Author: Ben Jonson Source: To Heaven

Good and great God, can I not think of thee Meaning: The speaker addresses God, questioning why thinking of God makes him sad.

But it must straight my melancholy be? Meaning: He wonders if his sadness is a sign of illness.

Is it interpreted in me disease Meaning: He asks if seeking relief from sin is seen as a disease.

That, laden with my sins, I seek for ease? Meaning: He feels weighed down by his sins and seeks comfort.

Oh be thou witness, that the reins dost know Meaning: He calls on God, who knows people's inner thoughts and hearts, as a witness.

And hearts of all, if I be sad for show, Meaning: He asks God to judge him if he is only pretending to be sad.

And judge me after; if I dare pretend Meaning: He asks God to judge him if he claims to deserve anything but grace.

To ought but grace or aim at other end. Meaning: He says he aims for nothing other than God's grace.

As thou art all, so be thou all to me, Meaning: He asks God to be everything to him.

First, midst, and last, converted one, and three; Meaning: He describes God as first, middle, and last, one and three (Trinity).

My faith, my hope, my love; and in this state Meaning: He declares God is his faith, hope, and love.

My judge, my witness, and my advocate. Meaning: In this state, God is his judge, witness, and advocate.

Where have I been this while exil'd from thee? Meaning: He asks where he has been while exiled from God.

And whither rap'd, now thou but stoop'st to me? Meaning: He wonders where he was taken when God stooped to him.

Dwell, dwell here still. O, being everywhere, Meaning: He asks God to dwell with him always, since God is everywhere.

How can I doubt to find thee ever here? Meaning: He says he cannot doubt finding God anywhere.

I know my state, both full of shame and scorn, Meaning: He knows his state is full of shame and scorn.

Conceiv'd in sin, and unto labour borne, Meaning: He was conceived in sin and born to labor.

Standing with fear, and must with horror fall, Meaning: He stands in fear and will fall in horror.

And destin'd unto judgment, after all. Meaning: He is destined for judgment after all.

I feel my griefs too, and there scarce is ground Meaning: He feels his griefs and says there is hardly room on his body for another wound.

Upon my flesh t' inflict another wound. Meaning: He says his flesh can barely take another wound.

Yet dare I not complain, or wish for death Meaning: Yet he dares not complain or wish for death like Saint Paul.

With holy Paul, lest it be thought the breath Meaning: He fears his wish for death might be seen as discontent.

Of discontent; or that these prayers be Meaning: He worries his prayers might be seen as weariness of life.

For weariness of life, not love of thee. Meaning: He wants his prayers to be for love of God, not just tiredness.