WHY am I loth to leave this earthly scene?
Have I so found it full of pleasing charms?
Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between
Some gleams of sunshine mid renewing storms,
Is it departing pangs my soul alarms?
Or deaths unlovely, dreary, dark abode?
For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms:
I tremble to approach an angry God,
And justly smart beneath His sin-avenging rod.
Fain would I say, Forgive my foul offence,
Fain promise never more to disobey;
But, should my Author health again dispense,
Again I might desert fair virtues way;
Again in follys part might go astray;
Again exalt the brute and sink the man;
Then how should I for heavenly mercy pray
Who act so counter heavenly mercys plan?
Who sin so oft have mournd, yet to temptation ran?
O Thou, great Governor of all below!
If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee,
Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow,
Or still the tumult of the raging sea:
With that controlling powr assist evn me,
Those headlong furious passions to confine,
For all unfit I feel my powrs to be,
To rule their torrent in th allowed line;
O, aid me with Thy help, Omnipotence Divine!
