Prayer,InTheProspectOfDeath

prayer,intheprospectofdeath

othouunknown,almightycause

ofallmyhopeandfear!

inwhosedreadpresence,ereanhour,

perhapsimustappear!

ifihavewander'dinthosepaths

oflifeioughttoshun,

assomething,loudly,inmybreast,

remonstratesihavedone;

thouknow'stthatthouhastformedme

withpassionswildandstrong;

andlist'ningtotheirwitchingvoice

hasoftenledmewrong.

wherehumanweaknesshascomeshort,

orfrailtysteptaside,

dothou,all-good—forsuchthouart—

inshadesofdarknesshide.

wherewithintentionihaveerr'd,

nootherpleaihave,

but,thouartgood;andgoodnessstill

delightethtoforgive.