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Edward Farr, ed. Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.

To the Prayse of God for the Forgiuenesse of Our Sinnes

XCIII. John Norden

WHAT shall we doo to thee, O God,

For all that thou hast done;

Whose loue from vs remoues the rod

Which our offences woune?

Thy Sonne hath brought vs peace againe,

And made vs one with thee;

Although our sinnes deserued payne,

His crosse hath made vs free.

O how shall we requite thy loue?

What recompence is due

To thee or him? Helpe from aboue,

Our sinfull liues renew.

The best reward that we can giue

It helpes not thee at all;

Yet thou in bountie doest releeue

Vs wretched wightes in thrall.

Great is thy glory, loue, and might;

Thy mercies haue no ende:

All thanks and praise to thee in right

Each heart should still extend.

But we poore sinners may cry out

Against ourselues, and say,

Our purest deedes, like filthy clout,

Our grosse conceytes bewray.

No stay is in our crooked will;

A rash consent we giue

To each delight that seekes to kill

Our soules, therein we liue.

But now thy sauing health extend,

Thy mercies sweete prepare,

And salue our sores: let vs amend,

And breake thou Sathan’s snare.