Love is our only business here, 22. LOVE FAITHFUL IN THE ABSENCE OF THE BELOVED. N vain ye woo me to your harmless joys, Ye pleasant bowers, remote from ftrife and noise; Your shades, the witneffes of many a vow, Breathed forth in happier days, are irksome now : Denied that smile 'twas once my heaven to fee, Such scenes, such pleasures, are all past with me. In vain He leaves me, I fhall love him ftill; And though I mourn, not murmur at his will; I have no cause-an object all divine Might well grow weary of a foul like mine; Yet pity me, great God! forlorn, alone, Heartless and hopeless, Life and Love all gone. 23. LOVE PURE AND FERVENT. EALOUS, and with love o'erflowing, Oh, then, with fupreme affection His paternal Will regard! Perfect Love has power to foften Sovereign Love appoints the measure, 24. THE ENTIRE SURRENDER. EACE has unveil'd her fmiling face, And woos thy foul to her embrace, Enjoy'd with ease, if thou refrain From earthly love, else fought in vain; She dwells with all who Truth prefer, But feeks not them who seek not her. Yield to the Lord, with fimple heart, 25. THE PERFECT SACRIFICE. PLACE an offering at thy shrine, From taint and blemish clear, Simple and pure in its defign, Of all that I hold dear. I yield thee back thy gifts again, The notice of thine eyes. But if, by thine adored decree, Thy will in all things I approve, Exalted or caft down! 26. GOD HIDES HIS PEOPLE. O lay the foul that loves him low, To hide, beneath a veil of woe, Man, though a worm, would yet be great; Though feeble, would feem ftrong; Affumes an independent state, By facrilege and wrong. Strange the reverse, which, once abased, The haughty creature proves! Scorn'd by the thoughtless and the vain, Oh welcome, in his heart he says, Farewell the wish for human praise, But will not scandal mar the good Ah, vainly anxious!-leave the Lord He draws from human littleness And generous hearts with joy confess Down then with felf-exalting thoughts; No longer, then, thou wilt encroach And He shall smile at thy approach, 27. THE SECRETS OF DIVINE LOVE ARE TO BE KEPT. UN! ftay thy courfe, this moment stay- Ah! hide the mystery divine; Left man, who deems my glory shame, O Night! propitious to my views, Ye Stars! whose faint and feeble fires Express my languishing defires, Whose slender beams pervade the skies |