Classic Poem

Thou wholly seest, O my God,
With Thine all-seeing eye,
What elements of sin and death
Within my bosom lie;

Enough in number, weight, and force,
If but they should rebel,
To hurl my soul from highest grace
Into the lowest hell.

Ah, then, I pray Thee, gracious Lord,
By that eternal love,
Which brought Thee down for my poor sake
From Thy bright throne above;

At every risk, at every cost,
Whatever pain it be,
To break and bruise without remorse
These germs of death in me.

And if, by any self-deceit,
This moment while I pray,
My inward wish would contradict
What outwardly I say; —

O, take the naked words alone,
As by my lips express'd,
And treat me not as I desire,
But as for me is best.

Smite as Thou wilt, eternal Judge,
O, smite without delay!
Cut Thou my flesh, and cauterise
Its rottenness away;

Here let me suffer, bleed, and die.
So only purg'd from sin,
Hereafter in Eternity
The crown of life I win!