Philip Stanhope Worsley (1831-1866). I. "Out of the deeps." Alfred H. Miles, ed. 1907. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century

Alfred H. Miles, ed. The Sacred Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.

I. “Out of the deeps”

By Philip Stanhope Worsley (1831–1866)


OUT of the deeps how often hath my cry
Gone up to God on the wild wings of prayer!
Even so often hath He deigned to hear;
So often hath He said—Thou shalt not die;
So often—Stand upon thy feet once more;	5
So often—Serve Me better than before.
But I, the river of my pain being past,
Slighted His Succour Who had borne me through,
Daily deferring the sweet service due,
Till seem’d that Mercy’s self might scarce refrain	10
Her patient hands from vengeance at the last.
But Thee, still seeking Thy reluctant Sheep
’Mid thorny-tangled brakes that pierce Thee deep,
Iron ingratitude repels in vain.