Classic Poem

1.

How blest the Man, whose conscious grief
From Thee, great God, has found relief;
Whose guilt thy boundless Love has veil'd,
His fears compos'd, his weakness heal'd;

2.

To whom th' offences of his hand
No longer now imputed stand,
Who learns thy precepts to revere,
Whose heart is pure, whose tongue sincere.

3.

While deep within my lab'ring breast
My mind its dire disease suppress'd,
Incessant groans, that shun'd controul,
Betray'd the anguish of my soul.

4.

See Age-anticipating Care
My joints dissolve, my strength impair,
Relentless from my cheek each trace
Of youth and blooming health erase.

5.

When Night extends its dusky cone,
Beneath thy terrors, Lord, I groan;
The shades anon retreating see;
And Day to All restor'd, but Me.

6.

Behold my frame with drought consum'd,
That late with youthful vigour bloom'd;
Such drought the blasted fields betray,
Beneath the dog-star's burning ray.

7.

My humbled Soul its crimes shall own: —
Behold me bow before thy Throne,
To Thee my inmost guilt disclose,
And in thy bosom pour my woes.

8.

But lo! while yet my hands I rear,
The voice of Mercy to my ear
Descends, and whisp'ring peace within
Confirms the pardon of my sin.

9.

For this shall All who Thee adore,
Ere yet the day of grace be o'er,
To Thee with stedfast hope repair,
To Thee prefer th' unwearied pray'r:

10.

So, when affliction's tempests rise,
And heave the billows to the skies,
They, safe in Thee, the storm shall brave,
And distant view the madding wave.

11.

When various griefs my soul surround,
In Thee my sure retreat is found;
Thy wish'd Salvation meets my eyes,
And songs of triumph round me rise.

12.

Come, from thy God instruction learn;
While, prompt from error's path to turn
Thy feet, thy ev'ry step I scan,
Let Reason's use bespeak thee Man;

13.

Nor imitate the Steed and Mule,
Whose brutal mouth, averse to rule,
To guard thee from their rage, must feel
The forceful rein, and curbing steel.

14.

What pangs the impious Tribe await,
While hope and joy his heart dilate,
Who trusts in Thee, O King of Kings,
And Mercy round him spreads her wings!

15.

Ye Saints, exulting lift your voice,
Ye pure of mind, in Him rejoice,
Whose presence on the soul impress'd
With heav'nly transport fills the breast.