My God, how perfect are Thy ways!
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.
When I would speak what Thou hast done
To save me from my sin,
I cannot make Thy mercies known,
But self-applause creeps in.
Divine desire, that holy flame
Thy grace creates in me;
Alas! impatience is its name,
When it returns to Thee.
This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts.
How does it overflow,
While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.
Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness,
The Lord forever mine.
(William Cowper)
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Based on Topics: God Poems, Mind Poems, Name Poems, Prayers Poems, Sin Poems, Praise Poems, Desire Poems, Perfection PoemsBased on Keywords: vile, returns, fountain, surface, merit, self, floats, fancied, mercies, gaudy, righteousness