I hold by nothing here below; No frowns of men can hurtful prove Though men and devils both condemn, No gloomy days arise from them. Ah, then! to His embrace repair; GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO GOD. ALL are indebted much to Thee, From many a deadly snare set free, What bonds of gratitude I feel No language can declare; Beneath the oppressive weight I reel, 'Tis more than I can bear : When shall I that blessing prove, To return Thee Love for Love? Spirit of Charity, dispense Thy grace to every heart; Expel all other spirits thence, Drive self from every part; All selfish souls, whate'er they feign, Of Love, and feel it not. He whose bosom glows with Thee, O blessedness, all bliss above, We learn its name, but not its powers, THE TESTIMONY OF DIVINE ADOPTION. How happy are the new-born race; Partakers of adopting grace, How 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; And if we love with all our powers The God from whom it came, And if we serve with hearts sincere, 'Tis still discernible and clear, An undisputed claim. But, ah! if foul and wilful sin Stain and dishonour us within, Farewell the joy we knew ; Again the slaves of Nature's sway, The chaste and pure, who fear to grieve The gracious Spirit they receive, His work distinctly trace; Their hearts His dwelling-place. O messenger of dear delight, No task but that of Love. 'Tis Love unites what sin divides ; The centre, where all bliss resides; To which the soul once brought, Reclining on the first great Cause, From His abounding sweetness draws Peace passing human thought. Sorrow foregoes its nature there, [breast, There sovereign goodness soothes the Till then incapable of rest, In sacred sure repose. GOD HIDES HIS PEOPLE. To lay the soul that loves him low Becomes the Only Wise: To hide, beneath a veil of woe, The children of the skies. Man, though a worm, would yet be great; Though feeble, would seem strong; Strange the reverse, which, once abased, Scorn'd by the thoughtless and the vain, Oh welcome, in his heart he says, But will not scandal mar the good Ah, vainly anxious !-leave the Lord He draws from human littleness Down then with self-exalting thoughts! No longer, then, thou wilt encroach SELF-DIFFIDENCE. SOURCE of love, and light of day, Is it thus that I requite Can I grieve Thee, whom I love; Oh! the oppressive, irksome weight, Self-confiding wretch, I thought Self is earthly-Faith alone PURE THE ACQUIESCENCE OF PURE LOVE. LOVE! if Thy destined sacrifice am I, Come, slay thy victim, and prepare Thy fires; I watch my hours, and see them fleet away; To me 'tis equal, whether Love ordain In ease or health no real good she sees. One Good she covets, and that Good alone; And grief to comfort, if it pleases Thee. That we should bear the cross is Thy command, Suffer, unmoved, beneath the rudest hand, As pleased when shipwrecked as when safe on shore. GLORY TO GOD ALONE. OH, loved! but not enough-though dearer far Glory of God! thou stranger here below, Reason exclaims-" Let every creature fall, Yet man, dim-sighted man, and rash as blind, Oh, lost in vanity, till once self-known! Glorious, Almighty, First, and without end! Thy Glory is the sweetest heaven I feel; My reason, all my faculties, unite, To make Thy Glory their supreme delight; My soul! rest happy in thy low estate, Be that thy glory, and those riches thine. Confess Him righteous in His just decrees, Love what He loves, and let His pleasure please; Then thou hast crowned Him, and He reigns indeed. SELF-LOVE AND TRUTH INCOMPATIBLE. "Fix all your love on God alone, "Chuse but His will, and hate your own, "No fear shall in your path be found, "The dreary waste shall bloom around, "And you, through all your happy days, "Shall bless His name, and sing His praise." O lovely solitude, how sweet The silence of this calm retreat! Here Truth, the fair whom I pursue, Gives all her beauty to my view; The simple unadorned display Charms every pain and fear away. O Truth, whom millions proudly slight; O Truth, my treasure and delight! Accept this tribute to thy name, And this poor heart from which it came ! |