Great God! how manifold, how infinite <br />Are all Thy works! with what a clear foresight <br />Didst Thou create and multiply their birth! <br />Thy riches fill the far-extended earth; <br />The ample sea, in whose unfathom'd deep <br />Innumerable sorts of creatures creep; <br />Bright-scaled fishes in her entrails glide, <br />And high-built ships upon her bosom ride; <br />About whose sides the crooked dolphin plays, <br />And monstrous whales huge spouts of water raise <br />All on the land, or in the ocean bred, <br />On Thee depend, in their due season fed; <br />They gather what Thy bounteous hands bestow, <br />And in the summer of Thy favour grow. <br />When Thou contract'st Thy clouded brows, they mourn, <br />And dying, to their former dust return; <br />Again created by Thy quick'ning breath, <br />To re-supply the massacres of death. <br />No track of time His glory shall destroy; <br />He in th' obedience of His works shall joy; <br />But when their wild revolts His wrath provoke, <br />Earth trembles, and the airy mountains smoke. <br />I all my life will my Creator praise, <br />And to His service dedicate my days. <br />May He accept the music of my voice, <br />While I with sacred harmony rejoice; <br />Hence, ye profane, who in your sins delight; <br />God shall extirp, and cast ye from His sight. <br />My soul, bless thou this all-commanding King - <br />You saints and angels, Hallelujah sing.<br /><br />George Sandys<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-works-of-god/
