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*IV.

FOR A PERSON SUFFERING FROM A NERVOUS DREAD OF ILLNESS.

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."-Psalm lvi. 3. 1 WHY should I take such anxious thought, Fearing this fragile frame's decay? When, "strong in faith," shall I be taught Just to live simply by the day?

2 Why mark each sign so anxiously, Lest fatal mischief be begun ? Soon, at the latest, I must die

An hour-glass has not long to run!

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3 But He who formed this mortal frame,
Fearfully, wonderfully made,"
He bears a Father's tender name;
Why is my fluttering heart afraid?
4 His word commands me not to fear
Those who can kill this body frail;
Nor aught that I may suffer here—
Then why should unbelief prevail ?

5 He will not lay upon me more

Than he will aid me to sustain ; And soon, my term of suffering o'er,

For me

"there shall be no more pain."

6 And whether sudden, or prolonged, Gentle, or sharp, my final pain,

My soul, which ne'er to earth belonged,
Through it, her glorious rest will gain.

7 Be coward fears no longer mine,
Faith trembles not at pain, or death;
Clothed with its panoply divine,
In peace shall I resign my breath.

8 Saviour! in my expiring hour,

Show that thou art indeed my life,
And make me, by thy glorious power,
A conqueror in that awful strife.

*V.

FOR A PERSON UNDER DEPRESSION FROM TOTAL LOSS OF

HEARING.

"Is any among you afflicted, let him pray.”—James v. 13.

1 I am afflicted, let me pray—

Cheer, thou, O God! my lonely day;
And, though from man shut out,
Let no rebellious thoughts arise,
To mingle murmuring with my sighs-
Thy love, I dare not doubt.

2 One task is given me to fulfil,

To learn to know, and do thy will;
To do it from my heart;

That will, when rightly understood,
Is "holy, acceptable, good,"

Perfect in every part.

3 Is it thy will that I should be Bereft of man's society,

And the sweet sound of speech ? Then, Lord, conform my will to thine! Forbid thy creature to repine,

Thy child submission teach.

4 In solitude my soul prepare,
Ere long, high intercourse to share,
With all thy saints above;
There, no defect, no feeble frame,
Will part the followers of the Lamb,
Or cloud their life of love.

5 But is it solitude to me,

Withdrawn from man, to walk with thee,
My Saviour and my God?

When the chief troubles I have known,
Have sprung from this, and this alone,
Scattering my thoughts abroad?

6 I hear no earthly pastor's voice,
But His who makes the heart rejoice,

The troubled mind be still

That Comforter's sweet words are mine,
Whose heavenly grace, whose light divine,
My soul with joy can fill.

7 And I can read the word of life,
Freed from distraction, noise and strife,
And meditate in peace,

Waiting that "Ephatha" from thee,
The prelude of heaven's harmony,
When life's short woes will cease.

*VI.

FOR A BLIND PERSON.

"He endured, as seeing him who is invisible."-Heb. xi. 27. 1 ARE Nature's charms all hidden,

For ever from my view ? Am I in darkness bidden, My journey to pursue? My Father! oh, my Father!

Thy child can trust thee still,
And strength from thee can gather,
To suffer all thy will.

2 Though many a form be shrouded,
That once inspired delight,
My soul's clear eye unclouded,
And filled with inward light,
May gaze with steadier vision
On things to faith revealed,
And wait, in meek submission,
For all to be unsealed.

3 Vain things, that once deluded,

The world's false glare, and show,

By loss of sight excluded,

Nor please, nor tempt me now;

Should I not welcome blindness,

If sent, my God, by thee,
In thy parental kindness,

To break earth's spells for me?

4 Oh! if this sad privation,

Which men misfortune deem,
Make Christ, and his salvation,
"The one thing needful" seem,
I then shall gain that treasure,
Impervious to decay,

Which care, ambition, pleasure,
Might else have snatched away.

5 On thee, my God! reclining,
From things external freed,
Calm, peaceful, unrepining,
I go

where thou shalt lead.

Loved looks, still lovelier seeming,
In memory's glow arrayed,
On me are ever beaming,

Undimmed by sorrow's shade.

6 Loved voices still can cheer me,
Sweet birds my ear can charm,
Kind guardians, ever near me,
Watch to protect from harm;
But oh! the thought most cheering,
Fraught with delight untold,
Is this at thine appearing,
Thy face I shall behold.

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