XLVIII. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING. SOMETIMES a light surprises The Christian while he sings; With healing in 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, The vine nor fig-tree neither† Their wonted fruit should bear, His praise shall tune my voice; * Matthew vi. 34. † Habakkuk iii. 17, 18, For, while in him confiding, I cannot but rejoice. XLIX. TRUE PLEASURES LORD, my soul with pleasure springs, And when God the Spirit brings Still delighted I perceive; Nor have words that can express Clothed in sanctity and grace, Those who love thee as they pass, Or when they wait on thee: Pleasant too, to sit and tell What we owe to love divine; Those the comforts I possess, L. THE CHRISTIAN. HONOR and happiness unite To make the Christian's name a praise; Prov. iii, 17. † Matt. xi. 30. How fair the scene, how clear the light, A kingly character he bears, No change his priestly office knows; Adorn'd with glory from on high, Inferior honors he disdains, Nor stoops to take applause from earth: The noblest creature seen below, My soul is ravish'd at the thought! Angels congratulate his lot, And shout him welcome to the skies! LI. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR. I WAS a grovelling creature once, And basely cleaved to earth; I wanted spirit to renounce But God has breath'd upon a worm, Wings such as clothe an angel's form, With these to Pisgah's top I fly, And there delighted stand, The Lord of all the vast domain The length and breadth of all the plain, How glorious is my privilege! Though much exalted in the Lord, LII. FOR THE POOR. WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent, A message from the Lord was sent Should not Elijah's cake and cruset A gracious God will not refuse His saints and servants shall be fed, The promise is secure ; * Gen. xxi. 19. VOL. II. 1 Kings xvii. 14. 14 "Bread shall be given them," he has said, Repasts far richer they shall prove, To Jesus then your trouble bring, While you are poor and he is King, You shall not be forgot. LIII. MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD. I THIRST, but not as once I did, The vain delights of earth to share; It was the sight of thy dear cross First wean'd my soul from earthly things; And taught me to esteem as dross The mirth of fools and pomp of kings. I want that grace that springs from thee, Dear fountain of delight unknown! For sure, of all the plants that share * Isa. xxxiii. 16. |