To Heaven

• Good and great God! can I not think of thee,
• But it must straight my melancholy be?
• Is it interpreted in me disease,
• That, laden with my sins, I seek for ease?
• O be thou witness, that the reins dost know
• And hearts of all, if I be sad for show;
• And judge me after: if I dare pretend
• To aught but grace, or aim at other end.
• As thou art all, so be thou all to me,
• First, midst, and last, converted One, and Three!
• My faith, my hope, my love ; and in this state,
• My judge, my witness, and my advocate.
• Where have I been this while exiled from thee,
• And whither rapt, now thou but stoop'st to me?
• Dwell, dwell here still! O, being every where,
• How can I doubt to find thee ever here?
• I know my state, both full of shame and scorn,
• Conceived in sin, and unto labor born,
• Standing with fear, and must with horror fall,
• And destined unto judgment, after all.
• I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground,
• Upon my flesh t' inflict another wound:
• Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death,
• With holy Paul, lest it be thought the breath
• Of discontent; or that these prayers be
• For weariness of life, not love of thee.