An ODE on MERCY: In Imitation of Part of the 145th Psalm. Mary Leapor Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T127827 p. 413 K101776.000 Leapor, Mrs. (Mary), 1722-1746. Poems upon several occasions: By Mrs. Leapor of Brackley in Northamptonshire. London printed: and sold by J. Roberts 1748 pp. 12-15. 15,[5],282p. ; 8⁰.

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An ODE on MERCY : In Imitation of Part of the 145th Psalm . I 'TIS Mercy calls — Awake , my grateful String ; Ye Worlds of Nature , listen while I sing ; 'Tis not his dire avenging Rod , I sing the Mercies of a God ; Hark , ye Warblers of the Sky , Rivers glide serenely by ; Or rather in the sacred Chorus join , Till our united Voices reach the Seats Divine . II . Where injur'd Saints , that us'd to mourn below , Find their glad Breasts with Joys eternal glow ; Where thousand Tongues incessant cry , Glory be to God on high ; Dominion , Power , Praise , and then Mercy to the Sons of Men . Heav'n hears delighted , and the joyful Sound Swell'd with celestial Musick spreads the Regions round . III . The Lord , though seated far beyond the Sky , Yet sees the wretched with a pitying Eye ; That Power knows our secret Fear , The lonely Sigh , or silent Tear ; He sees the Widows streaming Eye , And hears the hungry Orphans cry . Depending Worlds his sacred Bounty share , All Creatures find a Part of their Creator's Care . IV . His Justice next employs the heavenly String , And hymning Angels tremble while they sing ; The Lord is just and holy , then O weep ye thoughtless Sons of Men : For who can from his Anger fly , Or shun the Frown of God most high ? Yet shall the Sigh , or penitential Groan , Mount like the Seraph's Wing , and reach the sacred Throne . V. Hear this , ye pious but dejected Minds , Whom Errors darken , or whom Weakness binds ; Lift from the Dust your mournful Eye , And know the Lord your Help is nigh ; These Sorrows from your Breasts shall roll , And Comfort bless the humble Soul ; Let chearful Hope in ev'ry Bosom spring , For boundless Mercy dwells with Heaven's immortal King . VI . Come then , ye Worlds , with mingled Voices raise A Song of mean , but not ungrateful Praise ; Tho' the dull Numbers rudely flow , And our cold Hearts but faintly glow , Our Raptures own a less Degree , Yet Cherubs sing , and so shou'd we . The Almighty hears , and gives us leave to call On him the Judge , the Guide and sacred Lord of All . VII . All you that bend beneath the Stroke of Time , And you whose Cheeks confess their healthy Prime , Your Maker and Preserver praise , For early and for length of Days ; The pious and the grateful Song , Shall lisp upon the Infant's Tongue , While heav'nly Mercy sooths the Mourner's Care , And bids the Innocent rejoice , the Sinner not despair .