Contemplation

Great God, arise, that so thine Enemies May be dispers'd, as Clouds when th' Sun doth rise! Thou King of Kings, who only must expel Th' intruding Foe, that in the Heart doth dwell, Which is thy proper Right, who didst create It for thy Service: Teach us, Lord, to wait For thine Appearance in Sincerity; To know thee first to judge, then justify The Meek, the broken contrite Heart: 'Tis thou That teachest rightly to thy Name to bow; For none can bow acceptably, or call Thee Jesus, Lord; (tho' thou art Lord of all, Both Heaven and Earth) but by thy holy Spirit; Whereby we come, through Mercy, to inherit Thy princely Favours; and not only know To call thee truly Lord, but Father too. What! tho' Man in Externals may conform, And seemingly from his Pollutions turn; Yet to subdue and regulate the Will, Is thy own Work, surpassing human Skill; Poor wretched Man, tho' he thy Power resist, Cannot return unto thee when he list, Without thy Help; since his depraved Will Is so averse to Good, so prone to Ill: Except he be, by thy redeeming Power, Set free, and taught to know the Refuge-tower: Then neither Winds nor Waves, nor stormy Weather, (Although with Fury all conspire together, T' assault and ruinate the House that's founded, And on the Rock is deep and firmly grounded) Can overthrow it: Here's a Fortress sure, Which will against all Batteries endure; Here may we find a Captain will defend, Whom all dear Zion's Foes cannot withstand. Lord, since Salvation is alone from thee, From Self-destruction, Woe and Misery, Teach us to wait to feel thy conquering Love, Within our yielding Bosoms, freely move. To quicken, heal, and strengthen us; that we May, through thy Goodness, rise and follow thee: Believing, there is none but thee that can Crown with Perfection this thy Work in Man; And give Access before thy royal Throne, Where perfect Peace and Joy in thee is known: Then holy Thanks and Praises shall ascend To thee, who to our Grief dost put an End.