Showing posts with label John Norris. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Norris. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Resignation

The following is an extract from John Norris of Bemerton's poem, The Resignation, which was published in A Collection of Miscellanies: Consisting of Poems, Essays, Discourses and Letters (1687, 1717 ed.):

Since 'tis thy sentence I should part
With the most precious treasure of my heart,
I freely that and more resign,
My heart itself, as its delight, is thine;
My little all I give to thee,
Thou gav'st a greater gift, Thy Son, to me.
...
Take all, great God, I will not grieve
But still will wish that I had still to give;
I hear Thy voice, thou bidst me quit
My paradise; I bless and do submit;
I will not murmur at Thy word,
Nor beg Thy angel to sheath up his sword.

Postscript: This poetic extract is quoted by Richard Alleine in The World Conquered by the Faithful Christian, p. 41, with a different ending line:

Nor seek a shelter from Thy chastening sword.