Dost therefore thou to him alone

Commit thy sinful soul?
Knowing of thy salvation

Thy Husband is the whole?

SECTION III.

Believers characterised by the objects and purity of their desire, delight, joy, hatred, and love, discovering they have the Spirit of Christ.

DOST

OST thou his Spirit's conduct wait?
And, when compar'd to this,

All worldly wisdom under-rate ?
Thy Husband waits to bliss.

Tak'st thou his Spirit for thy guide
Through Baca's valley dry,
Whose streams of influences guide
Thy Husband's garden by?

In digging wells here by his pow'r,
Dost find it not in vain,

While here a drop, and there a show'r,
Thy Husband makes to rain?

Hence dost thou through each weary case
From strength to strength go on,
From faith to faith, while grace for grace
Thy Husband gives anon?

The good, the gracious work begun,
And further'd by his strength,

Shall prosp'rous, though with wrestling, win

Thy Husband's crown at length.

Sin's pow'r and presence canst thou own
Is the most grievious smart,
That makes thee sob and weep alone?

Thy Husband knows thy heart,

Does love to him make thee distaste
Thy lusts, with all their charms?
And most them loth'st, when most thou hast
Thy Husband in thine arms?

Are cords of love the sweetest ties

To bind thee duty-ways?

And best thou serv'st, when most thou spies
Thy Husband's beauteous rays?

Didst ever thou thy pardon read
In tears of untold joy?
When mercy made thy heart to bleed,
Thy Husband was not coy.

Do pardons sweetly melt thy heart?
And most embitter sin ?

And make thee long with dross to part,
Thy Husband's throne to win?

When he arises lusts to kill,

Corruptions to destroy,

Does gladness then thy spirit fill?

Thy Husband is thy joy.

Dost thou his person fair embrace

Beyond his blissings all?

Sure, then, thou boldly may'st through grace

Thy Husband Jesus call.

What company dost thou prefer?

What friends above the rest?

Of all relations ever were,

Thy Husband is the best.

Whom in the earth or heav'n dost thou

Most ardently desire?

Is loves ascending spark unto
Thy Husband set on fire?

Hast thou a hatred to his foes,

And dost their coarse decline?
Lov'st thou his saints, and dar'st suppose
Thy Husband's friends are thine?

Dost thou their talk and walk esteem,
When most divinely grave?

And favour'st best when most they seem
Thy Husband's sp'rit to have?

SECTION IV.

Believers in Christ affect his counsel, word, ordinances, appearance, full enjoyment in heaven, and sweet presence

here.

W

'HERE go'st thou first when in a strait,
Or when with grief opprest?

Flee'st thou to him? O happy gate!

Thy Husband is thy rest.

His counsel seek'st thou still prepar'd,
Nor canst without him live?
Wisdom to guide, and strength to guard,
Thy Husband hath to give.

Canst thou produce no pleasant pawn,
Or token of his love?

Won't signets, bracelets from his hand

Thy Husband's kindness prove?

Mind'st when he sent his healing word,
Which darted from on high,
Did light, and life, and joy afford?
Thy Husband then was nigh.

Canst thou the promise sweet forget,
He dropt into thy heart?
Such glad'ning pow'r, and love with it,
Thy Husband did impart.

Dost thou affect his dwelling-place,
And mak'st it thy repair;

Because thine eyes have seen, through grace,
Thy Husband's glory there?

Dost love his great appearing day,
And thereon muse with joy;
When dusky shades will fly away,
Thy Husband death destroy?

Dost long to see his glorious face
Within the higher orb,
Where humid sorrows losing place,
Thy Husband's rays absorb ?

Long'st to be free of ev'ry fault,

To bid all sin adieu ?

And mount the hill, where glad thou shalt
Thy Husband's glory view?

Life where it lives, love where it loves,
Will most desire to be.

Such love sick longing plainly proves
Thy Husband's love to thee.

What is it best can ease thy plaint,
Spread morning o'er thine ev'n?
Is his approach thy heart's content,
Thy Husband's presence heaven?

And when deny'd this sweet relief,
Canst thou assert full well,
His hiding is thy greatest grief,
Thy Husband's absence hell?

Let thy experience be disclos'd;
If conscience answer, Yea,
To all the queries here propos'd,
Thy Husband's thine for aye.
Pertain these characters to thee?
Then, soul, begin and praise
His glorious worthy name, for he
Thy Husband is always.

SECTION V.

The true believer's humility, dependence, zeal, growth, admiration of free grace, and knowledge of Christ's

voice.

DERHAPS a saint may sigh and say,

PE

"I fear I'm yet to learn

"These marks of marriage-love." Yet stay,

Thy Husband's bowels yearn.

Though darkness may thy light obscure,

And storms surmount thy calms,

Day yield to night, and thou be poor,
Thy Husband yet has alms.

Dost see thyself an empty brat,
A poor unworthy thing,

With heart upon the dust laid flat?
Thy Husband there does reign.