Art in thine own esteem a beast,
And dost thyself abhor?
The more thou hast of self-distaste,
Thy Husband loves thee more.
Can hell bread no such wicked elf,
As thou in thine own sight?
Thou'st got, to see thy filthy self,
Thy Husband's purest light.
Canst find no names so black, so vile,
With which thou wouldst compare,
But call'st thyself a lump of hell?
Thy Husband calls thee fair.
When his kind visits make thee see
He's precious, thou art vile,
Then mark the hand of God with thee,
Thy Husband gives a smile.
He knows what visits suit thy state,
And, though most rare they be,
It sets thee well on him to wait,
Thy Husband waits on thee.
Dost see thou art both poor and weak,
And he both full and strong?
O don't his kind delays mistake,
Thy Husband comes ere long.
Though, during Sinai's stormy day,
Thou dread'st the dismal blast,
And fear'st thou art a cast-away,
Thy Husband comes at last.
The glorious sun will rise apace,
And spread his healing wings,
In sparkling pomp of sov'reign grace,
Thy Husband gladness brings.
Canst thou, whate'er should come of thee,
Yet with his Zion well,
And joy in her prosperity ?
Thy Husband loves thy zeal.
Dost thou admire his love to some,
Though thou shouldst never share? Mercy to thee will also come,
Thy Husband hath to spare.
Poor soul! dost grieve for want of grace,
And weep for want of love.
And Jesus seek'st? O hopeful case!
Thy Husband lives above.
Regreting much thy falling short,
Dost after more aspire?
There's hope in Isra'l for thy sort,
Thy Husband's thy desire.
Art thou well pleas'd that sov'reign grace
Through Christ exalted be?
This frame denotes no hopeless case,
Thy Husband's pleas'd with thee.
Couldst love to be the footstool low,
On which his throne might rise.
Its pompous grace around to shew?
Thy Husband does thee prize.
If but a glance of his fair face
Can cheer thee more than wine;
Thou in his loving heart hast place,
Thy Husband place in thine.
Dost make his blood thy daily bath?
His word and oath thy stay?
His law of love thy lightsome path?
Thy Husband is thy way.
All things within earth's spacious womb
Dost count but lost and dung.
For one sweet word in season from
Thy Husband's learned tongue?
Skill to discern and know his voice
From words of wit and art,
Will clearly prove thou art his choice,
Thy Husband thine in heart.
The pompous words that fops admire,
May vagrant fancy feast;
But with seraphic harmless fire
Thy Husband's burn the breast.
True believers are willing to be tried and examined. Comforts arising to them from Christ's ready supply, real sympathy, and relieving names, suiting their need.
OST thou upon thy trait'rous heart
Still keep a jealous eye?
Most willing that thine inward part
Thy Husband strictly try?
The thieving crowd will hate the light,
Least stol'n effects be shown:
But truth desires what's wrong or right
Thy Husband would make known.
Dost then his trying word await,
His searching doctrine love?
Fond, lest thou err through self-deceit,
Thy Husband would thee prove?
Dost oft thy mind with inward smart
Bewail thy unbelief?
And conscious sue from plagues of heart
Thy Husband for relief?
Why doubt'st his love? and yet behold,
With him thou wouldst not part
For thousand thousand earth's of gold;
Thy Husband has thy heart.
Though darkness, deadness, unbelief,
May all thy soul attend;
Light, life, and faith's mature relief,
Thy Husband has to send.
Of wants annoying, why complain ?
Supply arises hence,
What gifts he has receiv'd for men,
Thy Husband will dispense.
He got them in's exalted state
For rebels such as thou;
All then that's needful, good, or great,
Thy Husband will allow.
Thy wants he sees, thy crys he hears;
And, marking all thy moans,
He in his bottle keeps thy tears,
Thy Husband notes thy groans.
All thine infirmities him touch,
They strike his feeling heart;
His kindly sympathy is such,
Thy Husband finds the smart.
Whatever touches thee affects
The apple of his eye;
Whatever harms, he therefore checks,
Thy Husband's aid is nigh.
If foes are spar'd, thy need is such,
He slays them but in part:
He can do all, and will do much,
Thy Husband acts by art.
He often for the saddest hour
Reserves the sweetest aid:
See how such banners heretofore
Thy Husband has display'd.
Mind where he vouched his good-will,
Sometimes at Hermon* mount,
In Jordan land, at Mizor hill;
Thy Husband keeps the count.
At sundry times, and divers ways,
To suit thy various frames,
Hast seen, like rising golden rays,
Thy Husband's various names.
When guilty conscience gastly star'd,
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU†,
The Lord thy rigteousness appear'd,
Thy Husband in thy view.
When in thy straits or wants extreme,
Help fail'd on every side,
JEHOVAH-JIREH‡ was his name,
Thy Husband did provide.
When thy long absent Lord didst moan,
And to his courts repair;
Then was JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH|| known,
Thy Husband present there.
When thy assulting foes appear'd
In robes of terror clad,
*Psal. xlii. 6.
Gen. xxii. 14.
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