Classic Poem

Great God, arise, that so thine Enemies
May be dispers'd, as Clouds when th'Sun doth
Thou King of Kings , who only must expel (rise!
Th'intruding Foe, that in the Heart doth dwell,
Which is thy proper Right, who didst create
It for thy Service: Teach us, Lord, to wait
For thine Appearance, in Sincerity;
To know thee first to Judge, then Justify
The Meek, the broken contrite Heart: 'Tis thou
That teachest rightly to thy Name to Bow;
For none can Bow acceptably, or call
Thee, Jesus, Lord ; (tho' thou art Lord of all,
Both Heav'n and Earth) but by thy holy Spirit;
Whereby we come, through Mercy, to inherit
Thy Princely Favours; and not only know
To call thee truly Lord , but Father too.
What! tho' Man in Externals may conform,
And seemingly from his Pollutions turn;
Yet to subdue and regulate the Will,
Is thy own Work, surpassing Humane Skill:
Poor wretched Man, tho' he thy Pow'r resist,
Cannot return unto thee when he list,
Without thy Help; since his depraved Will
Is so averse to Good, so prone to Ill;
Except he be, by thy Redeming Power,
Set free, and taught to know the Refuge-Tower:
Then neither Winds , nor Waves , nor Stormy Weather ,
(Although with Fury all conspire together,
T'assault and ruinate the House that's founded,
And on the Rock is deep and firmly grounded)
Can overthrow it: Here's a Fortress sure,
Which will against all Batteries endure;
Here may we find a Captain will defend,
Whom all dear Sion 's Foes cannot withstand.
Lord, since Salvation is alone from thee,
From Self Destruction, Wo and Misery;
Teach us to wait to feel thy Conqu'ring Love,
Within our yielding Bosoms, freely move,
To quicken, heal, and strengthen us; that we
May, through thy Goodness, rise and follow thee:
Believing, there is none but thee that can
Crown with Perfection this thy Work in Man;
And give access before thy Royal Throne,
Where perfect Peace and Joy in thee is known:
Then only Thanks and Praises shall ascend
To thee, who to our Grief dost put an end.