Classic and Contemporary Poetry
A SONG OF MERCY AND JUDGMENT, by WILLIAM COWPER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Lord, I love the habitation Last Line: Sweet the grace which makes me thine. | ||||||||
LORD, I love the habitation Where the Saviour's honour dwells; At the sound of thy salvation With delight my bosom swells. Grace Divine, how sweet the sound, Sweet the grace that I have found. Me thro' waves of deep affliction, Dearest Saviour! thou hast brought, Fiery deeps of sharp conviction Hard to bear and passing thought. Sweet the sound of Grace Divine, Sweet the grace which makes me thine. From the cheerful beams of morning Sad I turn'd mine eyes away: And the shades of night returning Fill'd my soul with new dismay. Grace Divine, &c. Food I loath'd nor ever tasted But by violence constrain'd. Strength decay'd and body wasted, Spoke the terrors I sustain'd. Sweet the sound, &c. Bound and watch'd, lest life abhorring I should my own death procure, For to me the Pit of Roaring Seem'd more easy to endure. Grace Divine, &c. Fear of Thee, with gloomy sadness, Overwhelm'd thy guilty worm, Till reduc'd to moping madness Reason sank beneath the storm. Sweet the sound, &c. Then what soul-distressing noises Seem'd to reach me from below, Visionary scenes and voices, Flames of Hell and screams of woe. Grace Divine, &c. But at length a word of Healing Sweeter than an angel's note, From the Saviour's lips distilling Chas'd despair and chang'd my lot. Sweet the sound, &c. 'Twas a word well tim'd and suited To the need of such an hour, Sweet to one like me polluted, Spoke in love and seal'd with pow'r. Grace Divine, &c. I, He said, have seen thee grieving, Lov'd thee as I pass'd thee by; Be not faithless, but believing, Look, and live, and never die. Sweet the sound, &c. Take the Bloody Seal I give thee, Deep impress'd upon thy soul; God, thy God, will now receive thee, Faith hath sav'd thee, thou art whole. Grace Divine, &c. All at once my chains were broken, From my feet my fetters fell, And that word in pity spoken, Snatch'd me from the gates of Hell. Grace Divine, &c. Since that hour, in hope of glory, With thy foll'wers I am found, And relate the wond'rous story To thy list'ning saints around. Sweet the sound of Grace Divine, Sweet the grace which makes me thine. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A COMPARISON [ADDRESSED] TO A YOUNG LADY by WILLIAM COWPER BOADICEA; AN ODE by WILLIAM COWPER EPITAPH ON A HARE by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 1. WALKING WITH GOD by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 18. LOVEST THOU ME? by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 35. LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 49. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING by WILLIAM COWPER OLNEY HYMNS: 9. THE CONTRITE HEART by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE DEATH OF MRS. (NOW LADY) THROCKMORTON'S BULLFINCH by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE LOSS OF THE ROYAL GEORGE by WILLIAM COWPER ON THE RECEIPT OF MY MOTHER'S PICTURE [OUT OF NORFOLK] by WILLIAM COWPER |
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