By Thomas Ellwood
From Ellwood, Thomas. The History of the Life of Thomas Ellwood, Written by Himself. With a Supplement by Joseph Wyeth. Stereotype Edition. Philadelphia: Friends' Book Store, nd, page 203.
The Document is on The Quaker Writings Home Page.
Thy love, dear Father, and thytender care, Have in my heart begot a strong desire To celebrate thy name with praises rare, That others too thy goodness may admire, And learn to yield to what Thou dost require. Many have been the trials of my mind, My exercises great, great is my distress; Full oft my ruin hath my foe design'd, My sorrows then my pen cannot express, Nor could the best of men afford redress. When thus beset, to Thee I lift mine eye, And with a mournful heart my moan did make; How oft with eyes o'erflowing did I cry, "My God, my God, oh do me not forsake; "Regard my tears; some pity on me take!" And to the glory of thy holy name, Eternal God, whom I both love and fear, I hereby do delcare, I never came, Before thy throne, and found thee loth to hear; But always ready, with an open ear. And tho' sometimes Thou seem'st thy face to hide, As one that had withdrawn thy love from me, 'Tis that my faith may to the full be tried, And that I thereby may the better see How weak I am, when not upheld by Thee. For underneath thy holy arm I feel, (Encompassing with strength as with a wall) That, if the Enemy trip up my heel, Thou ready art to save me from a fall: To Thee belong thanksgivings over all. And for thy tender love, my God, my King, My heart shall magnify Thee all my days, My tongue of thy renown shall daily sing, My pen shall also grateful trophies raise, As monuments to thy eternal praise.