Show me the reason, O my God

Verse 1

Shew me the Reason, O my God, Why I afflicted am; Since thou hast wash'd me in thy Blood, And cover'd all my shame.

Verse 2

Why yet must rebel Nature live To fill my Heart with Pain? Why yet my Jesus must I grieve? Shall Nature ne'er be slain?

Verse 3

Ten thousand Tears, more num'rous Sighs, Flow from this Heart of mine, In ardent Pray'r, with piercing Cries, I seek Redress in vain.

Verse 4

Whilst, passing thro' baptismal Fire, My Spirit frets and pines, And, languishing with fierce Desire, Would know thy deep Designs.

Verse 5

What! must I lose my Friends and Fame, All that's to be desir'd? Have vile Contempt pour'd on my Name, Abhorr'd, but not admir'd?

Verse 6

What! must Temptations yet prevail, And Satan sift my Heart? Whilst inbred Lusts my Mind assail, And cause me grievous Smart?

Verse 7

Must Heaven, Earth, and Hell unite, Against me in this War? How shall I bear this dreadful Fight, Or keep from foul Despair?

Verse 8

Take up the Cross, thyself deny, (O most ungrateful Sound!) Alas! I burn, and sin, and die, And feel the Spirit's Wound.

Verse 9

Is there no Way to glorify Thy Death and honour'd Name, Except I to myself thus die, And swim thro' Floods of Shame?

Verse 10

What! be deny'd my Heart's Desire, My Expectations crost, Whilst all my Joys of Sense expire, My Reputation lost?

Verse 11

The Thought of this distracts my Heart, 'Tis worse than Death or Hell; The Torment, Pangs, and dreadful Smart, My Tongue can never tell.

Verse 12

Peace, O my Soul; this is the Path That leads to Rest divine: 'Tis this illustrates Jesu's Death, And makes his Goodness shine.

Verse 13

Now, with my Lord nail'd to his Cross, I feel the untold Pain; But, ah! how loath to suffer Loss Am I, tho' 'is my Gain!

Verse 14

O Lamb! 'tis thou dost exercise Me with this searching Flame, And, thro' thy Suff'rings, wilt baptize Me into all thy Name.

Verse 15

Since this I know, I check my Fears, And all I am resign; Fly from my Heart, ye anxious Cares, My Lamb, I'm wholly thine.