Verse 1
Why woud my cruel Friends suppress
A desp’rate Madman’s Breath,
Restrain my Passion’s wild Excess,
My fond Desires of Death?
Why woud they curb the raging Flood,
It’s lawless Violence bind,
Forbid the Circling of my Blood,
Or reason down the Wind?

Verse 2
Go bid the shipwreck’d Man forbear
To grasp the long-sought Shore,
The Exile charge to lose his Care,
And sigh for Home no more
Go bid the Wretch on yonder Wheel
His Sense of Pain suspend,
Or let him all his Torture feel,
And not desire its End.

Verse 3
In vain alas! I strive to check
Th’ Involuntary Groan,
Yet still persist my Help to seek
In Death, and Death alone.
Amaz’d I ask, unhallow’d I,
And pine for my Release,
And start from my own Wish to die,
Who could not die in Peace.

Verse 4
The happy Souls who Jesus know
May lawfully request
A sudden Call from Things below
To their Redeemer’s Breast:
Whose Peace is made, whose Heart is pure,
May ask the Crowning Grace,
Of endless Happiness secure,
And die to see thy Face.

Verse 5

[unfinished]