In DESERTION or TEMPTATION.

I.

AH! my dear LORD, whose changeless Love
 To Me, nor Earth nor Hell can part;
 When shall my Feet forget to rove? 
Ah, what shall fix this faithless Heart? 

II.

Why do these Cares my Soul divide
 If Thou indeed hast set me free? 
Why am I Thus, if GOD hath dy'd;
 If GOD hath dy'd to purchase Me? 

III.

Around me Clouds of Darkness roll,
 In deepest Night I still walk on;
 Heavily moves my fainting Soul,
 My Comfort and my GOD are gone. 

IV.

Chearless and all forlorn I droop;
 In vain I lift my weary Eye;
 No Gleam of Light, no Ray of Hope
 Appears throughout the darken'd Sky. 

V.

My feeble Knees I bend again,
 My drooping Hands again I rear:
 Vain is the Task, the Effort vain,
 My Heart abhors the irksome Pray'r. 

VI.

Oft with thy Saints my Voice I raise,
 And seem to join the tastless Song:
 Faintly ascends th' imperfect Praise,
 Or dies upon my thoughtless Tongue. 

VII.

Cold, weary, languid, heartless, dead
 To thy dread Courts I oft repair;
 By Conscience drag'd, or Custom led
 I come; nor know that GOD is there! 

VIII.

Nigh with my Lips to Thee I draw,
 Unconscious at thy Altar found;
 Far off my Heart: nor touch'd with Awe,
 Nor mov'd — tho' Angels tremble round. 

IX.

In All I do, Myself I feel,
 And groan beneath the wonted Load,
 Still unrenew'd and carnal still,
 Naked of CHRIST, and void of GOD. 

X.

Nor yet the Earthly Adam dies,
 But lives, and moves, and fights again,
 Still the fierce Gusts of Passion rise,
 And rebel Nature strives to reign. 

XI.

Fondly my foolish Heart essays
 T' augment the Source of perfect Bliss,
 Love's All-sufficient Sea to raise
 With Drops of Creature-Happiness. 

XII.

O Love! thy Sov'reign Aid impart,
 And guard the Gifts Thyself hast giv'n:
 My Portion Thou, my Treasure art,
 And Life, and Happiness, and Heav'n. 

XIII.

Would ought with Thee my Wishes share,
 Tho' dear as Life the Idol be,
 The Idol from my Breast I'll tear,
 Resolv'd to seek my All from Thee. 

XIV.

Whate'er I fondly counted Mine,
 To Thee, my LORD, I here restore:
 Gladly I all for Thee resign:
 Give me Thyself, I ask no more!