Classic Poem

G R eat God! from whom no thought can be conceal'd
sith it thou know'st ere thoght; & searched hast
All Hearts, ere they in Nature , are reueal'd,
forgiue my thoughts , that giue thee but distaste.

To my Confusion needes I must confesse,
my thoughts and Sinne are One; and, so, most base:
And though so base they be, yet n'erthelesse
oft Grace they mind; so Sinne presumes on Grace .

Lord! how am I deprau'd by Sinne , that can
searse thinke a thought , but I doe sinne therein?
Then blessed Lord, how canst thou chose but banne
so vile a Slaue , so subject vnto Sinne?

I must not leaue Thee thus; no, though my Heart
be well-neere Flint , I must not leaue thee so:
With thee, for Grace , Ile wrastle ere we part,
then let me finde it in mine Ouer-throw.

And if such Sinne thou dost forgiue by Grace ,
and that where much is pardon'd, Loue is much ,
My Loue shall ouer fill all Time and Place;
such is my Sinne , my Loue shall then be such!

Deny me not (deure Lord) for I will take
no nay of thee; no; thou dost me inuite,
Being heauy laden, to thee; ├┤ then make
me free there-from, lest it doe quell me quite.

And learne me (Lord) to woo thee for thy Grace ,
And winne it, by my wooing, to relieue me;
Thou canst soone lighten this my heauy case;
then, thy Will's good, with good will then, forgiue mee.

Make my Heart feele, although the while it ake,
some Signe of Grace, that thereby I may know
Thou lou'st such wooers as no nay will take;
and Wrastlers such, as will not let thee goe!

Though speake I cannot as I would, my Spright
stil woos thy grace with sighs , then words more deep:
Thou know'st her speech , and dost therein delight;
then ├┤ let thy kinde Answere make mee weepe.

Thy Louing-kindnesse hath the pow'r to strike
her dumbe with ioy; and after make her shrill
In thine applause , for, whom thou (Lord) dost like,
thou still mak'st drunke with ioy through thy good-will!

Then if I haue found Fauour in thy sight
or els wilt giue me any hope of Grace,
Make druncke my Soule with thy sweet loues-delight
and let ber so (ioy-rauisht) thee embrace.

I sue to thee, for that I needes must haue;
I cannot be without It , sith within
It's all mine All: then, It I still will craue,
vntill by ceaselys begging It I winne:
Then, grant me grace from Sinne me still to free,
Else, by thy grace , Ile cry for't still to thee.