GRACE by George Herbert

My stock lies dead, and no increase
Doth my dull husbandrie improve:
O let thy graces without cease
Drop from above!

If still the sunne should hide his face,
Thy house would but a dungeon prove,
Thy works nights captives: O let grace
Drop from above!

The dew doth ev’ry morning fall;
And shall the dew out-strip thy Dove?
The dew, for which grasse cannot call,
Drop from above.

Death is still working like a mole,
And digs my grave at each remove
Let grace work too, and on my soul
Drop from above.

Sinne is still hammering my heart
Unto a hardnesse, void of love:
Let suppling grace, to crosse his art,
Drop from above.

O come! for thou dost know the way:
Or if to me thou wilt not move,
Remove me, where I need not say,
Drop from above.

Pursuing the theme of grace, here are the thoughts of George Herbert (1593-1633)

A visit to Great Cumbrae, off the Ayrshire coast.

the famous island prayer is said to be:

Lord, we pray for thy blessings upon the island of Great Cumbrae,

And also for its neighbouring islands of Little Cumbrae and Britain.