SIMPLE TRUST. STILL, still, without ceasing, And often exclaim, Let me die in the flame Of a love that can never expire! Had I words to explain What she must sustain Who dies to the world and its ways; How joy and affright, Distress and delight, Alternately chequer her days: Thou, sweetly severe ! I would make thee appear, Than the bitter I meet, My tender and merciful Lord. This faith, in the dark, Through many sharp trials of love, Je the sorrowful waste That is to be pass'd in the way to the Canaan above. THE NECESSITY OF SELF-ABASEMENT. SOURCE of love, my brighter sun, See, my race is almost run; Hast thou left this trembling heart? In my youth thy charming eyes Drew me from the ways of men; Then I drank unmingled joys; Frown of thine saw never then. Spouse of Christ was then my name; Thee to love, and none beside, Through the dark and silent night Thou my gracious teacher wert; Conscious of no evil drift, But, soon humbled and laid low, Oh, the vain conceit of man, Though the Lord is good alone! He the graces thou hast wrought Such his folly-proved, at last, 'Tis by this reproof severe, Learn, all earth! that feeble man, LOVE INCREASED BY SUFFERING. "I LOVE the Lord," is still the strain This heart delights to sing; But I reply your thoughts are vain, Before the power of love divine In gulfs of awful night we find 'Tis there he stamps the yielding mind, And doubles all its fires. Flames of encircling love invest, And pierce it sweetly through; 'Tis fill'd with sacred joy, yet press'd With sacred sorrow too. Ah love! my heart is in the right— To thee, its ever new delight, Nor exile I nor prison fear; Nor castle walls, nor dungeons deep, There sorrow, for his sake, is found A Saviour doubles all my joys, His strength in my defence employs, Consoles me and sustains. I fear no ill, resent no wrong; Nor feel a passion move, When malice whets her slanderous tongue; SCENES FAVOURABLE TO MEDITATION. WILDS horrid and dark with o'ershadowing trees, Rocks that ivy and briers infold, Scenes nature with dread and astonishment sees, But I with a pleasure untold; |