H

129

OW oft the world's alluring smile

Has tempted only to beguile! It promis'd health-in one short hour Perish'd the fair but tender flower: It promis'd riches—in a day They made them wings and fled away: It promis’d friends—all sought their own, And left my aching heart alone. Lord! with the barren service spent, To thee my suppliant knee I bent, And found in thee a Father s grace, His hand, his heart, his faithfulness, The voice of peace, the smile of love, The bread that feeds the saints above; And tasted in this world of woe A joy its children never know.

а

B

130

ESET with snares on ev'ry hand,

In life's uncertain path I stand;
Saviour divine, diffuse thy light
To guide my doubtful footsteps right!
Engage this roving, treach'rous heart
To fix on Mary's better part:
To scorn the trifles of a day,
For joys that none can take away!
Then let the wildest storms arise;
Let tempests mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear;
But all my treasure with me bear.

If thou, my Saviour, still be nigh,
Cheerful I live, and joyful die;
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee!

131

BJECT of my first desire,

Jesus, crucified for me,
All to happiness aspire,
Only to be found in thee;
Thee to praise, and thee to know,
Constitute our bliss below;
Thee to see, and thee to love,
Constitute our bliss above.

Lord, it is not life to live
If thy presence thou deny;
Lord, if thou thy presence give,
'Tis no longer death to die.
Source and Giver of repose,
Singly from thy smile it flows;
Peace and happiness are thine,
Mine they are, if thou art mine.
While I feel thy love to me,
Every object teems with joy;
Here, O may I walk with thee,
Then into thy presence die.
Let me but thyself possess,
Total sum of happiness;
Real bliss I then shall prove,
Heaven below and heaven above.

132 A me BIDE with me, fast falls the eventide ;

abide; When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O thou who changest not, abide with me. Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as thou dwell'st with thy disciples, Lord, Familiar, condescending, patient, free, Come not to sojourn, but abide with me. Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in thy

wings; Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea; Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me. I need thy presence every passing hour; What but thy grace can foil the tempter's

power? Who like thyself my guide and stay can be ? Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me. I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless : Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness. Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy vic

tory? I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes, Shine through the gloom, and point me to the

skies : Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain

shadows flee : In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

IN

133

NCARNATE God! the soul, that knows

Thy Name's mysterious power, Shall dwell in undisturb'd repose,

Nor fear the trying hour. Angels, unseen, attend the saints,

And bear them in their arms; To cheer the spirit when it faints,

And guard their life from harms. The angels' Lord himself is nigh

To them that love his name, Ready to save them, when they cry,

And put their foes to shame.
Crosses and changes are their lot,

Long as they sojourn here;
But since their Saviour changes not,

What have the saints to fear ?

134

10

From thence expecting aid : From Zion's hill, and Zion's God

Who heaven and earth hath made.

Rest, then, my soul, in safety rest,

Thy Guardian will not sleep,
His powerful hand and watchful eye

Will Israel safely keep.
Shelter'd beneath the Almighty wings,

Thou shalt securely rest, Where neither sun nor moon shall thee,

By day or night, molest. At home, abroad, in peace,

in Thy God shall thee defend; Conduct thee through life's pilgrimage,

And crown thy journey's end.

war,

135

NHE Lord my shepherd is,

;

He knoweth who are his,

And watcheth o'er his sheep.
Away with every anxious fear:
I cannot want while He is near.
His wisdom doth provide

The pasture where I feed :
Where the still waters glide

Along the quiet mead,
He leads my feet; and, when I roam,
O’ertakes and brings the wanderer home.
He leads himself the way

His faithful flock should take.
Them who his voice obey,

His love will ne'er forsake;
For He has pledged his holy name;
He who for ever is the same.

L