HAPPY SOLITUDE-UNHAPPY MEN. My heart is easy, and my burden light; I smile, though sad, when Thou art in my sight: The more my woes in secret I deplore, I taste thy goodness and I love the more. There, while a solemn stillness reigns around, Faith, Love, and Hope within my soul abound; And while the world suppose me lost in care, The joys of angels, unperceived, I share. Thy creatures wrong thee, O thou sovereign Good ! Thou art not loved, because not understood; This grieves me most, that vain pursuits beguile Ungrateful men, regardless of thy smile. Frail beauty and false honour are adored; While Thee they scorn, and trifle with thy Word; Pass, unconcern'd, a Saviour's sorrows by; And hunt their ruin with a zeal to die. LIVING WATER. The fountain in its source No drought of summer fears ; appears. A scanty short supply ; At evening they are dry. TRUTH AND DIVINE LOVE REJECTED BY THE WORLD, O LOVE, of pure and heavenly birth! Whence comes it, that, your power the same The world is proud, and cannot bear Then, let the price be what it may, DIVINE JUSTICE AMIABLE. Thou hast no lightnings, O thou just ! Or I their force should know; My soul approves the blow. Than it adores thy ways, A subject of its praise. Pleased I could lie, conceal'd and lost, In shades of central night; Not to avoid thy wrath, thou know'st, But lest I grieve thy sight. Smite me, 0 Thou, whom I provoke! And I will love thee still ; The well-deserved and righteous stroke Shall please me, though it kill. Am I not worthy to sustain The worst thou canst devise ? And meet thy sacred eyes ? And in my saddest hours, Pervading all my powers. And when thy wrath should move, Thou sooth'st me with thy love. my pain, I have no punishment to fear; But, ah ! that smile from Thee Imparts a pang far more severe Than woe itself would be. THE SOUL THAT LOVES GOD FINDS HIM EVERY WHERE. Oh Thou, by long experience tried, To me remains nor place nor time; While place we seek, or place we shun, Could I be cast where Thou art not, My country, Lord, art Thou alone; No frowns of men can hurtful prove Ah then! to His embrace repair ; THE TESTIMONY OF DIVINE ADOPTION. How happy are the new-born race; pure the bliss they share ! Hid from the world and all its eyes, Within their heart the blessing lies, And conscience feels it there. The moment we believe, 'tis ours ; |