Hezekiah's Thankesgiuing (Esa. 38.10)

WHen I suppos'd my time was at an end,
Thus, to my selfe, I did my selfe bemoane
Now to the Gates of hell I must descend;
For all the remnant of my yeares are gone.
The Lord . said I) where now the liuing be,
Nor man on earth, shall I for euer see.

As when a Sheapheard hath remou'd his Tent,
Or as a weauers shuttle slips away;
Right so, my Dwelling, & my Yeares, were spent:
And so, my sicknesse did my Life decay.
Each day, ere night, my death expected I;
And eu'ry night, ere morning, thought to dye.

For, He so Lyon-like my bones did breake,
That I scarce thought to liue another day.
A noyse I did like Cranes or Swallowes make:
And as the Turtle, I lamenting lay.
Then with vplifted eye-lids, thus I spake;
Oh Lord, on me oppressed, mercy take.

What shall I say? he did his promise giue;
And as he promist he performed it.
And therefore, I will neuer whilst I liue,
Those bitter passions of my soule forget:
Yea, those that liue, & those vnborne, shall know
What life and rest thou didst on me bestow.

My former Pleasures, Sorrowes were become:
But, in that loue, which to my soule thou hast,
The Graue, that all deuours, thou kep'st me from;
And didst my errors all behind thee cast.
For, nor the Graue, nor Death can honor Thee;
Nor hope they for thy Truth that buried be.

Oh! he that liues; that liues as I doe now:
Eu'n he it is that shall thy praise declare.
Thy Truth the Father to his Seed shall showe.
And how, thou me, oh Lord, hast daing'd to spare.
Yea Lord, for this, I will throughout my dayes
Make musicke in thy house; vnto thy praise.