The Approach

Summary

1

That Childish Thoughts such Joys inspire,

Doth make my Wonder and his Glory Higher;

His Bounty, and my Wealth more Great,

It shews his Kingdom and his Work Compleat:

In which there is not any Thing

Not meet to be the Joy of Cherubim.

2

He in our Childhood with us walks,

And with our Thoughts Mysteriously he talks;

He often visiteth our Minds,

But cold Acceptance in us ever finds:

We send him often grievd away;

Els would he shew us all his Kingdoms Joy.

3

O Lord I wonder at thy Love,

Which did my Infancy so Early move:

But more at that which did forbear,

And move so long, tho Sleighted many a yeer:

But most of all, at last that Thou

Thyself shouldst me convert I scarce know how.

4

Thy Gracious Motions oft in vain

Assaulted me: My Heart did Hard remain

Long time: I sent my God away,

Grievd much that he could not impart his Joy.

I careless was, nor did regard

The End for which he all these Thoughts prepard.

5

But now with New and Open Eys,

I see beneath as if above the Skies;

And as I Backward look again,

See all his Thoughts and mine most Clear and Plain.

He did Approach, he me did Woo.

I wonder that my God this thing would doe.

6

From Nothing taken first I was,

What Wondrous Things his Glory brought to pass!

Now in this World I him behold,

And me enveloped in more then Gold;

In deep Abysses of Delights,

In present Hidden Precious Benefits.

7

Those Thoughts his Goodness long before

Prepard as Precious and Celestial Store,

With curious Art in me inlaid,

That Childhood might it self alone be said,

My Tutor, Teacher, Guid to be,

Instructed then even by the Deitie.