There fiery seeds of anger lurk,
Which often hurt my frame;
And wait but for the tempter's work,
To fan them to a flame.

Legality holds out a bribe

To purchase life from thee; And discontent would fain prescribe How thou shalt deal with me.

While unbelief withstands thy grace,
And puts the mercy by;
Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, "Give me, or I die."

How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!

But ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!

Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood,
Transform me by thy power,

And make me thy beloved abode,
And let me roam no more.

XLIII. PRAYER FOR PATIENCE.

LORD, who hast suffer'd all for me,
My peace and pardon to procure,
The lighter cross I bear for thee,
Help me with patience to endure.

The storm of loud repining hush,

I would in humble silence mourn;

Why should the unburnt, though burning bush,
Be angry as the crackling thorn?

Man should not faint at thy rebuke,
Like Joshua falling on his face,*
When the cursed thing that Achan took
Brought Israel into just disgrace.

Perhaps some golden wedge suppress'd,
Some secret sin offends my God;
Perhaps that Babylonish vest,
Self-righteousness, provokes the rod.

Ah! were I buffeted all day,

Mock'd, crown'd with thorns, and spit upon;

I yet should have no right to say,
My great distress is mine alone.

Let me not angrily declare

No pain was ever sharp like mine, Nor murmur at the cross I bear,

But rather weep, remembering thine.

O LORD, my best desire fulfill,

And help me to resign

Life, health, and comfort to thy will,
And make thy pleasure mine.

* Joshua vii. 10, 11.

Why should I shrink at thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears?

Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?

No, rather let me freely yield
What most I prize to thee;
Who never hast a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold from me.

Thy favour, all my journey through,
Thou art engaged to grant ;
What else I want, or think I do,
'Tis better still to want.

Wisdom and mercy guide my way,
Shall I resist them both?

A poor blind creature of a day,
And crush'd before the moth!

But ah! my inward spirit cries,
Still bind me to thy sway;

Else the next cloud that veils the skies,
Drives all these thoughts away.

XLV. THE HAPPY CHANGE.

How blest thy creature is, O God,
When, with a single eye,

He views the lustre of thy word,

The dayspring from on high!

Through all the storms that veils the skies,

And frown on earthly things,

The Son of Righteousness he eyes,

With healing on his wings.

Struck by that light, the human heart,

A barren soil no more,

Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad,
Where serpents lurk'd before.*

The soul a dreary province once
Of Satan's dark domain,
Feels a new empire form'd within,
And owns a heavenly reign.

The glorious orb, whose golden beams
The fruitful year control,
Since first obedient to thy word,
He started from the goal,

Has cheer'd the nations with the joys

His orient rays impart;

But, Jesus, 'tis thy light alone

Can shine upon the heart.

FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;
From scenes were Satan wages still
His most successful war.

* Isaiah xxxv. 7.

The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem, by thy sweet bounty made,
For those who follow thee.

There if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh, with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God!

There like the nightingale she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise.

Author and guardian of my life,
Sweet source of light divine,
And (all harmonious names in one)

My Saviour, thou art mine!

What thanks I owe thee, and what love,

A boundless, endless store,

Shall echo through the realms above
When time shall be no more.

XLVII. THE HIDDEN LIFE.

To tell the Saviour all my wants,
How pleasing is the task!

Nor less to praise him when he grants
Beyond what I can ask.