by Edward Taylor (1646? - 1729)
The ebb and flow
Language: English
When first Thou on me, Lord, wroughtest Thy sweet print, My heart was made Thy tinder-box, My 'ffections were Thy tinder in't, Where fell Thy sparks by drops. Those holy sparks of heavenly fire that came Did ever catch and often out would flame. But now my heart is made Thy censer trim, Full of Thy golden altar's fire, To offer up sweet incense in Unto Thyself entire: I find my tinder scarce Thy sparks can feel That drop from out Thy holy flint and steel. Hence doubts out bud for fear Thy fire in me 'S a mocking ignis fatuus, Or lest Thine altar's fire out be, It's hid in ashes thus. Yet when the bellows of Thy spirit blow Away mine ashes, then Thy fire doth glow.
Authorship:
- by Edward Taylor (1646? - 1729), "The ebb and flow" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gordon Ware Binkerd (1916 - 2003), "The ebb and flow", published 1967. [SATB chorus a cappella] [text not verified]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-06-03
Line count: 18
Word count: 129