A Feruent Supplication Poem by Henry Arthington

A feruent supplication,
Tending to mortification,
And new regeneration,
That leadeth to saluation.

Most louing Lord, and Father deere,
I humbly sue vnto thy grace,
That thou (in Christ) my suite wilt heare,
Which now I make before thy face.

And first whereas my sinfull soule,
Hath much offended many waies,
O Lord do thou her lusts controule,
To liue according to thy lawes.

My hart, the harbor of all sinne,
That in my body doth remaine,
Reforme a new, for to begin,
From wickednesse for to refraine.

My thoughts that were Impure before,
To range from sin to sin each day,
O sanctify them more and more,
To please thy goodnesse euery way.

My wit and will, withall the rest,
Of inward guifts of soule and mind,
That haue to sin beene ready prest,
Let now to goodnesse be enclinde.

My harts affections fully fraught,
With sundry sinfull passions,
From henceforth, let them all be taught,
To leaue such detestations.

My sences seeming in their kind,
VVith fading pleasures to abound,
Heareafter (Lord) their lusts fast binde,
In moderation to be found.

The members of my bodie fraile,
VVhich haue beene bent to all kind euill,
Let them (O Lord) no more preuaile,
To displease thee, and please the Deuill.

My wandring eyes in worldly lust,
VVhich tooke their pleasure night and day,
Translate their sight to obiects iust
Thereby to please thee all they may.

Mine eares, that chiefely tooke delight,
In foolish, vaine, and fruitles sounds,
Make them heareafter to despyght,
All such vnsure, deceitfull grounds.

My tongue, that I could seldome baulke,
From discoursing of vanities,
Restraine henceforth: And now to taulke,
Of thy iust lawes and misteries

My hands so nimble, ready bent,
To wanton sports and idle play,
Heareafter let theyr time be spent,
In doing good each kind of way.

My Armes and Legges that haue beene strong,
To prosecute my wicked will,
Keep henceforth (Lord) from offering wrong,
And thy mind alwaies to fulfill.

My feete, that haue beene often prest,
To follow sin and vaine excesse,
Make them heareafter with the rest,
To haunt the waies of Godlinesse.

And to conclude (Lord) mortifie,
All sin in Soule and body to,
That henceforth they may both agree,
Thy will in all things for to do.

O let them make their chiefest ioy,
To heare and read thy holy word,
Which shall keepe them from all annoy,
When faith and life thereto accord.

Then shall I be thy Seruant deere,
When all my powers aright do frame,
Then shall I raigne with thee else--where,
And euer blesse thy holy name.