Dear Lord! accept a sinful heart,
Which of itself complains,
And mourns, with much and frequent smart,
The evil it contains.
There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the tempter’s work,
To fan them to a flame.
Legality holds out a bribe
To purchase life from Thee;
And Discontent would fain prescribe
How Thou shalt deal with me.
While Unbelief withstands Thy grace,
And puts the mercy by,
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, “Give me, or I die!”
How eager are my thoughts to roam,
In quest of what they love!
But ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!
Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour’s blood,
Transform me by Thy power,
And make me Thy beloved abode,
And let me roam no more.
(William Cowper)
More Poetry from William Cowper:
William Cowper Poems based on Topics: Love, Sin, Power, Law & Regulation, Anger, Work & Career, Home, Change, Forgiveness, Good & Evil- Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 1. (William Cowper Poems)
- Adam: A Sacred Drama. Act 3. (William Cowper Poems)
- A Poetical Epistle To Lady Austen (William Cowper Poems)
- Addressed To Miss Macartney, Afterwards Mrs. Greville, On Reading The Prayer For Indifference (William Cowper Poems)
- A Tale. June 1793 (William Cowper Poems)
- A Figurative Description Of The Procedure Of Divine Love (William Cowper Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Love Poems, Home Poems, Power Poems, Work & Career Poems, Anger Poems, Sin Poems, Law & Regulation Poems, Change Poems, Forgiveness Poems, Good & Evil PoemsBased on Keywords: deal, fiery, accept, fan, roam, puts, abode, smart, duty, quest, saviour