I DESCEND, O Lord, Into this gloomy heart of mine, And once afford A glimpse of that great light of thine! The sun doth never here To shine on basest dunghills once forbear. II What though I be Nothing but high corruption? Let me have Thee, And at thy presence 'twill be gone. Darkness dare never stand In competition, while the sun's at hand. III And though my sins Be an unnumber'd number, yet When thou begins To look on Christ, do then forget I helped to cause his grief: If so, Lord, from it grant me some relief! IV All thou demands Is that small piece of me, my heart; Lo, here it stands Thine wholly; I'll reserve no part; Let the three corners be, (Since nought else can) fill'd with one triple Thee. V Set up a throne; Admit no rival of thy power; Be thou alone (I'll only fear thee) Emperour; And though thy limits may Seem small, Heaven only is as large as they. VI And if by chance The old oft-conquer'd enemy New stirs advance, Look but upon him, and he'll fly: The smallest check of thine Will do't; so cannot all the power that's mine. VII Thy kingdom is More than ten thousand worlds, each heart A province is; Keep residence in mine, 'tis part Of those huge realms; I'll be Thy slave, and by this means gain liberty. VIII Such as all earth Ne'er could so much as fancy yet, Nor can give birth To thoughts enough to fathom it. No, no, nor can blest I, When I enjoy it, know what I enjoy. IX Then give me this I ask for; though I know not what, O Lord! it is: But what's of greatest price, give that; Or plainly bold to be In begging -- Lord, I pray thee give me Thee! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 39 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING TO HIS DYING BROTHER, MASTER WILLIAM HERRICK by ROBERT HERRICK TO THE WATER NYMPHS DRINKING AT THE FOUNTAIN by ROBERT HERRICK THE SHEPHEARDES CALENDER: APRIL by EDMUND SPENSER EDWIN MORRIS; OR, THE LAKE by ALFRED TENNYSON AN ARMY CORPS ON THE MARCH by WALT WHITMAN TO HIM THAT WAS CRUCIFIED by WALT WHITMAN |