Wisdom and mercy guide my way, A Shall I resist them both? poor blind creature of a day, And crush'd before the moth! But ah! my inward spirit cries, Else the next cloud that veils the skies XLVI. THE HAPPY CHANGE. How bless'd thy creature is, O God, He views the lustre of thy word, Through all the storms that veil the skies With healing on his wings. Struck by that light, the human heart, Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad, The soul, a dreary province once The glorious orb whose golden beams Has cheer'd the nations with the joys Can shine upon the heart. FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee, The calm retreat, the silent shade, There if thy Spirit touch the soul, Oh, with what peace, and joy, and love, There like the nightingale she pours Her solitary lays; Nor asks a witness of her song, Nor thirsts for human praise. Author and guardian of my life, What thanks I owe thee, and what love, A boundless, endless store, Shall echo through the realms above When time shall be no more. XLVIII. THE HIDDEN LIFE. To tell the Saviour all my wants, Nor less to praise him when he grants My labouring spirit vainly seeks With how much tenderness he speaks, Nor were it wise, nor should I choose, Like precious wines their taste they lose, But this with boldness I proclaim, Not life is half so dear. And can you frown, my former friends, Who knew what once I was, And blame the song that thus commends The Man who bore the cross? Trust me, I draw the likeness true, And not as fancy paints; Such honour may he give to you, For such have all his saints. XLIX. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING. SOMETIMES a light surprises The Christian while he sings; It is the Lord who rises With healing on his wings: In holy contemplation We sweetly then pursue Set free from present sorrow, E'en let the unknown to-morrow It can bring with it nothing, 28 Though vine nor fig tree neither 29 Though all the field should wither, Nor flocks nor herds be there: 28 Matthew, vi. 34. 29 Habakkuk, iii. 17, 18. Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice; L. TRUE PLEASURES. LORD, my soul with pleasure springs Still delighted I perceive; Clothed in sanctity and grace, Those who love thee as they pass, What we owe to love divine; Which God shall still increase, All his ways are pleasantness 30 And all his paths are peace. 31 Matt. xi. 30. |