ABSTRACT
[written, c. 1700; published, 1854] Speak, Gracious Lord, oh speak; thy Servant hears: For I'm thy Servant, and I'l still be so: Speak words of Comfort in my willing Ears; And since my Tongue is in thy praises slow, And since that thine all Rhetorick exceeds; 5 Speak thou in words, but let me speak in deeds! Nor speak alone, but give me grace to hear What thy caelestial Sweetness does impart; Let it not stop when entred at the Ear But sink, and take deep rooting in my heart. 10 As the parch'd Earth drinks Rain (but grace afford) With such a Gust will I receive thy word. Nor with the Israelites shall I desire Thy heav'nly word by Moses to receive, Lest I should die: but Thou who didst inspire 15 Moses himself, speak thou, that I may live. Rather with Samuel I beseech with tears Speak, gracious Lord, oh speak; thy Servant hears. Moses indeed may say the words but Thou Must give the Spirit, and the Life inspire; 20 Our Love to thee his fervent Breath may blow, But ‘tis thy self alone can give the fire: Thou without them may'st speak and profit too; But without thee, what could the Prophets do ? They preach the Doctrine, but thou mak'st us do't; They teach the Misteries thou dost open lay; The Trees they water, but thou giv'st the fruit; They to Salvation shew the arduous way. But none but you can give us Strength to walk; You give the Practise, they but give the Talk. 30 Let them be silent then; and thou alone (My God) speak comfort to my ravish'd Ears; Light of my eyes, my Consolation, Speak when thou wilt, for still thy Servant hears. What-ere thou speak'st, let this be understood; 35 Thy greater Glory, and my greater Good!
