Ben Jonson (1572-1637)
To Heaven
1Good and great God, can I not think of thee
2But it must straight my melancholy be?
3Is it interpreted in me disease
4That, laden with my sins, I seek for ease?
5Oh be thou witness, that the reins dost know
6And hearts of all, if I be sad for show,
7And judge me after; if I dare pretend
8To ought but grace or aim at other end.
9As thou art all, so be thou all to me,
10First, midst, and last, converted one, and three;
11My faith, my hope, my love; and in this state
12My judge, my witness, and my advocate.
13Where have I been this while exil'd from thee?
14And whither rap'd, now thou but stoop'st to me?
15Dwell, dwell here still. O, being everywhere,
16How can I doubt to find thee ever here?
17I know my state, both full of shame and scorn,
18Conceiv'd in sin, and unto labour borne,
19Standing with fear, and must with horror fall,
20And destin'd unto judgment, after all.
21I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground
22Upon my flesh t' inflict another wound.
23Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death
24With holy Paul, lest it be thought the breath
25Of discontent; or that these prayers be
26For weariness of life, not love of thee.
Notes
5-6] reins . . hearts. From Psalm 7:9: "for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reines."
14] rap'd: carried off by force.
23-24] wish ... holy Paul: see Romans 7:24.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Ben Jonson, The workes of Benjamin Jonson (London: Will Stansby, 1616). STC 14751.
First publication date:
1616
RPO poem editor: F. D. Hoeniger
RP edition: 3RP 1.163.
Recent editing: 4:2002/4/4
Form: Heroic Couplets
Other poems by Ben Jonson
