BEWAILING My own Inconstancy.

3 min

I LOVE the Lord; but ah! how far My Thoughts from the dear Object are! This wanton Heart how wide it roves! And Fancy meets a Thousand Loves.

II.

If my Soul burn to see my God I tread the Courts of his abode, But Troops of Rivals throng the place And Tempt me off before his Face.

III.

Would I enjoy my Lord alone, I bid my Passions all be gone, All but my Love; and Charge my Will To bar the Door and keep it still.

IV.

But Cares or Trifles make or find Still new Avenues to the Mind, Till I with Grief and Wonder see Huge Crouds betwixt my Lord and Me.

Oft I am told the Muse will prove A Friend to Piety and Love; Strait I begin some Sacred Song, And take my Saviour on my Tongue.

VI.

Strangely I lose his Lovely Face To hold the Empty Sounds in Chase; At best the Chymes divide my Heart, And the Muse shares the larger part.

VII.

False Confident! And falser Breast! Fickle and fond of every Guest: Each Airy Image as it flies Here finds admittance thro' my Eyes.

VIII.

This Foolish Heart can leave her God, And Shadows tempt her Thoughts abroad, How shall I fix this Wandring Mind, Or throw my Fetters on the Wind?

IX.

Look gently down, Almighty Grace, Prison me round in thine Embrace: Pity the Soul that would be thine, And let thy Power my Love Confine.

Say, when shall that bright Moment be That I shall live alone for thee, My Heart no Foreign Lords adore, And the wild Muse prove false no more?