PULL off thy shoes, and make thy garments white,
And sanctify thyself, ere thou dost dare
Approach the throne of the dread Sire of light
In his own house, to offer up thy pray'r.

Goad up thy soul, to active life arise,
Above terrestrial matters nobly soar,
And view th' invisible with Faith's keen eyes,
Ere thou addressest the Almighty Pow'r.

When thou, my soul! before thy God dost come,
How vast the distance, think! 'twixt him and thee;
And to approach thy Sov'reign ne'er presume,
But with submission, on thy bended knee.

The King of heav'n, who gave the angels birth,
The God of vengeance, and the Source of day,
The Judge of men, and Maker of the earth,
Is he, to whom thou now wou'dst homage pay!

Come then with rev'rence, come with ardour, near,
With holiness and faith his presence gain,
Before the Deity with zeal appear,
And thou thy bosom-wishes shalt obtain.

Lift up thine eyes, and spread thy hands, betimes,
And bend thy knees with supplication meek,
Beat, beat thy breast, repent thee of thy crimes,
Confess thy sins, and for God's favour seek.

Invoke thy heav'nly Sire, each stated hour,
Seek thou his kingdom and his righteousness,
In his Son's name, with spirit and with pow'r,
And thou shalt largely all the rest possess.

Seek thou God's glory, in the foremost place,
Seek, next, the things above this earthly ball,
Seek then with zealous earnestness his grace,
Seek all thou wantest, thou shalt have it all.

Before thou to the temple ent'rest in,
Be sure that thou with upright steps dost come,
Dismiss each bad design, each latent sin,
And leave each worldly-minded thought at home.

As faithful Abraham, ere he went to pray
Upon the mount, did leave his ass behind;
So ev'ry man shou'd cast his sins away,
And each presumptuous thought securely bind.

Moses himself took off his shoes to pray,
Ere he approach'd the radiant Source of light ;
Do thou, like him, throw ev'ry vice away,
Ere thou appearest in the Godhead's sight.

Joseph array'd him in a decent dress,
Ere he did to the Egyptian king appear :
Do thou, like him, prepare thyself no less,
Ere thou dost to the King of kings draw near.

The pious Esther wash'd herself, before
She by the Persian monarch wou'd be seen:
Ere thou approachest the Almighty Pow'r,
Take heed, that thou'rt from all pollution clean.

Whenever thou dost at the church appear,
Observe, how pleasant is the Lord's abode!
When there thou comest, come with aweful fear,
And due respect, before the Lord thy God.

Fall on thy bended knees, before the Lord,
Before him in his courts submissive bow,
Nor let thy lips once drop a single word,
Ere thou hast prais'd him with prostration low.

None among all the glorious saints above
Presume to laud the Ruler of the skies,
'Till they their crowns do from their heads remove,
And fall upon their knees in humble wise.

How then can dust and ashes e'er presume
To tread his courts without submission due?
Nay, even then, when they to worship come,
And for forgiveness humbly ought to sue?

Our Master Jesus, when he pray'd, fell low
Upon his face, before his glorious Sire:
Yet scarce will any of his servants bow
A knee, whatever they of God require.

The greater James so oft his God ador'd
Upon his naked knees, that they at last
(So very often he address'd the Lord!)
The camel's knees in callousness surpast.

Moses and Aaron, Joshua of old,
With each good king, that rul'd the Jews of yore,
And ev'ry prophet, that God's will foretold,
Shew'd us, how we the Godhead shou'd adore.

When thou hast fallen on the earth, before
Thy Great Creator, with all due respect,
His gracious aid and favour to implore,
Ere thou dost speak, on what thou sayst, reflect.

Daniel, before he spake unto the king,
Reflected long on what he had to say :
So ev'ry man shou'd due reflexion bring,
Ere he presumes unto his God to pray.

When thou hast well consider'd what to say,
Thy bosom beat, before thou dost begin,
Own thine unworthiness, and humbly pray
For pardon and remission of thy sin.

Cry out thus to him with a heart contrite,
'Let me, O God! thy gracious favour gain,
'Or that I shou'd the least request obtain.'

God is benign to all that beg his aid,
To ev'ry one that asks, he freely grants,
He gives to all, and never does upbraid,
He gives abundantly, to each that wants.

Whate'er thou askest, that thou'lt have, believe,
Take no denial, but with fervour crave,
And what thou askest, doubt not to receive:
Urgently ask, and thou the boon shalt have.

Doubt not thy heavenly Father's pow'r, or will;
Who gives to all, will freely give to thee:
For he is well-inclin'd, and able still,
A ready aid, and bountifully free!