The hand that gave it still supplies Let everlasting thanks be thine, As makes a world of darkness shine My soul rejoices to pursue XXXI. ON THE DEATH OF A His master taken from his head, But he forgot the Lord, who lifts What! when a Paul has run his course, Is Israel left without resource? And have we no supplies? Yes, while the dear Redeemer lives, XXXII. THE SHINING LIGHT. My former hopes are fled, I feel, alas! that I am dead Ah, whither shall I fly? I hear the thunder roar; The law proclaims destruction nigh, When I review my ways, C 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, It marks the pilgrim's way; I'll gaze upon it while I run, And watch the rising day. XXXIII. THE WAITING SOUL. I wish, thou know'st, to be resigned, Help me to reach the distant goal; That faints for love of thee! Cold as I feel this heart of mine, I seem forsaken and alone, I hear the lion roar; There, till the dear Deliverer come, XXXIV. SEEKING THE To those who know the Lord I speak ; The Bridegroom of my soul I seek, Though once a man of grief and shame, And bears the greatest, sweetest name That earth or heaven has known D Grace flies before, and love attends He speaks;-obedient to his call Then all alike would love. Then love in every heart would reign, Such Jesus is, and such his grace; XXXV. LIGHT SHINING OUT OF DARKNESS. GOD moves in a mysterious way Deep in unfathomable mines He treasures up his bright designs, Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take, In blessings on your head. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust him for his grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, Blind unbelief is sure to err, And scan his work in vain : God is his own interpreter, And He will make it plain. XXXVI. WELCOME CROSS. 'Tis my happiness below God in Israel sows the seeds Of affliction, pain, and toil; Trials give new life to prayer; Did I meet no trials here, Sunk in earthly vain delight: XXXVII. AFFLICTIONS SANC TIFIED BY THE WORD. OH, how I love thy holy word, What are the mines of shining wealth, The strength of youth, the bloom of health! What are all joys compared with those Long unafflicted, undismayed, What though it pierced my fainting heart, Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised, I love thee, therefore, O my God, XXXVIII. TEMPTATION. O Lord, the pilot's part perform, storm; Defend me from each threatening ill, Control the waves,-say, "Peace! be still." Amidst the roaring of the sea Dangers of every shape and name GOD of my life, to thee I call, Friend of the friendless and the faint, That were a grief I could not bear, Fair is the lot that's cast for me; Poor though I am, despised, forgot, XL. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. My soul is sad, and much dismayed; See, Lord, what legions of my foes, With fierce Apollyon at their head, My heavenly pilgrimage oppose! See, from the ever-burning lake, How like a smoky cloud they rise! With horrid blasts my soul they shake, With storms of blasphemies and lies. Their fiery arrows reach the mark, My throbbing heart with anguish tear; Each lights upon a kindred spark, And finds abundant fuel there. I hate the thought that wrongs the Lord; Oh! I would drive it from my breast, With thy own sharp two-edged sword, Far as the east is from the west. Come, then, and chase the cruel host, Heal the deep wounds I have received! Nor let the powers of darkness boast That I am foiled, and thou art grieved! XLI. PEACE AFTER A STORM. WHEN darkness long has veiled my mind, And smiling day once more appears, Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be Thus prone to act so base a part, Or harbour one hard thought of thee. Oh! let me then at length be taught What I am still so slow to learn ; That God is Love, and changes not, Nor knows the shadow of a turn. Sweet truth, and easy to repeat! Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide. But, O my Lord, one look from thee Subdues the disobedient will, Drives doubt and discontent away, And thy rebellious worm is still. Thou art as ready to forgive As I am ready to repine; Thou, therefore, all the praise receive; Be shame and self-abhorrence mine. XLII. MOURNING AND LONGING. THE Saviour hides his face! My spirit thirsts to prove Renewed supplies of pardoning grace, And never-fading love. The favoured souls who know What glories shine in him, Pant for his presence as the roe Pants for the living stream. What trifles tease me now! They swarm like summer flies; They cleave to everything I do, And swim before my eyes. How dull the Sabbath day Without the Sabbath's Lord! How toilsome then to sing and pray, And wait upon the word! Of all the truths I hear, Yet let me (as I ought) No pleasure else is worth a thought, Though I am but a worm, Unworthy of his care, The Lord will my desire perform, And grant me all my prayer. XLIII. SELF-ACQUAINTANCE. DEAR Lord! accept a sinful heart, And mourns, with much and frequent smart, The evil it contains. There fiery seeds of anger lurk, Legality holds out a bribe To purchase life from thee; How eager are my thoughts to roam Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood, XLIV. PRAYER FOR PATIENCE. LORD, who hast suffered all for me, My peace and pardon to procure, The lighter cross I bear for thee Help me with patience to endure. The storm of loud repining hush; I would in humble silence mourn; Why should the unburnt, though burning bush, Be angry as the crackling thorn? Man should not faint at thy rebuke, Perhaps some golden wedge suppressed, I yet should have no right to say, Let me not angrily declare No pain was ever sharp like mine, Nor murmur at the cross I bear, But rather weep, remembering thine. XLV. SUBMISSION. O LORD, my best desire fulfil, What most I prize to thee; 'Tis better still to want. Wisdom and mercy guide my way, But ah! my inward spirit cries, Still bind me to thy sway; Else the next cloud that veils the skies Drives all these thoughts away. XLVI. THE HAPPY CHANGE. How blessed thy creature is, O God, Through all the storms that veil the skies With healing on his wings. Struck by that light, the human heart, A barren soil no more, Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad, The soul, a dreary province once Feels a new empire formed within, The glorious orb whose golden beams Since first, obedient to thy word, Has cheered the nations with the joys But, Jesus, 'tis thy light alone XLVII. RETIREMENT. FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee, The calm retreat, the silent shade, There, if thy Spirit touch the soul, And grace her mean abode, There like the nightingale she pours Nor asks a witness of her song, Nor thirsts for human praise. Author and guardian of my life, Sweet source of light divine, What thanks I owe thee, and what love, |