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The Arts come smiling in the close,
And lend celestial fire;

The marble breathes, the canvass glows,
The Muses sweep the lyre.

"Still may my melting bosom cleave
To sufferings not my own;
And still the sigh responsive heave,
Where'er is heard a groan.

So Pity shall take Virtue's part,
Her natural ally,

And fashioning my soften'd heart,
Prepare it for the sky."

This artless vow may Heaven receive,
And fond maid, approve;
you,
So may your guiding angel give
Whate'er you wish or love.

So may the rosy-finger'd hours
Lead on the various year,
And every joy, which now is yours,
Extend a larger sphere.

And suns to come, as round they wheel,
Your golden moments bless,

With all a tender heart can feel,
Or lively fancy guess.

I.

OLNEY HYMNS.

WALKING WITH GOD. Gen. v. 24.

OH! for a closer walk with God;

A calm and heavenly frame; A light to shine upon the road

That leads me to the Lamb!

Where is the blessedness I knew
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

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What peaceful hours I once enjoy'd!
How sweet their memory still!
But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame ;
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

II. JEHOVAH-JIREH. THE LORD WILL PROVIDE. Gen. xxii. 14.

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 more2;
But God prepared a fish to save,

And bear him to the shore.

1

1 Sam. xxiii. 27.

2 Jonah, i. 17.

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.

Wait for his seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.

III.

JEHOVAH-ROPHI.

I AM THE LORD THAT

HEALETH THEE. Exod. xv. 26.

HEAL us, Emmanuel! here we are,
Waiting to feel thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to thee repair,
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust thy word;
But wilt thou pity us the less?
Be that far from thee, Lord!

Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;

"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried3,
"Oh, help my unbelief!"

She too, who touch'd thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,

Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace',
Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Conceal'd amid the gathering throng,
She would have shunn'd thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch thee, if we may;

Oh! send us not despairing home!
Send none unheal'd away!

• Mark, ix. 24.

4 Mark, v. 34.

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