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

Oh my dear God! shall not my Heart be thine? Then I shall wish it never had been mine. Objects of Sense do soonest move the Passion: But sure Thou hast my highest Estimation; My Will's Resolved Choice is to be Thine: My Soul and Body I to Thee resign: ⟨p. 18⟩To Thee the motions of my Soul do bend: Thou art the Scope to which my Life doth tend. The Motions of the higher Faculties, The Ruling Powers are chiefest in thine eyes: Thou takest the Love and Homage which they pay; Though Rebel Passion doth not them obey, What makes me laugh most, makes me not most glad What made me weep most, made me not most sad: My Love to one choice friend hath oft more passion, Than my much greater Love to Church & Nation. O had I all my Powers at command! As readily as tongue, or foot, or hand! My eyes should empty first the serous store, Because I love so good a God no more: And next some of the florid Blood should spend, Because the God of Love I did offend. The rest should serve for Oil unto Love's Fire, Wasting in restless vehement Desire: At every mention of thy Blessed Name, My ravished Soul should mount up in Love's flame: Each Sermon should Elijah Chariot be, To carry up my longing heart to Thee. The Saints Assemblies I would make more bright, Where many Heaven-aspiring flames unite. And when my Lord's Love-sufferings I read, My pierced and Love-wounded heart should bleed. Love should enforce each word when I do pray; A Flaming Heart I'd on thy Altar lay: When halving Hypocrites give Thee a part, Love should present my Whole, though Broken heart. ⟨p. 19⟩When in thy Word I read Love's Mysteries; There I would sweetly feed my greedy eyes. Each Sacrament should be an Eucharist: There Heart with Heart, & Love with Love should twist. My friends and I would in our daily walk Of Love's Delights and Entertainments talk: My working Love should others Love excite: In Love I'd be a Burning Shining Light. Love through the Lantern of my flesh should shine: Who heard me speak, should hear that I am Thine: Remembering that in Love I must be made Equal to Angels; I would learn their Trade: Yea I would reach up to a higher shelf; And as my Copy, look to Christ himself:

Oh my dear God! shall not my Heart be thine? Then I shall wish it never had been mine. Objects of Sense do soonest move the Passion: But sure Thou hast my highest Estimation; My Will's Resolved Choice is to be Thine: My Soul and Body I to Thee resign: