Thoughts

How long, alas, shall vain Thoughts in me rest, And find a lurking Place within my Breast! How long, how long, e'er I a Conqueror be, And o'er my ownself get the Victory! Ah, how disgustful is it when I find, Some little triv'al Thought possess my Mind! Oft have I set myself to keep the Door, That no vain Cogitation enter more, And reckon'd too, so strict a Watch to keep, That nothing unexamin'd in should creep; But on a sudden, when I least suspected, An idle Thought has Satan introjected, Which, like a little Thief, hath open set The Door, for greater Rovers in to get. I'll trust myself no more; I see 'tis vain, Man of himself no Conquest can obtain; To Him will I betake myself, from whom, Each good and perfect Gift, I know, doth come; His Succour will I beg, His Aid implore, Who for the Helpless, still has Help in Store.

Thou Israel's SHEPHERD, Thou alone canst keep My Soul, who neither slumber dost nor sleep; Thou Every-where, who dost all Places fill, Who art both perfect POW'R and perfect WILL, Thou all-sufficient art; no Thought can fly The Scrutage of Thy all-discerning EYE; And Thou, dear FATHER, too commanded hast Thy Children, all their Care on THEE to cast, Which I most gladly do; but yet not so, As henceforth careless in myself to grow; No, I resolve still on the Watch to be, Not in my own Strength, but impower'd by Thee. Set Thou the Watch, O LORD, appoint the Guard, Give Thou the Charge; O help me so to ward, That no vain Thought into my Mind may slip, But in the Embrio may receive a Nip; Thou, who for me hast great Deliv'rance wrought Deliver too from ev'ry idle Thought.