a Lanthorne to direct their steps
that are as humble , as intelligent :
Yet oft the Wise thy meaning ouer leopes,
while it's reuealed to the innocent .

Thou spak'st therein to all Capacities ,
and lispst to Babes , to make them know thy minde
Yet if thou guide them not, and ope their eyes .
the Wonders of thy Law they cannot finde.

Thy Will then ( shewne and hidden in thy Word )
is hid , though shewne , from those not prompt by thee:
Though Camels there may swim , and gnats may ford ,
yet both may drowne, if (there) too bold they be.

In shallow'st places, there, great Clarkes haue suncke
into the depth of Heresie , and drew
Whole Nations after them; yea, made Kings drunke
therewith, while they Beleeuers-right pursue.

So then, as none could euer see the Sunne
but by the Sunne; so, none can rightly see
Thee in thy Word , but by reflexion
of that pure Light of Lights that comes from thee!

If so, then light me in that Light (thy Word )
sith thou art Light of Lights; else may mine Eyes
Be dazz led, and (so) drowne me in each Ford
of those pure Riuers of thy Paradise .

Thy Word is Truth , but those it doth misguide
that know not well thy Language , nor will know:
Sith they will learne but of them selues and Pride;
so, not thy Word but they, are erring so.

None can be sau'd without they do thy Will ,
which none can doe , vnlesse the same they know
And none can know it, much lesse it fulfill ,
if it, by speciall grace , thou doe not show.

Then, if thou wilt that I shall saued be,
(for thou wilt no mans Death that seekes thy face )
Let me be taught to know thy Will by thee;
and make to doe it by thy Pow'r and Grace:
So shall I finde what I am seeking still,
To know Thee well, and well to doe thy Will.