Recovery from Sickness

Awake my heart, arise my joyful pow'rs,
In songs of gratitude, and love, and praise,
To God, the great deliverer's holy name!
To God, my strength, my all-sufficient refuge,
Whose pow'rful hand sustain'd my feeble frame,
Through all the tiresome scenes of pain and sickness,
And rais'd me from the borders of the grave.

Death frown'd severe, and all the prospect round
Was dark; with scarce a ray of glimm'ring light
To point my view beyond the sable veil!
Almighty goodness saw, with pitying eye,
My deep distress; my groans, and long complaints,
And sorrows reach'd the ear of heavenly mercy.
My God attended to the humble pray'r,
The mournful breathings of a helpless worm,
And sent divine supports.
The consolations of his sacred word
Bore up my fainting spirit; rays of hope
Broke through the shades of death, and bid my soul
Look up, and view her heav'nly Father's hand,
And bear his just rebukes, and patient wait
His sov'reign will! then smiling comfort dawn'd,
And hush'd my sorrows to a peaceful calm.
A Father's kind indulgent care appear'd,
And while his rod chastis'd, his arm sustain'd.
At length fair health with cheerful aspect comes:
Hail long-desir'd, delightful, welcome guest!
Gift of indulgent heaven! inspir'd by thee,
Source of a thousand joys, my full heart pants
To pour the transport in a song of praise,
A grateful tribute to th' almighty donor.

But ah! my voice unequal to my wishes,
Forbids th' attempt, and damps the rising ardour.
Would the same pow'r which rais'd my sinking frame,
Brought back declining health, and bid me live,
Inspire the lay, and teach my song to flow
Harmonious to his wond'rous healing mercy!
Then should my tongue, with joyful rapture fir'd,
Begin the pleasing theme, and sing unwearied
Thy mercy, and thy pow'r, all-bounteous Lord,
Forever good, beneficent, and kind!

But oh! what tongue can speak, what heart conceive
Almighty goodness? Infinitely short
The highest notes a mortal voice can raise
Must fall! As well I fondly might presume
To count the endless train of shining lamps
Which deck the azure canopy of heav'n,
My gracious God, as thy unnumber'd mercies
O may thy goodness, thy indulgent love,
Forever dwell upon my thankful heart,
And teach my future life to speak thy praise.