Page:Poems Shipton.djvu/49

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By the sleeper ceaseless watching,
 When temptation's hour was nigh,
I declare how faithful Thou, Lord,
 And Thou know'st how faithless I.

Could I dwell on Thy perfections,
 Tell how fair Thy features be,
Men would leave their senseless pleasures,
 And go seek my Lord with me.

Yet the lost light, sore lamented,
 Could alone the shadow leave;
If it flee not at my pleading,
 Sure some blessing it will give.

Like the day-clouds, dark with showers,
 Which with spring-tide duly come,
As the sunny harvest season
 Ere the grain is gathered home;

So my winter and my summer,
 Night and morn, and twilight days,
Raging heat, and tempest thunder,
 Shall unite to sing Thy praise.

Lord, it is Thyself I sigh for,
 And I count past joys my pain;
Thoughts of Elim's wells and palm trees
 Only make me thirst again.