Good will to men, and zeal for God,
His every thought engross;

He longs to be baptized with blood 15,
He pants to reach the cross!

With all his sufferings full in view,
And woes to us unknown,
Forth to the task his spirit flew;
'Twas love that urged him on.

Lord, we return thee what we can:
Our hearts shall sound abroad,
Salvation to the dying Man,
And to the rising God!

And while thy bleeding glories here
Engage our wondering eyes,
We learn our lighter cross to bear,
And hasten to the skies.

XXIX.

EXHORTATION TO PRAYER.

WHAT various hindrances we meet.

In coming to a mercy seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of

But wishes to be often there?

prayer,

Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw,

Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw,

Gives exercise to faith and love,

Brings every blessing from above.

Restraining prayer, we cease to fight;
Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright;
And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees,
15 Luke, xii. 50.

While Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when through weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd 116.

Have you no words? Ah! think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.
Were half the breath thus vainly spent
To Heaven in supplication sent,

Your cheerful song would oftener be,

"Hear what the Lord has done for me."

XXX. THE LIGHT AND GLORY OF THE WORD.

THE Spirit breathes upon the word,

And brings the truth to sight;
Precepts and promises afford
A sanctifying light.

A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;

It gives a light to every age,
It gives, but borrows none.
The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

16 Exodus, xvii. 11.

My soul rejoices to pursue

The steps of him I love,

Till glory break upon my view
In brighter worlds above.

XXXI. ON THE DEATH OF A MINISTER.

His master taken from his head,
Elisha saw him go;

And in desponding accents said,
66 Ah, what must Israel do?"

But he forgot the Lord who lifts
The beggar to the throne;
Nor knew, that all Elijah's gifts

Would soon be made his own.

What! when a Paul has run his course,

Or when Apollos dies,

Is Israel left without resource,
And have we no supplies?

Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives,
We have a boundless store,
And shall be fed with what he gives,
Who lives for evermore.

XXXII. THE SHINING LIGHT.

My former hopes are fled,
My terror now begins;

I feel, alas! that I am dead
In trespasses and sins.

Ah, whither shall I fly?

I hear the thunder roar;

The Law proclaims Destruction nigh,
And Vengeance at the door.

When I review my ways,

I dread impending doom:
But sure a friendly whisper says,
"Flee from the wrath to come."
I see, or think I see,

A glimmering from afar;

A beam of day, that shines for me,
To save me from despair.

Forerunner of the sun 17,
It marks the pilgrim's way;
gaze upon it while I run,
And watch the rising day.

I'll

XXXIII.

THE WAITING SOUL 18.

BREATHE from the gentle south, O Lord,
And cheer me from the north;
Blow on the treasures of thy word,
And call the spices forth!

I wish, Thou know'st, to be resign'd,
And wait with patient hope;
But hope delayed fatigues the mind,
And drinks the spirits up.

17 Psalm cxxx. 6.

18 This Hymn, which has not been marked as Cowper's in the Olney Collection, and consequently not included in any edition of his works, is here restored to him on the authority of Mrs. Johnson, the widow of his excellent kinsman.

Help me to reach the distant goal;
Confirm my feeble knee;

Pity the sickness of a soul

That faints for love of thee!

Cold as I feel this heart of mine,
Yet, since I feel it so,

It yields some hope of life divine
Within, however low.

I seem forsaken and alone,
I hear the lion roar;

And

every door is shut but one,
And that is Mercy's door.

There, till the dear Deliverer come,
I'll wait with humble prayer;
And when he calls his exile home,
The Lord shall find him there.

XXXIV. SEEKING THE BELOVED.

To those who know the Lord I speak ; my beloved near?

Is

The bridegroom of my soul I seek,

Oh! when will he appear?

Though once a man of grief and shame,

Yet now he fills a throne,

And bears the greatest, sweetest name,
That earth or heaven have known.

Grace flies before, and love attends
His steps where'er he goes;

Though none can see him but his friends,
And they were once his foes.

S. C.-8.

G