And, O, if those, once sent by thee

To soothe the bitter tear,

Now seem thy messengers to be

Of judgments more severe,

Let me thy ruling hand discern,
Thy voice of mercy know;
And from thy gentle teaching learn
To seek no bliss below.

A mourner through this gloomy vale,
'T is meet thy child should go,
Until thy mighty hand prevail,
To conquer every foe.

For thou hast said an hour should come,
When, at thy high behest,

Earth shall prepare thy saints a home,
And thou amidst them rest!

REJOICE ALWAY.

"Rejoice in the Lord alway; and again I say, Rejoice.” — Phil. iv. 4.

REJOICE in Christ alway,

When earth looks heavenly bright,
When joy makes glad the livelong day,
And peace shuts in the night.

Rejoice when care and woe

The fainting soul oppress,—

Yet birds and flowerets round us preach,
All, all, the present evil teach

Sufficient for the day.

Lord, make these faithless hearts of ours
Such lesson learn from birds and flowers,
Make them from self to cease;
Leave all things to a Father's will,
And taste, before him lying still,

E'en in affliction, peace.

BOWRING.

"HOPE THOU IN GOD."

Ps. xlii. 5.

WHY, when storms around you gather,
Should your trembling spirit sink?
Look to God, your Heavenly Father,
And of his sweet promise think.

Fancy will be often painting

Scenes in dark and fearful shade; Yet why should thy soul be fainting, Of prospective woes afraid?

Cease that dark anticipation!

Still let love and faith abound; For the day of tribulation,

Strength sufficient will be found.

God is love, and will not leave you,
When you most his kindness need;
God is true, nor can deceive you,
Though your faith be weak indeed.

WHITEHEAD.

ENDURING TRUST.

"For this God is our God, for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death."- Ps. xlviii. 14.

O LORD, my best desire fulfil,

And help me to resign

Life, health, and comfort to thy will,

And make thy pleasure mine.

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

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

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

Thy favor all my journey through,
Thou hast engaged to grant ;
What else I want, or think I do,
"T is better still to want.

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

The poor, blind creature of a day,
And crushed before the moth!

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

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

CowPER.

STRENGTH PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.

"For my strength is made perfect in weakness." —2 Cor. xii. 9.

SINCE 't is God's will, pain, take your course,
Exert on me your utmost force,

I well God's truth and promise know;
He never sends a woe,

But his supports divine

In due proportion with the affliction join.

Though I am frailest of mankind,
And apt to waver as the wind,
Though me no feeble bruised reed
In weakness can exceed, -

My soul on God relies,

And I your fierce, redoubled shocks despise.

Patient, resigned, and humble wills
Impregnably resist all ills.

My God will guide me by his light,
Give me victorious might;

No pang can me invade,

Beneath his wings' propitious shade.

KEN.

"THOU HAST BEEN MY REFUGE."

Ps. lxix. 16.

!

O STRANGE infirmity to think

That he will leave my soul to sink
In darkness and distress,

Who has appeared in times of old,
Who saved me while the billows rolled,
And cheered me with his grace.

What sweeter pledge could God bestow, Of help in future scenes of woe,

Than grace already given?

But unbelief, that hateful thing,

Oft makes me sigh, when I should sing Of confidence in Heaven!

SEARLE.

9