THE LAMENTATION OF A SINNER.

Written in the reiyn of (Juecn Klhabeth.

0 Lord, turn not away Thy face
From him that lieth prostrate,
Lamenting sore his sinful life
Before Thy mercy-gate:

Which gate Thou open'st wide to those
That do lament their sin :
Shut not that gate against me, Lord,
But let me enter in.

And call me not to mine accounts
How I have lived here ;
For then I know right well, 0 Lord,
How vile I shall appear:

I need not to confess my life,
Am sure that Thou canst tell:
What I have been and what I am
I know Thou knowest it well.

0 Lord, Thou knowest what things be past,
And eke the things that be;
Thou knowest also what is to come :
Nothing is hid from Thee.

Before the heavens and earth were made,
Thou knowest what things were then,
As all things else that have been since
Among the sons of men.

And can the things that I have done
Be hidden from Thee then?
Nay, nay, Thou knowest them all, 0 Lord,
Where they were done, and when.

Wherefore with tears I come to Thee
To beg and to entreat
E'en as the child that hath done ill,
And feareth to be beat.

So come I to Thy mercy-gate,
Where mercy doth abound ;
Requiring mercy for my sin,
To heal my deadly wound.

0 Lord, I need not to repeat
What I do beg or crave ;
Thou knowest, 0 Lord, before I ask,
The thing that I would have.

Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask,
This is the total sum :
For mercy, Lord, is all my suit;
Lord, let Thy mercy come.

ANONYMOUS.