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An Ode, or Psalm To God

by Robert Herrick, 1647

Dear God,
    If Thy smart rod
Here did not make me sorry,
    I should not be
    With Thine or Thee
In Thy eternal glory.

      But since
    Thou didst convince
My sins by gently striking;
    Add still to those
    First stripes new blows,
According to Thy liking.

      Fear me,
    Or scourging tear me;
That thus from vices driven,
    I may from hell
    Fly up to dwell
With Thee and Thine in heaven.

Published in Noble Numbers
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