XXVI. "I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope; and she shall sing there."-HOSEA ii. 14, 15. "I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."-PSALM CXix. 75. I WILL love Thee, O Lord, my strength,- Whom have I on the earth beside? Thy cross, Thy crown of thorns I see; Surely Thy human heart has borne My greatest grief, my least distress,— Surely I see my Saviour mourn With the bowed spirit He will bless. Nailed to Thy cross, I would not fly The pain it grieves Thy soul to give: If because Thou hast died I die, Because Thou livest I shall live. How could a moment's pang destroy My heart's confirmed repose in Thee? Thy presence is sufficient joy To one reclaimed and spared like me. It is enough that I am Thine: Almighty to redeem from sin, Thou shalt subdue, correct, refine, The heart which Thou hast died to win. Now, through this light and passing pain, I know Thou hast not borne in vain Yet, through a sacred sympathy, John, vii. 38, 39. Shielded from every fear of wrath, Looking through love on all that is,I see about my troubled path A cloud of tranquil witnesses. Happy the chastening to endure, That makes me one, in love and trust, Such solace as around me grows, Life, that no eye but Thine may see; And no rough wind, no heat, or cold, Shall hurt the love that clings to Thee. In to Thy silent place of prayer The anxious wandering mind recall,Dwell mid Thy own creation there, Restoring, claiming, hallowing all. Then the calm spirit, won from sin, Out of this spirit of Thy grace, Oh, who can tell what light has beamed! I see the solitary place, A garden for Thy own redeemed. I see the desolated ground, With dews of Heavenly kindness fed; And fruits of joy and love surround The heart which Thou hast comforted. O knowledge all my thoughts above, Has been "a door of hope" to me. Who would go forth in haste by flight From the dry land which Thou wilt bless; Sown with the everlasting light That shows Thy "very faithfulness!" Thou hast loved me, O Lord, my strength, On Thee my yielded heart shall lean; Thy guiding love, in all its length, Shall teach me all Thy judgments mean. Hosea ii. 6. And I will ask Thee for a sign That many an anxious eye may see; Give me the love that rests in Thine, For those whom Thou hast tried like me. Love that believes is always sweet To fearful hearts, which Thou wilt guide, O that my soul might yield Thee thanks, XXVII. "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord."-1 Cor. i. 9. BOWED with a burden none can weigh save Thee, Strength of my life, on Thee I cast my care: My heart must prove its own infirmity; But what shall move me, if my God be there? Oh for a thankful song with every breath, While amid fading flowers and withering grass, I, with Thee, through the grave and gate of death, On to my joyful resurrection pass. |