The Revolution | Amplified Edition

Oh Thou which circumvolveth2
 all,
Not only on this earthly ball
(Where I, a wretched pilgrim3
, crawl),

But those vast orbs4
, which shine so bright
And are so glorious to our sight,
from Thee have influence and light.

Not only those who yearly run
Round that illustrious globe, the sun5
,
When Thou bidd’st stay6
, their race7
 is done;

But8
 those fixed stars, whose radiancies
Three hundred suns at least outvies,
Owe unto Thee their splendencies9
.

Should’st Thou Thy glorious beams recall,
To horrid chaos10
 they would fall
And darkness would involve11
 them all.

When Thou send’st forth th’all-quick’ning breath12
All that exists begins their birth;
When Thou draw’st back they turn to earth.

Who can Thy infinite power rehearse13
Which didst create this universe
And canst to atoms14
 it disperse?

Should all annihilated15
 be
(Which is as easy unto Thee),
Oh what would then become of me?

Nay, rather all to dust calcine16
,
I gladly will my form17
 resign,
It will my carnal18
 heart refine.

My tears my dust shall rarify19
To air which, circularly20
,
Thy blessèd name shall magnify.

But as my tears in air ascends
I’ll raise no storms to hurt my friends
(My soul hath far more noble ends).

But sighs, like winds, so fill my breast
That in this sphere I cannot rest;
That glorious beams may crown my crest21
.

For higher still I must aspire;
Thus noble thoughts do still fly higher
Till I dilate22
 myself to fire.

And as I now burn high and clear
Let me no prodigy23
 appear,
To put the guilty world in fear.

For love and zeal my breast inflames:
Then follow, all heroic dames;
It will immortalise your fames.

And now I am diffused24
 to light
By Thy almighty power and might
Let me enjoy Thy blessed sight.

My beams contracted as I shine,
This world to ashes would calcine25
,
But, oh, I could it not refine.

Nor back again I would not turn,
Though I a thousand worlds might burn:
It would too long my joys adjourn.

Then let me ever with Thee shine;
All transmutations I’ll decline,
The eternal glory shall be Thine.

Now you that scorn repentant tears
As if proceeding from base fears,
When yours lies low my dust it rears

From this sad solitary grove
To those eternal joys above,
Where all’s involved in light and love.