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.

XLVI. 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 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 lurked before.

The soul, a dreary province once
Of Satan's dark domain,

Feels a new empire formed 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 cheered the nations with the joys
His orient rays impart;

But, Jesus, 'tis thy light alone

Can shine upon the heart.

་

XLVII. RETIREMENT

FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

F

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.

XLVIII. 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.

My labouring spirit vainly seeks

To tell but half the joy,

With how much tenderness he speaks,

And helps me to reply.

Nor were it wise, nor should I choose,

Such secrets to declare;

Like precious wines their taste they lose,
Exposed to open air.

But this with boldness I proclaim,

Nor care if thousands hear,

Sweet is the ointment of his name,
Not life is half so dear.

And can you frown, my former friends, Who knew what once I was,

And blame the song that thus commends
The Man who bore the cross?

Trust me, I draw the likeness true,
And not as fancy paints;

Such honour may he give to you,
For such have all his saints.

XLIX. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING

SOMETIMES a light surprises

The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises
With healing in his wings:
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining
To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,
And find it ever new:
Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may !

It can bring with it nothing
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing
Will clothe his people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens
Will give his children bread.

Though vine nor fig-tree neither
Their wonted fruit shall bear,
Though all the field should wither,
Nor flocks nor herds be there:

Yet, God the same abiding,

His praise shall tune my voice ;
For, while in him confiding,

I cannot but rejoice.

L. TRUE PLEASURES

LORD, my soul with pleasure springs
When Jesus' name I hear;
And when God the Spirit brings
The word of promise near:
Beauties, too, in holiness

Still delighted I perceive;
Nor have words that can express
The joys thy precepts give.

Clothed in sanctity and grace,
How sweet it is to see

Those who love thee as they pass,
Or when they wait on thee!
Pleasant too to sit and tell

What we owe to love divine ;
Till our bosoms grateful swell,
And eyes begin to shine.

Those the comforts I possess,
Which God shall still increase,
All his ways are pleasantness,

And all his paths are peace.
Nothing Jesus did or spoke
Henceforth let me ever slight;
For I love his easy yoke,

And find his burden light.

LI. THE CHRISTIAN

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. Adorned 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 he 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,
Ordained to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love !

My soul is ravished at the thought!
Methinks from earth I see him rise!
Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies'

LII. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR

I was a grovelling creature once,
And basely cleaved to earth ;

I wanted spirit to renounce

The clod that gave me birth.

But God has breathed upon a worm,
And sent me from above

Wings such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky
The spacious promised land.

The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promised it to me,

The length and breadth of all the plain
As far as faith can see.

How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;

I stand upon a mountain's edge,
Oh save me, lest I fall!

Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not my own;
Then let me tremble at his word,
And none shall cast me down.