YCBA Collections Search

Lettered inside image: "87 | His wrath inflamed? his tenderness on fire; | Like soft, smooth oil, outblazing other fires? | Can prayer, can praise avert it?--THOU! my all, | My theme, my inspiration, and my crown! | My strength in age, my rise in low estate! | My soul's ambition, pleasure, wealth!--my world! | My light in darkness, and my life in death! | My boast through time! bliss through eternity-- | Eternity, too short to speak thy praise! | Or fathom thy profound of love to man-- | To man of men the meanest, even to me! | My sacrifice! my GOD! what things are these! | What then art THOU? by what name shall I call THEE? | Knew I the name devout archangels use, | Devout archangels should the name enjoy | By me unrivall'd; thousands more sublime, | None half so dear as that, which, though unspoke | Still glows at heart: O how omnipotence | *Is lost in love! thou great PHILANTHROPIST! Father of angels! but the friend of man! | Like Jacob, fondest of the younger born! | THOU! Who didst save him, snatch the smoking brand | From out the flames, and quench it in thy blood; | How art thou pleased by bounty to distress! | To make us groan beneath our gratitude, | Too big for birth! to favour and confound; | To challenge, and to distance all return! | Lavish of love, stupendous heights to soar | And leave praise panting in the distant vale! | Thy right too great defrauds THEE of thy due;"