Stanzas,OnTheSameOccasion

stanzas,onthesameoccasion

whyamilothtoleavethisearthlyscene?

haveisofounditfullofpleasingcharms?

somedropsofjoywithdraughtsofillbetween—

somegleamsofsunshine'midrenewingstorms,

isitdepartingpangsmysoulalarms?

ordeath'sunlovely,dreary,darkabode?

forguilt,forguilt,myterrorsareinarms:

itrembletoapproachanangrygod,

andjustlysmartbeneathhissin-avengingrod.

fainwouldisay,“forgivemyfouloffence,”

fainpromisenevermoretodisobey;

but,shouldmyauthorhealthagaindispense,

againimightdesertfairvirtue'sway;

againinfolly'spartmightgoastray;

againexaltthebruteandsinktheman;

thenhowshouldiforheavenlymercypray

whoactsocounterheavenlymercy'splan?

whosinsoofthavemourn'd,yettotemptationran?

othou,greatgovernorofallbelow!

ifimaydarealiftedeyetothee,

thynodcanmakethetempestceasetoblow,

orstillthetumultoftheragingsea:

withthatcontrollingpow'rassistev'nme,

thoseheadlongfuriouspassionstoconfine,

forallunfitifeelmypow'rstobe,

toruletheirtorrentinth'allowedline;

o,aidmewiththyhelp,omnipotencedivine!