Page:The poetical works of Robert Burns.djvu/122
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
70
THE POEMS OF BURNS.
A PRAYER, IN THE PROSPECT OF DEATH.
O Thou unknown, Almighty CauseOf all my hope and fear!In whose dread presence, ere an hour,Perhaps I must appear!
If I have wander'd in those pathsOf life I ought to shun;As something, loudly in my breast,Remonstrates I have done;
Thou know'st that Thou hast formed meWith passions wild and strong;And list'ning to their witching voiceHas often led me wrong.
Where human weakness has come short,Or frailty stept aside,Do Thou, All-Good! for such Thou art,In shades of darkness hide.
Where with intention I have err'd,No other plea I have,But, Thou art good; and Goodness stillDelighteth to forgive.
STANZAS ON THE SAME OCCASION.
Why am I loth to leave this earthly scene!Have I so found it full of pleasing charms?Some drops of joy with draughts of ill between:Some gleams of sunshine 'mid renewing storms;Is it departing pangs my soul alarms?Or Death's unlovely, dreary, dark abode?For guilt, for guilt, my terrors are in arms;I tremble to approach an angry God,And justly smart beneath his sin-avenging rod.
Fain would I say, 'Forgive my foul offence!'Fain promise never more to disobey;But, should my Author health again dispense,Again I might desert fair virtue's way;Again in folly's path might go astray;Again exalt the brute, and sink the man;Then how should I for Heavenly mercy pray,Who act so counter Heavenly mercy's plan?Who sin so oft have mourn'd, yet to temptation ran?
O Thou, great Governor of all below!If I may dare a lifted eye to Thee,Thy nod can make the tempest cease to blow,And still the tumult of the raging sea:With that controuling pow'r assist ev'n me,Those headlong furious passions to confine,For all unfit I feel my powers be,To rule their torrent in th' allowed line;O, aid me with Thy help, Omnipotence Divine!