Poetical fragments heart-employment with God and it selfPoetical fragments heart-imployment with God and it self

11. The Complaint.

What mean impatient men to call it Pain? That do the creatures wrath alone sustain? But, alas! how much greater is my woe, That must God's sharp displeasure undergo? If a Worm's fury seemeth hard to bear, Who dare before an angry God appear? I thought my God had blotted out my sin; And it no more remembered should have bin! And wilt thou now call up what's past and gone? And charge upon me all that I have done? Why then, where is my Saviour' where's his blood? Shall not thy Promises be all made good? Where are thy tender bowels? where's that grace? That showed me once thy reconciled face? Dost thou repent? or can God changed be? O no! it's I that falsely turned from thee.

WHat mean impatient men to call it Pain? That do the creatures wrath alone sustain? But, alas! how much greater is my woe, That must God's sharp displeasure undergo? If a Worm's fury seemeth hard to bear, Who dare before an angry God appear? I thought my God had blotted out my sin; And it no more remembred should have bin! And wilt thou now call up what's past and gone? And charge upon me all that I have done? Why then, where is my Saviour' where's his blood? Shall not thy Promises be all made good? Where are thy tender bowels? where's that grace? That shew'd me once thy reconciled face? Dost thou repent? or can God changed be? O no! it's I that falsly turn'd from thee.

Yet be not angry with me, O my God! If thy Child cry, and plead against the Rod; Not daring to accuse thy narrow path; But humbly bold to deprecate thy wrath. ⟨p. 90⟩Is it thy pleasure to behold my grief? When thou canst with a word send full relief? Dost thou delight to see me drenched in tears? And overwhelmed with doubts and horrid fears? Wilt thou stand by and see my Soul thus sink? While wasting flesh doth stand at the pits brink? Shall grief and sickness leave but skin and bones? And shall I know no breath but sighs and groans? Have I no passions left but griefs and fears? Are groans the only music for thine ears? And have I sense only to feel my woe? And reason only misery to know? And wilt thou suffer sinful unbelief, To banish Joy, and keep out all Relief? How can that gracious Lord my woe desire? That did so much to save me from the fire? How can that Saviour be against my good, That died in love, and washed me by his blood? Can the same voice now pass so sad a doom, That from my sin so lately called me home? Wilt thou now frown me down to fears & death? That lately gavest me a new life and breath? Or can that hand that snatched me from the flame, Tear me, and cast me back into the same?