XXXVII.

[The power of the Cross-entreaty for increase of divine gifts; earnest and spiritual in sentiment-in imagery resembling some parts of Isaiah.]

I THIRST, but not as once I did,

The vain delights of earth to share;
Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasures there.

It was the sight of thy dear cross

First wean'd my soul from earthly things;
And taught me to esteem as dross

The mirth of fools, and pomp of kings.

I want that grace that springs from thee,
That quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn like me,
Bloom as the myrtle or the rose.

Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living, and life-giving stream!

For sure, of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father's eye,
None proves less grateful to his care,
Or yields him meaner fruit, than I.

[The comforts of religion contrasted with the pleasures of the world-joy of being in Christ. The last verse is exquisitely beautiful.]

O GOD, whose favourable eye
The sin-sick soul revives,
Holy and heavenly is the joy
Thy shining presence gives.

Not such as hypocrites suppose,
Who with a graceless heart

Taste not of thee, but drink a dose
Prepared by Satan's art.

Intoxicating joys are theirs,

Who, while they boast their light,
And seem to soar above the stars,
Are plunging into night.

Lull'd in a soft and fatal sleep,
They sin and yet rejoice;
Were they indeed the Saviour's sheep,
Would they not hear his voice?

Be mine the comforts that reclaim
The soul from Satan's power;
That make me blush for what I am,
And hate my sin the more.

'Tis joy enough, my All in All,
At thy dear feet to lie ;
Thou wilt not let me lower fall,
And none can higher fly.

XXXIX.

[Imploring the aid of divine grace, under the pressure of religious doubts and apprehensions. A most affecting composition in itself, and one of the last of the hymns written in the dismal twilight of reason, ere the intellect had finally given way, but when all the faculties were benumbed, when comfort had fled, and faith wavering, was still clinging to the wrecks of hope.]

THE billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcasst my wintry sky;

Out of the depths to thee I call,

My fears are great, my strength is small.

O Lord, the pilot's part perform,

And guide and guard me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,

Control the waves, say, 66

Peace, be still!"

Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.

Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.

Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the flood I seek:
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.

XL.

[Exhortation to faith, and to trust in God, illustrated by scriptural examples.]

THE saints should never be dismay'd,

Nor sink in hopeless fear;

For when they least expect his aid,

The Saviour will appear.

This Abraham found: he raised the knife,
God saw, and said, “Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life!

Behold the victim there."

Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;
But, hark! the foe 's at hand ;*

Saul turns his arms another way,
To save the invaded land.

When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more; †
But God prepared a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.

Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in his word!

May every deep-felt care of mine

Be trusted with the Lord.

* 1 Sam. xxiii. 7.

+ Jonah, i. 17.

Wait for his seasonable aid,

And though it tarry, wait:

The promise may be long delay'd,

And cannot come too late.

XLI.

[The same subject treated in a similar manner.

The personal

application at the close will speak to every heart that has faithfully

scanned its own progress in the Christian course.]

By whom was David taught

To aim the dreadful blow,
When he Goliath fought,

And laid the Gittite low?

No sword nor spear the stripling took,
But chose a pebble from the brook.

'Twas Israel's God and king
Who sent him to the fight;
Who gave him strength to sling,
And skill to aim aright.

Ye feeble saints, your strength endures,
Because young David's God is yours.

Who order'd Gideon forth

To storm the invader's camp,*

With arms of little worth,

A pitcher and a lamp?

The trumpets made his coming known,
And all the host was overthrown.

Oh! I have seen the day,

When, with a single word,

God helping me to say,

My trust is in the Lord,

My soul has quell'd a thousand foes,
Fearless of all that could oppose.

* Judges, vii. 20.

But unbelief, self-will,

Self-righteousness, and pride,
How often do they steal

My weapon from my side?
Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's friend,
Will help his servant to the end.

XLII.

[Atonement purchased, and reconciliation accomplished: Fears in the commencement of temptation.

Written to cheer and

support in the contemplation of coming calamities.]

JESUS, whose blood so freely stream'd
To satisfy the law's demand;

By thee from guilt and wrath redeem'd,
Before the Father's face I stand.

To reconcile offending man,

Made Justice drop her angry rod ;
What creature could have form'd the plan,
Or who fulfil it, but a God?

No drop remains of all the curse,

For wretches who deserved the whole;
No arrows dipt in wrath to pierce
The guilty but returning soul.

Peace by such means so dearly bought,
What rebel could have hoped to see?
Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought,
His Sovereign fasten'd to the tree.

Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare!
For strife with earth and hell begins;
Confirm and gird me for the war,

They hate the soul that hates his sins.

Let them in horrid league agree!

They may assault, they may distress;
But cannot quench thy love to me,

Nor rob me of the Lord my peace.