So in the desert's dreary waste,

By magic power produced in haste,
(As ancient fables say,)

Castles, and groves, and music sweet,
The senses of the traveller meet,
And stop him in his way.

But while he listens with surprise,
The charm dissolves, the vision dies,
'Twas but enchanted ground:
Thus if the Lord our spirit touch,
The world, which promised us so much,
A wilderness is found.

At first we start, and feel distress'd,
Convinced we never can have rest
In such a wretched place;

But he whose mercy breaks the charm,
Reveals his own Almighty arm,

And bids us seek his face.

Then we begin to live indeed,

When from our sin and bondage freed

By this beloved Friend:

We follow him from day to day,

Assured of grace through all the way,

And glory at the end.

LV.

[Despondency caused by the consciousness of sin. Hope through a gospel repentance. The imitation of Psalm cxxx. in the closing verses, is replete with the noblest and tenderest poetry.]

My former hopes are fled,

My terror now begins;
I feel, alas! that I am dead
In trespasses and sins.

Ah! whither shall I fly?

I hear the thunder roar ;

The law proclaims destruction nigh,
And vengeance at the door.

When I review my ways,
I dread impending doom;
But sure a friendly whisper says,
"Flee from the wrath to come."

[The power of the Cross-the spiritual advantages of affliction God trieth his own.]

'Tis my happiness below

Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's power to know,
Sanctifying every loss:

Trials must and will befall;

But with humble faith to see
Love inscribed upon them all,
This is happiness to me.

God, in Israel, sows the seeds
Of affliction, pain, and toil;
These spring up, and choke the weeds
Which would else o'erspread the soil:

Trials make the promise sweet;

Trials give new life to prayer;

Trials bring me to his feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.

Did I meet no trials here,

No chastisement by the way;
Might I not with reason fear,
I should prove a cast-away?
* Psalm cxxx. 6.

Bastards may escape the rod,*
Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born child of God

Must not, would not, if he might.

LVII.

[Regeneration. This was one of the earliest of these hymns, having been composed before Cowper left St Alban's, and describes that inward change of the affections which he had himself experienced.]

How blest thy creature is, O God,

When, with a single eye,

He views the lustre of thy word,
The day-spring from on high!

Through all the storms that veil the skies,
And frown on earthly things,
The Sun 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.

* Heb. xii. 8.

† Isaiah, xxxv. 7.

LVIII.

[Character, dignity, and happiness of the Christian. J
HONOUR and happiness unite

To make the Christian's name a praise;
How fair the scene, how clear the light,
That fills the remnant of his days!

A kingly character he bears,

No change his priestly office knows ;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.

Adorn'd with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face;
His robe is of the ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.

Inferior honours be disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth;
The King of kings himself maintains
The expenses of his heavenly birth.

The noblest creature seen below,
Ordain'd to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love!

My soul is ravish'd at the thought!

Methinks from earth I see him rise!

Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies!

LIX.

[Confidence in God the peculiar heritage of the poor-the

riches promised to them.]

WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent,
And wept o'er Ishmael,

A message from the Lord was sent

To guide her to a well.

* Genesis, xxi. 19.

*

Should not Elijah's cake and cruise

Convince us, at this day,

A gracious God will not refuse
Provisions by the way?

His saints and servants shall be fed,
The promise is secure ;

"Bread shall be given them," as he said,
"Their water shall be sure." †

Repasts far richer they shall prove,
Than all earth's dainties are;
'Tis sweet to taste a Saviour's love,
Though in the meanest fare.

To Jesus, then, your trouble bring,
Nor murmur at your lot;

While you are poor, and he is King,

You shall not be forgot.

LX.

[Turning from dead works to serve the living God. A transcript of Cowper's early experience, and calculated therefore to operate upon the heart as a personal warning.]

SIN enslaved me many years,

And led me bound and blind;
Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o'er my mind.
Where, I said, in deep distress,
Will these sinful pleasures end!
How shall I secure my peace,

And make the Lord my friend?

Friends and ministers said much
The gospel to enforce ;
But my blindness still was such,
I chose a legal course:

Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove,

Scarce would shew my face abroad,
Fear'd almost to speak or move,

A stranger still to God.

* 2 Kings, xvii. 14.

+ Isaiah, xxxiii. 16.