Never more, sweet sleep, suspend Hush the world, that I may wake God the partner of my nights! David, for the selfsame cause, Sleep, self-lovers is for you;— Fairer scenes by night can view ON THE SAME. SEASON of my purest pleasure, Find, in watching, my repose. Silence all around prevailing, Nature hush'd in slumber sweet, No rude noise mine ears assailing, Now my God and I can meet : Universal nature slumbers, And my soul partakes the calm, Breathes her ardour out in numbers, Plaintive song or lofty psalm. Now my passion, pure and holy, Shines and burns without restraint, Which the day's fatigue and folly Cause to languish, dim and faint: Charming hours of relaxation! How I dread the ascending sun! Surely, idle conversation Is an evil, match'd by none. Worldly prate and babble hurt me; Unintelligible prove; Neither teach me nor divert me; I have ears for none but Love. I have neither art's fine polish, Simple souls, and unpolluted By conversing with the great, Have a mind and taste ill suited To their dignity and state; All their talking, reading, writing, 'Tis the secret fear of sinning Checks my tongue, or I should say, When I see the night beginning, I am glad of parting day: Love this gentle admonition Whispers soft within my breast; "Choice befits not thy condition, Acquiescence suits thee best." Henceforth, the repose and pleasure Quarreling with thy decrees; Wayward nature finds the occasion,— 'Tis her folly and disease. Night, with its sublime enjoyments, Neither time nor place impedes; From our wishing and desiring Our unhappiness proceeds. ON THE SAME. NIGHT! how I love thy silent shades, My spirits they compose; The bliss of heaven my soul pervades, In spite of all my woes. While sleep instils her poppy dews In every slumbering eye, I watch, to meditate and muse, And when I feel a God immense Familiarly impart, With every proof he can dispense, My native meanness I lament, His purpose and his course he keeps ; When in the dust, its proper place, S. C.-9. E Thou whom I serve, and whose I am, How wretched is the creature's state The night, when pass'd entire with thee, Lest thou shouldst disappear. My Saviour! occupy me still In this secure recess; Let Reason slumber out the night; But if thou deign to make My soul the abode of Truth and Light, Ah, keep my heart awake! THE JOY OF THE CROSS. LONG plunged in sorrow, I resign Without reserve or fear; That hand shall wipe my streaming eyes, Or into smiles of glad surprise Transform the falling tear. |