Trust me, I draw the likeness true, XLVIII. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING. SOMETIMES a light surprises The Christian while he sings; With healing in his wings: In holy contemplation, E'en let the unknown to-morrow Bring with it what it may. It can bring with it nothing, The vine nor fig-tree neither + 拾 Their wonted fruit should bear, Yet God the same abiding, His praise shall tune my voice; For, while in him confiding, I cannot but rejoice. XLIX. TRUE PLEASURES. LORD, my soul with pleasure springs, Beauties too, in holiness, Matthew vi, 34. † Habakkuk iii. 17, 18. Clothed in sanctity and grace, Those who love thee as they pass, L. THE CHRISTIAN. HONOUR and happiness unite To make the Christian's name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days! A kingly character he bears, No change his priestly office knows; Unfading is the crown he wears, His joys can never reach a close. Adorn'd with glory from on high, Salvation shines upon his face; His robe is of the ethereal dye, His steps are dignity and grace. Inferior honours he disdains, Nor stoops to take applause from earth: The King of kings himself maintains The expenses of his heavenly birth. The noblest creature seen below, Ordain'd to fill a throne above; God gives him all he can bestow, His kingdom of eternal love. My soul is ravish'd at the thought! Methinks from earth I see him rise! Angels congratulate his lot, And shout him welcome to the skies! LI. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR. I WAS a grovelling creature once, I wanted spirit to renounce But God has breathed upon a worn, Wings such as clothe an angel's form, The length and breadth of all the plain, How glorious is my privilege! I stand upon a mountain's edge, Though much exalted in the Lord, LII. FOR THE POOR. WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent, A message from the Lord was sent Should not Elijah's cake and cruse + A gracious God will not refuse His saints and servants shall be fed, "Bread shall be given them," he has said, Repasts far richer they shall prove, LIII. MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD. I THIRST, but not as once I did, The vain delights of earth to share; Genesis xxi. 19. +1 Kings xvii. 14. Teaiah xxxiii. 16 It was the sight of thy dear cross The mirth of fools and pomp of kings. LIV. LOVE CONSTRAINING TO OBEDIENCE. But toil'd without success. Then, to abstain from outward sin Now, if I feel its power within, I feel I hate it too. Then, all my servile works were done A righteousness to raise; Now, freely chosen in the Son, I freely choose his ways. "What shall I do," was then the word, "That I may worthier grow?" "What shall I render to the Lord?" Is my inquiry now. To see the law by Christ fulfill'd, LV. THE HEART HEALED AND CHANGED BY MERCY. SIN enslaved me many years, Romans iii. 31. "Where," I said, in deep distress, And make the Lord my friend?" But my blindness still was such, Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove, Thus afraid to trust his grace, By a simple word he spoke, 66 Thy sins are done away." LVI. HATRED OF SIN. HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth, But, though the poison lurks within, Had I a throne above the rest, Where angels and archangels dwell, One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heaven as dark as hell. The prisoner, sent to breathe fresh air, Would mourn, were he condemn'd to wear But, oh! no foe invades the bliss, When glory crowns the Christian's head; One view of Jesus as he is Will strike all sin for ever dead. LVII. THE NEW CONVERT. THE new-born child of gospel grace, Beneath Emmanuel's shining face Lifts up his blooming branch on high. |