See the true ancient Church appears

See the true ancient Church appears,
Peter's unerring successors.
Who Christ and God disown!
Adulterers and murderers rise,
And monsters of unnatural vice
Adorn the Papal throne.

Shock'd at the hypocrites profane,
My son, when undeceived, restrain
From worse, if worse can be;
Nor let him all religion cast
Behind, and shelter take at last
In infidelity.

Father, for Thy own mercy's sake.
Let all my mournful prayers come back
Li that tremendous day.
While ready and resolved he is
To plunge into the dark abyss,
And cast his soul away!

Then in his soul the secret tell,
And answering for Thyself, reveal
The Truth so long unknown,
The Way, which Thou in Jesus art.
And Life, eternal life, impart
By giving him Thy Son.

The blessed day of my release
(Should sorrow's pangs no sooner cease)
Will swallow up my woe,
Make darkness light, and crooked straight,
Unwind the labyrinths of fate,
And all the secret show.

But while Thy way is in the deep,
Thou dost not chide, if still I weep,
If still mine eyes run o'er;
The bitterness of death is pass'd;
The bitterness of life may last
A few sad moments more.

Patient till death I feel my pain,
But neither murmur nor complain.
While humbled in the dust;
My sins the cause of my distress
I feel, and mournfully confess
The punishment is just.

Wherefore with soft and silent pace
I measure out my suffering days
In view of joys to come.
In hope His plan to comprehend,
When Jesus shall with clouds descend,
And call me from the tomb.

My God alone I fain would love,
And patient Thy return attend,
These clouds and mountains to remove,
And give me an expected end,
Explain my life of misery.
With all Thy love's designs on me.

A child of sorrow from the womb,
By sad variety of pain
Weigh'd down, I sink into the tomb.
Yet only of myself complain;
My sins the root of bitterness
I must in life and death confess.

But trouble shall not always last:
Affliction's child shall weep no more,
When thankful for my sufferings / j/,
Exulting on the heavenly shore,
I tell the' acclaiming hosts above
That all Thy paths were truth and love.

Come, Finisher of sin and woe,
And let me die my God to see;
My God, as I am known, to know,
Fathom the depths of Deity,
And spend, contemplating Thy face,
A bless'd eternity in praise.