Hymns and sacred poems: Published by John Wesley, ... and Charles Wesley, ...

HYMNS AND SACRED POEMS. PART I.

EUPOLIS' Hymn to the Creator.

AUTHOR of Being, Source of Light, With unfading Beauties bright, Fulness, Goodness, rolling round Thy own fair Orb without a Bound: Whether Thee thy Supplicants call Truth, or Good, or One, or All, Ei or Iao; Thee we hail Essence that can never fail, Grecian or Barbaric Name, Thy stedfast Being still the same.

Thee, when Morning greets the Skies With rosy Cheeks and humid Eyes; Thee, when sweet-declining Day Sinks in purple Waves away; Thee will I sing, O Parent Jove And teach the World to praise and love.

Yonder azure Vault on high, Yonder blue, low, liquid Sky, Earth on its firm Basis plac'd, And with circling Waves embrac'd, All, Creating Pow'r confess, All their mighty Maker bless. Thou shak'st all Nature with thy Nod, Sea, Earth and Air confess the God: Yet does thy pow'rful Hand sustain Both Earth and Heaven, both Firm and Main.

Scarce can our daring Thought arise To thy Pavilion in the Skies; Nor can Plato's self declare The Bliss, the Joy, the Rapture there. Barren above Thou dost not reign, But circled with a glorious Train, The Sons of God, the Sons of Light, Ever joying in thy Sight: (For Thee their silver Harps are strung,) Ever beauteous, ever young, Angelic Forms their Voices raise, And thro' Heav'n's Arch resound thy Praise.

The Feather'd Souls that swim the Air, And bathe in liquid Ether there, The Lark, Precentor of their Choir Leading them higher still and higher, Listen and learn; th' angelic Notes Repeating in their warbling Throats: And ere to soft Repose they go, Teach them to their Lords below: On the green Turf, their mossy Nest, The Ev'ning Anthem swells their Breast. Thus like thy Golden Chain from high, Thy Praise unites the Earth and Sky.

Source of Light, Thou bidst the Sun On his burning Axles run; The Stars like Dust around him fly, And shew the Area of the Sky. He drives so swift his Race above, Mortals can't perceive him move: So smooth his Course, oblique or strait, Olympus shakes not with his Weight. As the Queen of solemn Night Fills at his Vase her Orb of Light, Imparted Lustre; Thus we see, The solar Virtue shines by Thee.

Eiresione we'll no more, Imaginary Pow'r, adore; Since Oil, and Wool, and chearing Wine, And Life-sustaining Bread is thine.

Thy Herbage, O Great Pan, sustains The Flocks that graze our Attic Plains; The Olive, with fresh Verdure crown'd, Rises pregnant from the Ground; At thy Command it shoots and springs, And a thousand Blessings brings. Minerva, only is thy Mind, Wisdom, and Bounty to Mankind. The fragrant Thyme, the bloomy Rose, Herb and Flow'r and Shrub that grows On Thessalian Tempe's Plain, Or where the rich Sabeans reign, That treat the Taste or Smell or Sight, For Food, for Med'cine or Delight; Planted by thy Parent Care, Spring and smile and flourish there.

O ye Nurses of soft Dreams, Reedy Brooks and winding Streams,

Or murm'ring o'er the Pebbles sheen, Or sliding thro' the Meadows green, Or where thro' matted Sedge you creep, Travelling to your Parent Deep: Sound his Praise, by whom you rose, That Sea, which neither ebbs nor flows.

O ye immortal Woods and Groves, Which the enamour'd Student loves; Beneath whose venerable shade, For Thought and friendly Converse made, Fam'd Hecadem, old Hero, lies, Whose Shrine is shaded from the Skies, And thro' the Gloom of silent Night Projects from far its trembling Light; You, whose Roots descend as low, As high in Air your Branches grow; Your leafy Arms to Heav'n extend, Bend your Heads, in Homage bend: Cedars and Pines that wave above, And the Oak belov'd of Jove.

Omen, Monster, Prodigy, Or nothing are, or Jove from Thee! Whether various Nature play, Or re-invers'd thy Will obey, And to Rebel Man declare Famine, Plague or Wasteful War. Laugh, ye Profane, who dare despise The threatning Vengeance of the Skies, Whilst the Pious, on his Guard, Undismay'd is still prepar'd: Life or Death, his Mind's at rest, Since what Thou send'st must needs be best.

No Evil can from Thee proceed: 'Tis only Suffer'd, not Decreed. Darkness is not from the Sun, Nor mount the Shades till he is gone: Then does Night obscene arise From Erebus, and fill the Skies, Fantastic Forms the Air invade, Daughters of Nothing and of Shade.

Can we forget thy Guardian Care, Slow to punish, prone to spare! Thou brak'st the haughty Persian's Pride, That dar'd old Ocean's Pow'r deride; Their Shipwrecks strew'd th' Eubean Wave, At Marathon they found a Grave. O ye blest Greeks who there expir'd, For Greece with pious Ardor fir'd, What Shrines or Altars shall we raise To secure your Endless Praise? Or need we Monuments supply, To rescue what can never die!

And yet a Greater Hero far (Unless Great Socrates could err) Shall rise to bless some future Day, And teach to live, and teach to pray. Come, Unknown Instructor, come! Our leaping Hearts shall make Thee room; Thou with Jove our Vows shalt share, Of Jove and Thee We are the Care.

O Father King, whose heav'nly Face Shines serene on All thy Race, We thy Magnificence adore, And thy well-known Aid implore: Nor vainly for thy Help we call; Nor can we want: For thou art All!

SOLITUDE. From the Latin.

SOLITUDE! where shall I find Thee, pleasing to the thoughtful Mind! Sweet Delights to Thee belong, Untasted by the vulgar Throng. Weary of Vice and Noise I flee, Sweetest Comforter, to Thee. Here the Mild and Holy Dove Peace inspires and Joy and Love. Thy unmolested, silent Shade No tumultuous Sounds invade: No Stain of Guilt is seen in Thee, To soil thy spotless Purity. Here the smiling Fields around Softest Harmony resound. Here with Angel Quires combin'd, The Lord of his own peaceful Mind Glides thro' Life, from Business far, And noisy Strise, and eating Care. Here retir'd from Pomp and State (The envy'd Torment of the Great) Innocent he leads his Days, Far from giddy Thirst of Praise. Here his Accounts with studious Care Preparing for the last great Bar, He weeps the Stains of Guilt away, And ripens for Eternal Day.

Hoarded Wealth desire who please, Tow'rs and gilded Palaces. Fraudless Silence may I find, Solitude and Peace of Mind;

To all the busy World unknown, Seen and lov'd by God alone.

Ye Rich, ye Learn'd, ye Great, confess This in Life is Happiness, To live (unknown to all abroad) To myself only and my GOD.

The Mystery of Life.

I.

SO many Years I've seen the Sun, And call'd these Eyes and Hands my own, A thousand little Acts I've done And Childhood have and Manhood known: O what is Life! and this dull Round To tread, why was a Spirit bound?

II.

So many airy Draughts and Lines, And warm Excursions of the Mind, Have fill'd my Soul with great Designs, While Practice grovel'd far behind: O what is Thought! and where withdraw The Glories which my Fancy saw?

III.

So many tender Joys and Woes Have on my quiv'ring Soul had Pow'r; Plain Life with height'ning Passions rose, The Boast or Burden of their Hour: O what is All we feel! why fled Those Pains and Pleasures o'er my Head?

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IV.

So many human Souls Divine, Some at one Interview display'd, Some oft and freely mixt with mine, In lasting Bonds my Heart have laid: O what is Friendship! why imprest On my weak, wretched, dying Breast?

V.

So many wondrous Gleams of Light, And gentle Ardors from above, Have made me sit, like Seraph bright, Some Moments on a Throne of Love: O what is Virtue! why had I, Who am so low, a Taste so high?

VI.

Ere long, when Sov'reign Wisdom wills, My Soul an unknown Path shall tread, And strangely leave, who strangely fills This Frame, and waft me to the Dead: O what is Death?—'tis Life's last Shore, Where Vanities are vain no more; Where all Pursuits their Goal obtain, And Life is all retouch'd again; Where in their bright Result shall rise Thoughts, Virtues, Friendships, Griefs and Joys.

EPITAPH.

ASK not, who ended here his Span? His Name, Reproach and Praise, was Man. Did no great Deeds adorn his Course? No Deed of His, but shew'd him worse: One Thing was great, which GOD supply'd, He suffer'd Human Life—and Dy'd. What Points of Knowledge did he gain? That Life was sacred all—and Vain: Sacred how high, and vain how low? He knew not here, but dy'd to know.

VIRTUE. Altered from Herbert.

I.

SWEET Day, so cool, so calm, so bright, The Bridal of the Earth and Sky: The Dew shall weep thy Fall to Night, For Thou with all thy Sweets must die!

II.

Sweet Rose, so fragrant and so brave, Dazling the rash Beholder's Eye: Thy Root is ever in its Grave, And Thou with all thy Sweets must die!

III.

Sweet Spring, so beauteous and so gay, Storehouse, where Sweets unnumber'd lie: Not long thy fading Glories stay, But Thou with all thy Sweets must die!

IV.

Only a Sweet and Virtuous Mind, When Nature all in Ruins lies, When Earth and Heav'n a Period find, Begins a Life that never dies!

Upon list'ning to the Vibrations of a Clock.

INstructive Sound! I'm now convinc'd by Thee Time in its Womb may bear Infinity. How the past Moment dies, and throbs no more! What Worlds of Parts compose the rolling Hour! The least of these a serious Care demands; For tho' they're little, yet they're Golden Sands: By some great Deeds distinguish'd all in Heav'n, For the same End to me by Number giv'n! Cease, Man, to lavish Sums thou ne'er hast told! Angels, tho' Deathless, dare not be so bold!

DOOMSDAY. From Herbert.

I.

"COME to Judgment, come away"! (Hark, I hear the Angel say, Summoning the Dust to rise) "Hast, resume, and lift your Eyes; "Hear, ye Sons of Adam, hear, "Man, before thy GOD appear!"

II.

Come to Judgment, come away! This the Last, the Dreadful Day. Sov'reign Author, Judge of all, Dust obeys thy quick'ning Call, Dust no other Voice will heed: Thine the Trump that wakes the Dead.

III.

Come to Judgment, come away! Lingring Man no longer stay; Thee let Earth at length restore, Pris'ner in her Womb no more; Burst the Barriers of the Tomb, Rise to meet thy instant Doom!

IV.

Come to Judgment, come away! Wide disperst howe'er ye stray, Lost in Fire, or Air, or Main, Kindred Atoms meet again; Sepulchred where'er ye rest, Mix'd with Fish, or Bird, or Beast.

V.

Come to Judgment, come away! Help, O CHRIST, thy Work's Decay: Man is out of Order hurl'd, Parcel'd out to all the World; Lord, thy broken Concert raise, And the Musick shall be Praise.

SPIRITUAL SLUMBER. From the German.

I.

O Thou, who all things canst controul, Chase this dead Slumber from my Soul; With Joy and Fear, with Love and Awe Give me to keep thy perfect Law.

II.

O may one Beam of thy blest Light Pierce thro', dispel the Shades of Night: Touch my cold Breast with heav'nly Fire, With holy, conq'ring Zeal inspire.

III.

For Zeal I sigh, for Zeal I pant; Yet heavy is my Soul and faint: With Steps unwav'ring, undismay'd Give me in all thy Paths to tread.

IV.

With out-stretch'd Hands, and streaming Eyes Oft I begin to grasp the Prize; I groan, I strive, I watch, I pray: But ah! how soon it dies away!

V.

The deadly Slumber soon I feel Afresh upon my Spirit steal: Rise, Lord; stir up thy quick'ning Pow'r, And wake me that I sleep no more.

VI.

Single of Heart O may I be, Nothing may I desire but Thee: Far, far from me the World remove, And all that holds me from thy Love!

ZEAL.

I.

DEAD as I am, and cold my Breast, Untouch'd by Thee, Celestial Zeal, How shall I sing th' unwonted Guest? How paint the Joys I cannot feel?

II.

Assist me Thou, at whose Command The Heart exults, from Earth set free! 'Tis Thine to raise the drooping Hand, Thine to confirm the feeble Knee.

III.

'Tis Zeal must end this inward Strife, Give me to know That Warmth Divine! Thro' all my Verse, thro' all my Life The Active Principle shall shine.

IV.

Where shall we find its high Abode? To Heav'n the Sacred Ray aspires, With ardent Love embraces GOD, Parent and Object of its Fires.

V.

There its peculiar Influence known In Breasts Seraphic learns to glow; Yet darted from th' Eternal Throne, It sheds a chearing Light below.

VI.

Thro' Earth diffus'd, the Active Flame Intensely for GOD's Glory burns, And always mindful whence it came, To Heav'n in ev'ry Wish returns.

VII.

Yet vain the fierce Enthusiast's Aim With This to sanctify his Cause; To skreen beneath this Awful Name The persecuting Sword he draws.

VIII.

In vain the mad Fanatick's Dreams To This mysteriously pretend; On Fancy built, his airy Schemes Or slight the Means, or drop the End.

IX.

Where Zeal holds on its even Course, Blind Rage, and Bigotry retires; Knowledge assists, not checks its Force, And Prudence guides, not damps its Fires.

X.

Resistless then it wins its Way; Yet deigns in humble Hearts to dwell: The humble Hearts confess its Sway, And pleas'd the strange Expansion feel.

XI.

Superior far to mortal Things, In grateful Extasy they own, (Such antedated Heav'n it brings,) That Zeal and Happiness are one.

XII.

Now vary'd Deaths their Terrors spread, Now threat'ning Thousands rage—In vain! Nor Tortures can arrest its Speed, Nor Worlds its Energy restrain.

XIII.

That Energy, which quells the Strong, Which cloaths with Strength the abject Weak, Looses the stamm'ring Infant's Tongue, And bids the Sons of Thunder speak.

XIV.

While Zeal its heav'nly Influence sheds, What Light o'er Moses' Visage plays! It wings th'immortal Prophet's Steeds, And brightens fervent Stephen's Face.

XV.

Come then, bright Flame, my Breast inspire; To me, to me be Thou but giv'n, Like them I'll mount my Car of Fire, Or view from Earth an op'ning Heav'n.

XVI.

Come then, if mighty to redeem, CHRIST purchas'd thee with Blood Divine: Come, Holy Zeal! For Thou thro' Him, JESUS Himself thro' Thee is Mine!

On Reading Mons^r. de RENTY's Life.

WE deem the Saints, from mortal Flesh releas'd, With brighter Day, and bolder Raptures blest: Sense now no more precludes the distant Thought, And naked Souls now feel the GOD they sought, But thy great Soul, which walk'd with GOD on Earth Can scarce be nearer by that second Birth: By Change of Place dull Bodies may improve, But Spirits to their Bliss advance by Love. Thy Change insensible brought no Surprize, Inur'd to Innocence and Paradise: For Earth, not Heav'n, thou thro' a Glass didst view, The Glass was Love; and Love no Evil knew, But in all Places only Heav'n did shew. Canst Thou Love more, when from a Body freed, Which so much Life, so little had of Need? So pure, it seem'd for This alone design'd, To usher forth the Virtues of the Mind! From Nature's Chain, from Earthly Dross set free, One only Appetite remained in Thee: That Appetite it mourn'd but once deny'd, For when it ceas'd from serving GOD, it dy'd.

VANITY. From Herbert.

I.

THE fleet Astron'mer travels o'er The Spheres with his sagacious Mind, Their Stations views from Door to Door, As if to purchase he design'd:

Thro' all their circling Orbs he goes, And all their mazy Wandrings knows.

II.

The nimble Diver with his Side Cuts thro' the working Waves his Way, To fetch the Pearl which GOD did hide On purpose from the View of Day, That He might save his Life, and hers Whose Pride the costly Danger wears.

III.

The subtle Chymist can divest Gay Nature of her various Hue; Stript of her thousand Forms, confest She stands, and naked to his View: At Distance other Suitors stand; Her inmost Stores wait his Command.

IV.

What has not Man sought out and found, But GOD? Who yet his glorious Law Plants in us; mellowing the Ground With Show'rs and Frost, with Love and Awe. Poor, busy, foolish Man! For Death In Fire, and Air, and Sea, and Land, Thro' Heav'n above, and Earth beneath Thou seek'st; but missest Life at hand.

FAREWELL to the WORLD. From the French.

I.

WORLD adieu, Thou real Cheat! Oft have thy deceitful Charms

Fill'd my Heart with fond Conceit, Foolish Hopes and false Alarms: Now I see as clear as Day, How thy Follies pass away.

II.

Vain thy entertaining Sights, False thy Promises renew'd, All the Pomp of thy Delights Does but flatter and delude: Thee I quit for Heav'n above, Object of the noblest Love.

III.

Farewell Honour's empty Pride! Thy own nice, uncertain Gust, If the least Mischance betide, Lays thee lower than the Dust: Worldly Honours end in Gall, Rise to Day, to Morrow fall.

IV.

Foolish Vanity farewell, More inconstant than the Wave! Where thy soothing Fancies dwell, Purest Tempers they deprave: He, to whom I fly, from Thee JESUS CHRIST shall set me free.

V.

Never shall my wand'ring Mind Follow after fleeting Toys, Since in GOD alone I find Solid and substantial Joys: Joys that never overpast, Thro' Eternity shall last.

VI.

LORD, how happy is a Heart After Thee while it aspires! True and faithful as Thou art, Thou shalt answer its Desires: It shall see the glorious Scene Of thy Everlasting Reign.

GIDDINESS. From Herbert.

I.

O What a Thing is Man! from Rest How widely distant, and from Pow'r! Some twenty sev'ral Men at least He seems, he is, each sev'ral Hour.

II.

Heav'n his sole Treasure now he loves; But let a tempting Thought creep in, His Coward Soul he soon reproves, That starts t' admit a pleasing Sin.

III.

Eager he rushes now to War, Inglorious now dissolves in Ease: Wealth now engrosses all his Care; And lavish now he scorns Increase.

IV.

A stately Dome he raises now: But soon the Dome his Change shall feel; See, level lies its lofty Brow, Crush'd by the Whirlwind of his Will.

V.

O what were Man, if his Attire Still vary'd with his varying Mind! If we his ev'ry new Desire Stamp'd on his alt'ring Form could find.

VI.

Could each one see his Neighbour's Heart, Brethren and Social made in vain, All would disband and range apart, And Man detest the Monster Man.

VII.

If GOD refuse our Heart to turn, Vain will his first Creation be: O make us daily! Or we spurn Our own Salvation, Lord, and Thee!

To a FRIEND in LOVE.

ACCEPT, dear Youth, a sympathizing Lay, The only Tribute pitying Love can pay. Tho' vain the Hope thine Anguish to asswage, Charm down Desire, or calm fierce Passion's Rage; Yet still permit me in thy Griefs to grieve, Relief to offer, if I can't relieve; Near thy sick Couch with fond Concern t' attend, And reach out Cordials to my Dying Friend.

Poor hapless Youth! what Words can ease thy Pain, When Reason pleads, and Wisdom cries in vain!

Can feeble Verse impetuous Nature guide, Or stem the Force of blind Affection's Tide? If Reason checks, or Duty disallows, "Reason, you cry, and Duty are my Foes: "Religion's Dictates ineffectual prove, "And GOD Himself's Impertinence in Love.

What art Thou, Love? Thou strange myste|rious Ill, Whom none aright can know, tho' all can seel. From careless Sloth thy dull Existence flows, And feeds the Fountain whence itself arose: Silent its Waves with baleful Influence roll, Damp the young Mind, and sink th' aspiring Soul Poison its Virtues, all its Pow'rs restrain, And blast the Promise of the future Man. To Thee, curst Fiend, the captive Wretch con|sign'd, "His Passions rampant, and his Reason blind, Reason, Heav'n's great Vicegerent, dares disown, And place a Foolish Idol in its Throne: Or wildly raise his frantic Raptures higher, And pour out Blasphemies at thy Desire. At thy Desire he bids a Creature shine, He decks a Worm with Attributes Divine; Hers to Angelic Beauties dares prefer, "Angels are painted fair to look like Her! Before her Shrine the lowly Suppliant laid, Adores the Idol that Himself has made: From her Almighty Breath his Doom receives, Dies by her Frown, as by her Smile he lives. Supreme she reigns in all-sufficient State, To her he bows, from her expects his Fate, "Heav'n in her Love, Damnation in her Hate. He rears unhallow'd Altars to her Name, Where Lust lights up a black, polluted Flame;

Where Sighs impure, as impious Incense rise, Himself the Priest, his Heart the Sacrifice: And thus GOD's Sacred Word his Horrid Pray'r supplies.

"Center of All Perfection, Source of Bliss, "In whom thy Creaure lives and moves and is, "Save, or I perish! hear my humble Pray'r, "Spare thy poor Servant—O in Mercy spare. "Thou art my Joy, on Thee depends my Trust, "Hide not thy Face, nor frown me into Dust. "Send forth thy Breath, and rais'd again I see "My Joy, my Life, my Final Bliss in Thee. "For Thee I Am: for Thee I All resign, "Be Thou my One thing Needful, Ever Mine!

But O forbear, presumptuous Muse forbear, Nor wound with Rant profane the Christian Ear: A just Abhorrence in my Friend I see, He starts from Love, when Love's Idolatry. "Give me thy Heart," if the Creator cries, "'Tis giv'n the Creature," What bold Wretch replies? Not so my Friend—he wakes, he breaths again, And "Reason takes once more the slacken'd Rein." In vain rebellious Nature claims a Part, When Heav'n requires, he gives up All his Heart: ("For Love Divine no Partnership allows, "And Heav'n averse rejects divided Vows) Fixt tho' she be, he rends the Idol thence, Nor lets her Pow'r exceed Omnipotence. Commands his GOD, "Cut off th' offending Hand?" He hears, Obedient to his GOD's Command: "Pluck out thine Eye," let the Redeemer say; He tears, and casts the bleeding Orb away.

Victorious now to Nobler Joys aspires, His Bosom, touch'd with more than Earthly Fires: He leaves rough Passion for calm Virtue's Road, Gives Earth for Heav'n, and quits a Worm for GOD.

1 TIM. v. 6. She that liveth in Pleasure, is Dead while She liveth.

HOW hapless is th' applauded Virgin's Lot, Her GOD forgetting, by her GOD forgot! Stranger to Truth, unknowing to obey, In Error nurst, and disciplin'd to stray; Swoln with Self-will, and principled with Pride, Sense all her Good, and Passion all her Guide: Pleasure its Tide, and Flatt'ry lends its Breath, And smoothly waft her to Eternal Death!

A Goddess Here, she sees her Vot'ries meet, Crowd to her Shrine, and tremble at her Feet; She hears their Vows, Believes their Life and Death Hangs on the Wrath and Mercy of her Breath; Supreme in fancy'd State she reigns her Hour, And glories in her Plenitude of Pow'r: Herself the Only Object worth her Care, Since all the kneeling World was made for Her.

For Her, Creation all its Stores displays, The Silkworms labour, and the Diamonds blaze: Air, Earth, and Sea conspire to tempt her Taste, And ransack'd Nature furnishes the Feast. Life's gaudiest Pride attracts her willing Eyes, And Balls, and Theaters, and Courts arise:

Italian Songsters pant her Ear to please, Bid the first Cries of infant Reason cease, Save her from Thought, and lull her Soul to Peace.

Deep sunk in Sense th' imprison'd Soul remains, Nor knows its Fall from GOD, nor feels its Chains: Unconscious still, sleeps on in Error's Night, Nor strives to rise, nor struggles into Light: Heav'n-born in vain, degen'rate cleaves to Earth, (No Pangs experienc'd of the Second Birth) She only Faln, yet Unawaken'd found, While All th' enthrall'd Creation groans around.

JOHN xv. 18, 19.

I.

WHERE has my slumb'ring Spirit been, So late emerging into Light? So imperceptible, within, The Weight of this Egyptian Night!

II.

Where have they hid the WORLD so long, So late presented to my View? Wretch! tho' myself increas'd the Throng, Myself a Part I never knew.

III.

Secure beneath its Shade I sat, To me were all its Favours shown: I could not taste its Scorn or Hate; Alas, it ever lov'd its Own!

IV.

JESUS, if half discerning now, From Thee I gain this glimm'ring Light, Retouch my Eyes; anoint them Thou, And grant me to receive my Sight.

V.

O may I of thy Grace obtain The World with other Eyes to see: Its Judgments false, its Pleasures vain, Its Friendship Enmity with Thee.

VI.

Delusive World, thy Hour is past, The Folly of thy Wisdom shew! It cannot now retard my Haste, I leave thee for the Holy Few.

VII.

No! Thou blind Leader of the Blind, I bow my Neck to Thee no more; I cast thy Glories all behind, And slight thy Smiles, and dare thy Pow'r.

VIII.

Excluded from my Saviour's Pray'r, Stain'd, yet not hallow'd, with his Blood, Shalt Thou my fond Affection share, Shalt Thou divide my Heart with GOD?

IX.

No! Tho' it rouze thy utmost Rage, Eternal Enmity I vow: Tho' Hell with thine its Pow'rs engage, Prepar'd I meet your Onset now.

X.

Load me with Scorn, Reproach and Shame; My patient Master's Portion give; As evil still cast out my Name, Nor suffer such a Wretch to live.

XI.

Set to thy Seal that I am His; Vile as my Lord I long to be: My Hope, my Crown, my Glory this, Dying to conquer Sin and Thee!

HYMN to CONTEMPT.

I.

WElcome, Contempt! Stern, faithful Guide, Unpleasing, healthful Food! Hail pride-sprung Antidote of Pride, Hail Evil turn'd to Good!

II.

Thee when with awful Pomp array'd Ill-judging Mortals see, Perverse they fly with coward Speed, To Guilt they fly from Thee.

III.

Yet if One haply longing stands To choose a Nobler Part, Ardent from Sin's ensnaring Bands To vindicate his Heart:

IV.

Present to end the doubtful Strife, Thy Aid he soon shall feel; Confirm'd by Thee, tho' warm in Life, Bid the vain World farewell.

V.

Thro' Thee he treads the shining Way That Saints and Martyrs trod, Shakes off the Frailty of his Clay, And wings his Soul for GOD.

VI.

His Portion Thou, he burns no more, With fond Desire to please; The fierce, distracting Conflict's o'er And all his Thoughts are Peace.

VII.

Sent by Almighty Pity down, To Thee alone 'tis giv'n With glorious Infamy to crown The Favourites of Heav'n.

VIII.

With Thee Heav'n's Fav'rite Son, when made Incarnate, deign'd t' abide; To Thee he meekly bow'd his Head, He bow'd his Head, and dy'd.

IX.

And shall I still the Cup decline, His Suff'rings disesteem, Disdain to make this Portion mine When sanctify'd by Him?

X.

Or firm thro' Him and undismay'd, Thy sharpest Darts abide? Sharp as the Thorns that tore his Head, The Spear that pierc'd his Side.

XI.

Yes—since with Thee my Lot is cast, I bless my GOD's Decree, Embrace with Joy what He embrac'd, And live and die with Thee!

XII.

So when before th' Angelic Host To each his Lot is giv'n, Thy Name shall be in Glory lost, And Mine be found in Heav'n!

The AGONY. From Herbert.

I.

VAIN Man has measur'd Land and Sea, Fathom'd the Depths of States and Kings, O'er Earth and Heav'n explor'd his Way: Yet there are Two vast spacious things, To measure which doth more behove, Yet few that sound them! Sin and Love.

II.

Who would know Sin, let him repair To Calvary: There shall he see A Man so pain'd, that all his Hair, His Skin, his Garments bloody be!

Sin is that Rack, which forces Pain To hunt its Food thro' ev'ry Vein.

III.

Wouldst thou know Love? behold the GOD, The Man, who for thy Ransom dy'd: Go taste the sacred Fount that flow'd Fast-streaming from his wounded Side! Love, is that Liquor most divine, GOD feels as Blood, but I as Wine.

The THANKSGIVING. From the same.

I.

O King of Grief, (how strange and true The Name, to JESUS only due!) How, Saviour, shall I Grieve for Thee? Who in All Griefs preventest me.

II.

Then let me vie with Thee in Love, And try who there shall Conq'ror prove. Giv'st Thou me Wealth? I will restore All back unto Thee by the Poor.

III.

Giv'st Thou me Honour? All shall see The Honour doth belong to Thee: A Bosom-Friend? If false he prove To Thee, I will tear thence his Love.

IV.

Thee shall my Musick find: each String Shall have his Attribute to Sing;

And ev'ry Note accord in Thee, To prove one GOD, one Harmony.

V.

Giv'st Thou me Knowledge? It shall still Search out thy Ways, thy Works, they Will: Yea I will search thy Book, nor move Till I have found therein thy Love.

VI.

Thy Love I will turn back on Thee: O my dear Saviour, Victory! Then for thy Passion, I for That Will do—alas, I know not what!

The REPRIZAL. From the same.

I.

WELL have I weigh'd it, Lord, and find Thy mighty Passion mocks my Skill: Tho' I die for Thee, I'm behind; My Sins deserve the Death to feel.

II.

O were I innocent, that I Might bring Thee Off'rings pure and free! Still my Attempt thy Wounds defy, For they require me dead for Thee.

III.

Yet will I share the Conquest too: Tho' I can do against Thee nought, In Thee, O Lord, I will subdue The Man that once against Thee fought!

MATTINS. From the same.

I.

I Cannot open, Lord, mine Eyes, But Thou art ready still to claim My Morning Soul in Sacrifice: Thine then the foll'wing Day I am.

II.

My GOD, what is a Human Heart? Silver or Gold, or precious Stone; Or Star, or Rainbow; or a Part Of All, or all thy World in One?

III.

My GOD what is a Human Heart? Thou soft'nest it with heav'nly Dew, Thou pour'st upon it all thy Art, As all thy Business were to woo.

IV.

To serve his GOD, is Man's Estate; This glorious Task asks all his Care: He did not Earth and Heav'n create, But may know Him by whom they are.

V.

Teach me at last thy Love to know— That This new Light which now I see May both the Work and Workman show: A Sun-beam lifts me then to Thee!

EMPLOYMENT. From the same.

I.

THE Flow'r now blooms, now hangs its Head, So fleets my shortliv'd Day! O may my useful Fragrance spread Before I fade away!

II.

What tho' the Throne I then should fill At the Great Day, were mine? The Sweetness, which they gracious Skill Diffus'd, its Praise were Thine.

III.

Let me not languish then, and spend A Life dead to thy Praise, As is the Dust to which I tend By sure tho' slow Decays!

IV.

All things are busy round but I: Nor Honey with the Bees, Nor Scent with Flow'rs, nor Husbandry Have I to water these.

V.

I am no Link of thy great Chain, A cumbrous, fruitless Weed: O mend my Musick! Give one Strain Ev'n to my useless Reed!

The ELIXIR. From the same.

I.

TEACH me, my GOD and King, In All things Thee to see; And what I do in any Thing, To do it as for Thee!

II.

To scorn the Senses' Sway, While still to Thee I tend: In all I do, be Thou the Way, In all be Thou the End.

III.

A Man that looks on Glass, On That may fix his Eye; Or unoppos'd may thro' it pass, And Heav'n behind descry.

IV.

All may of Thee partake: Nothing so small can be, But draws, when acted for thy Sake, Greatness and Worth from Thee.

V.

If done t' obey thy Laws, Ev'n Servile Labours shine; Hallow'd is Toil, if this the Cause, The meanest Work Divine.

VI.

Th' Elixir This, the Stone That All converts to Gold: For that which GOD for His doth own, Cannot for less be told.

GRACE before MEAT.

I.

FOuntain of Being, Source of Good! At whose Almighty Breath The Creature proves our Bane or Food, Dispensing Life or Death:

II.

Thee we address with humble Fear, Vouchsafe thy Gifts to crown; Father of All, thy Children hear, And send a Blessing down.

III.

O may our Souls for ever pine Thy Grace to taste and see; Athirst for Righteousness Divine, And hungry after Thee!

IV.

For this we lift our longing Eyes, We wait the gracious Word; Speak—and our Hearts from Earth shall rise, And feed upon the Lord.

Another.

I.

ENslav'd to Sense, to Pleasure prone, Fond of Created Good; Father, our Helplesness we own, And trembling taste our Food.

II.

Trembling we taste: for ah! no more To Thee the Creatures lead; Chang'd they exert a Fatal Pow'r, And poison while they feed.

III.

Curst for the Sake of wretched Man, They now engross him whole, With pleasing Force on Earth detain, And sensualize his Soul.

IV.

Grov'ling on Earth we still must lie Till CHRIST the Curse repeal; Till CHRIST descending from on high Infected Nature heal.

V.

Come then, our Heav'nly Adam, come! Thy healing Influence give; Hallow our Food, reverse our Doom, And bid us eat and live.

VI.

The Bondage of Corruption break! For this our Spirits groan; Thy only Will we fain would seek; O save us from our own.

VII.

Turn the full Stream of Nature's Tide: Let all our Actions tend To Thee their Source; thy Love the Guide, Thy Glory be the End.

VIII.

Earth then a Scale to Heav'n shall be, Sense shall point out the Road; The Creatures then shall lead to Thee, And all we taste be GOD!

GRACE after MEAT.

I.

BEing of Beings, GOD of Love, To Thee our Hearts we raise; Thy all-sustaining Pow'r we prove, And gladly sing thy Praise.

II.

Thine, wholly thine we pant to be, Our Sacrifice receive; Made, and preserv'd, and sav'd by Thee, To Thee Ourselves we give.

III.

Heav'nward our ev'ry Wish aspires: For all thy Mercy's Store The sole Return thy Love requires, Is that we ask for more.

IV.

For more we ask, we open then Our Hearts t' embrace thy Will: Turn and beget us, Lord, again, With all thy Fulness fill!

V.

Come, Holy Ghost, the Saviour's Love Shed in our Hearts abroad; So shall we ever live and move, And Be, with CHRIST, in GOD.

On CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS'S De|scription of a Perfect Christian.

I.

HERE from afar the finish'd Height Of Holiness is seen: But O what heavy Tracts of Toil, What Deserts lie between?

II.

Man for the Simple Life Divine What will it cost to break; Ere Pleasure soft and wily Pride No more within him speak?

III.

What lingring Anguish must corrode The Root of Nature's Joy? What secret Shame and dire Defeats The Pride of Heart destroy?

IV.

Learn Thou the whole of Mortal State In Stilness to sustain; Nor sooth with false Delights of Earth Whom GOD has doom'd to Pain.

V.

Thy Mind now Multitude of Thoughts, Now Stupor shall distress; The Venom of each latent Vice Wild Images impress.

VI.

Yet darkly fafe with GOD thy Soul His Arm still onward bears, Till thro' each Tempest on her Face A Peace beneath appears.

VII.

'Tis in that Peace we see and act By Instincts from above; With finer Taste of Wisdom fraught, And mystic Pow'rs of Love.

VIII.

Yet ask not in mere Ease and Pomp Of Ghostly Gifts to shine: Till Death the Lownesses of Man, And decent Griefs are Thine.

AFFLICTION. From Herbert.

I.

WHEN first Thou didst entice my Heart To Thee, I thought the Service brave; So many Joys I for my Part Set down; besides what I might have Out of my Stock of natural Delights, Augmented by thy gracious Benefits.

II.

I view'd thy Furniture so fine, So gay, so rich; and All for Me! Strongly it spoke the Hand Divine, And lur'd my ravish'd Soul to Thee. Such Stars I counted mine: both Heav'n and Earth Paid me my Wages in a World of Mirth.

III.

What Pleasures could I want who serv'd A King, where Joys my Fellows were? Still my fond Hopes no Place reserv'd For pining Grief, or anxious Fear: Thus did my simple Soul thy Yoke embrace, And made her Youth and Fierceness seek thy Face.

IV.

At first Thou gav'st me Sweetnesses, And strew'dst with Flow'rs the narrow Way: Smoothly my Soul sunk down to Peace, My ev'ry joyous Month was May. But with my Years Sorrow did twist and grow. And made a Party unawares for Woe.

V.

My Flesh chastis'd with tort'ring Pain My Soul, and Sickness clave my Bones; Pale Agues dwelt in ev'ry Vein, And sadly tun'd my Breath to Groans. Sorrow was all my Soul; I scarce perceiv'd, But by the Pains I suffer'd, that I liv'd.

VI.

Health's slowly-lingring, vain Return A far severer Loss attends; Sudden my ravish'd Life I mourn, I lose it in my dying Friends. Defenceless now, my ev'ry Comfort fled, While Grief's whole Sea is empty'd on my Head.

VII.

How Thou wilt now thy Servant use, Not one of all my Books can say. On thy ignobler Works I muse, And wish like them my GOD t' obey: Blest, could I emulate the lifeless Mass, Flow like the Stream, or flourish like the Grass.

VIII.

Yet must I, tho' opprest, submit Strongly my Mis'ry to sustain— Or I will now the Service quit, And strait some other Master gain— Ah! my dear Lord, tho' I am clean forgot, Let me not love Thee, if I love Thee not!

FRAILTY. From the same.

I.

LORD, how in Silence I despise The giddy Worldling's Snare! This Beauty, Riches, Honour, Toys Not worth a Moment's Care. Hence painted Dust, and gilded Clay! You have no Charms for Me: Delusive Breath, be far away! I waste no Thought on thee.

II.

But when abroad at once I view Both the World's Hosts and Thine! These simple, sad, afflicted, few, These num'rous, gay and fine: Lost my Resolves, my Scorn is past, I boast my Strength no more; A willing Slave they bind me fast With unresisted Pow'r.

III.

O brook not this; let not thy Foes Profane thy hallow'd Shrine: Thine is my Soul, by sacred Vows Of strictest Union Thine! Hear then my just, tho' late Request, Once more the Captive free; Renew thy Image in my Breast, And claim my Heart for Thee.

The COLLAR. From the same.

I.

NO more, I cry'd, shall Grief be mine, I will throw off the Load; No longer weep, and sigh, and pine To find an Absent GOD.

II.

Free as the Muse, my Wishes move, Thro' Nature's Wilds they roam: Loose as the Wind, ye Wand'rers rove, And bring me Pleasure home!

III.

Still shall I urge with endless Toil, Yet not obtain my Suit? Still shall I plant th' ungrateful Soil, Yet never taste the Fruit?

IV.

Not so, my Heart!—for Fruit there is, Seize it with eager Haste; Riot in Joys, dissolve in Bliss, And pamper ev'ry Taste.

V.

On Right and Wrong thy Thoughts no more In cold Dispute employ; Forsake thy Cell, the Bounds pass o'er, And give a Loose to Joy.

VI.

Conscience and Reason's Pow'r deride, Let stronger Nature draw, Self be thy End, and Sense thy Guide, And Appetite thy Law.

VII.

Away, ye Shades, while light I rise, I tread you all beneath! Grasp the dear Hours my Youth supplies, Nor idly dream of Death.

VIII.

Whoe'er enslav'd to Grief and Pain, Yet starts from Pleasure's Road, Still let him weep, and still complain, And sink beneath his Load—

IX.

But as I rav'd, and grew more wild And fierce at ev'ry Word, Methought I heard One calling "Child!" And I reply'd—"My Lord!"

GRACE. From the same.

I.

MY Stock lies dead, and no Increase Does thy Past Gifts improve: O let thy Graces without cease Drop gently from above.

II.

If still the Sun should hide his Face, Earth would a Dungeon prove, Thy Works Night's Captives: O let Grace Drop gently from above.

III.

The Dew unsought each Morning falls, Less bounteous is thy Dove? The Dew for which my Spirit calls, Drop gently from above.

IV.

Death is still digging like a Mole My Grave, where'er I move; Let Grace work too, and on my Soul Drop gently from above.

V.

Sin is still spreading o'er my Heart A Hardness void of Love; Let suppling Grace, to cross her Art, Drop gently from above.

VI.

O come; for Thou dost know the Way! Or if Thou wilt not move, Translate me, where I need not say Drop gently from above.

GRATEFULNESS. From the same.

I.

THOU, who hast giv'n so much to me, O give a grateful Heart: See how thy Beggar works on Thee By acceptable Art!

II.

He makes thy Gifts occasion more; And says, if here he's crost, All Thou hast giv'n him heretofore, Thyself, and All is lost.

III.

But Thou didst reckon, when at first Our Wants thy Aid did crave, What it would come to at the worst Such needy Worms to save.

IV.

Perpetual Knockings at thy Door, Tears sullying all thy Rooms; Gift upon Gift; much would have more, And still thy Suppliant comes.

V.

Yet thy unweary'd Love went on; Allow'd us all our Noise; Nay Thou hast dignify'd a Groan, And made a Sigh thy Joys.

VI.

Wherefore I cry, and cry again, Nor canst Thou quiet be, Till my repeated Suit obtain A Thankful Heart from Thee.

VII.

Hear then, and Thankfulness impart Continual as thy Grace; O add to all thy Gifts a Heart Whose Pulse may be thy Praise!

The METHOD. From the same.

I.

LAment, unhappy Heart, lament! Since GOD refuses still To hear thy Pray'r, some Discontent Unknown must cool his Will.

II.

Doubtless thy heav'nly Father could Give All thy Suit does move; For He is Pow'r: And sure He would Give All; for He is Love.

III.

Go then the secret Cause explore, Go search thy inmost Soul: Let Earth divide thy Care no more, Since Heav'n requires the Whole.

IV.

Ha! What do I here written see? It tells me "Yesterday Cold I prefer'd my careless Plea, And only seem'd to Pray".

V.

But stay—What read I written there? "Something I would have done; His Spirit mov'd me to forbear, Yet boldly I went on."

VI.

Then bend once more thy Knees and pray, Once more lift up thy Voice: Seek Pardon first; and GOD will say "Again, Glad Heart, rejoice."

Grieve not the HOLY SPIRIT. From the same.

I.

AND art thou griev'd, O Sacred Dove, When I despise or cross thy Love? Griev'd for a Worm; when ev'ry Tread Crushes, and leaves the Reptile dead!

II.

Then Mirth be ever banish'd hence, Since Thou art pain'd by my Offence; I sin not to my Grief alone, The Comforter within doth groan.

III.

Then weep my Eyes, for GOD doth grieve! Weep, foolish Heart, and weeping live: Tears for the Living Mourner plead, But ne'er avail the hopeless Dead.

IV.

Lord, I adjudge myself to Grief, To endless Tears without Relief: Yet O! t' exact thy Due forbear, And spare a feeble Creature, spare!

V.

Still if I wail not, (still to wail Nature denies, and Flesh would fail) Lord, pardon—for thy Son makes good My Want of Tears, with Store of Blood.

The SIGH. From the same.

I.

MY Heart did heave, and there came forth "O GOD!" By that I knew that Thou wast in the Grief, (Making a Golden Sceptre of thy Rod) To guide and govern it to my Relief. Hadst Thou not had a more than equal Part, Sure the unruly Sigh had broke my Heart.

II.

But since thy Will my Bounds of Life assign'd, Thou know'st my Frame: and if a single Sigh Ask so much Breath, what then remains behind? Why! if some Years of Life together fly,

The swiftly-wafting Sigh then only is A Gale to bring me sooner to my Bliss!

III.

Thy Life on Earth was Grief: to this Thou still Art constant, while thy suff'ring Majesty Touch'd with my Mis'ry, feels whate'er I feel, Adopts my Woes, and daily grieves in me. Thy Death was but begun on Calvary; Thou ev'ry Hour dost in thy Members die!

The FLOWER. From the same.

I.

WHILE sad my Heart, and blasted mourns, How chearing, Lord, and thy Returns, How sweet the Life, the Joys they bring! Grief in thy Presence melts away. Refresh'd I hail the gladsome Day, As Flow'rs salute the rising Spring.

II.

Who would have thought my wither'd Heart Again should feel thy sov'reign Art, A kindly Warmth again should know? Late like the Flow'r, whose drooping Head Sinks down, and seeks its native Bed To see the Mother-Root below.

III.

These are thy Wonders, Lord of Pow'r, Killing and Quick'ning! One short Hour Lifts up to Heav'n, and sinks to Hell:

Thy Will supreme disposes All; We prove thy Justice in our Fall, Thy Mercy in our Rise we feel.

IV.

O that my Latest Change were o'er! O were I plac'd where Sin no more With its Attendant Grief, could come! Stranger to Change, I then should rise Amidst the Plants of Paradise, And flourish in Eternal Bloom.

V.

Many a Spring since here I grew, I seem'd my Verdure to renew, And higher still to rise and higher: Water'd by Tears, and fan'd by Sighs, I pour'd my Fragrance thro' the Skies, And heav'nward ever seem'd t' aspire.

VI.

But while I grow, as Heav'n were mine, Thine Anger comes, and I decline; Faded my Bloom, my Glory lost: Who can the deadly Cold sustain, Or stand beneath the chilling Pain When blasted by thine Anger's Frost?

VII.

And now in Age I bud again, Once more I feel the Vernal Rain, Tho' dead so oft I live and write: Sure I but dream! It cannot be That I, my GOD, that I am He On whom thy Tempests fell all Night!

VIII.

These are thy Wonders, Lord of Love, Thy Mercy thus delights to prove We are but Flow'rs that bloom and die! Soon as This saving Truth we see, Within thy Garden plac'd by Thee, Time we survive, and Death defy.

DESERTION. From the same.

I.

JOY of my Soul, when Thou art gone, And I (which cannot be) Alone; (It cannot, Lord! for I on Thee Depend, and Thou abid'st in me.)

II.

But when Thou dost the Sense repress, Th' extatic Influence of thy Grace; Seem to desert thy lov'd Abode, And leave me sunk beneath my Load:

III.

O what a Damp and deadly Shade, What Horrors then my Soul invade! Less ghastly low'rs the gloomiest Night Than the Eclipse that veils thy Light.

IV.

O do not, do not thus withdraw, Lest Sin surprize me void of Awe, And when Thou dost but shine less clear, Say boldly, That Thou art not here.

V.

Thou, Lord, and only Thou canst tell How dead the Life which then I feel; Pursu'd by Sin's insulting Boast, That "I may seek—but Thou art lost!"

VI.

I half believe (the deadly Cold Does all my Pow'rs so fast infold) That Sin says true. But while I grieve, Again I see thy Face, and Live!

A TRUE HYMN. From the same.

I.

MY Joy, my Life, my Crown of Bliss, My Heart was musing all the Day, Fain would it speak; yet only this, "My Joy, my Life, my Crown," could say

II.

Few as they are, and void of Art, Yet slight not, Lord, these humble Words Fine is that Hymn which speaks the Heart, The Heart that to the Lines accords.

III.

He, who requires his Creature's Time, And all his Soul, and Strength and Mind, Complains, if Heartless flows the Rhyme, What makes the Hymn is still behind:

IV.

The scanty Verse Himself supplies, Let but the fervent Heart be mov'd; And when it says with longing Sighs "O could I love!" GOD writeth "Lov'd!"

The TEMPER. From the same.

I.

O Lord, how gladly would my Rhymes Engrave thy Love in Steel, If what my Soul doth feel sometimes, My Soul might ever feel!

II.

Tho' there were forty Heav'ns or more, Sometimes I mount them all; Sometimes I hardly reach a Score, Sometimes to Hell I fall.

III.

Rack me not to such vast Extent; These Lengths belong to Thee; The World's too little for thy Tent, A Grave too big for me.

IV.

O mete not Arms with Man, nor stretch A Worm from Heav'n to Hell! Strive not with Dust, nor let a Wretch Thy Pow'r Almighty feel.

V.

Yet take thy Way: thy Way is best; Grant or deny me Ease: This is but tuning of my Breast, To make the Musick please.

VI.

Rise I to Heav'n, or sink to Dust, In both, thy Hands appear; Thy Pow'r and Love, my Love and Trust Make One Place Ev'ry where I

The same.

I.

IT cannot be! Is this the Heart That swelled so late with mighty Joy? Lord, if Thou needs must use thy Dart, Spare thy own Gifts, and Sin destroy.

II.

The Greater World knows no Decay; But thy Diviner World of Grace A new Creator ev'ry Day Thou suddenly dost rear or rase.

III.

Set up thy Kingdom in my Heart, That all my Pow'rs thy Sway may own: For ah! my Lord, if Thou depart, Strait rebel Nature mounts thy Throne.

IV.

Tho' Heav'n be mov'd, may I remain Stedfast, and centred firm on Thee: Here six thy Court, and still maintain A standing Majesty in me!

BITTER-SWEET. From the same.

I.

AH my dear, angry Lord, Since Thou dost love, yet strike, Cast down, and yet thy Help afford, Sure I will do the like.

II.

I will complain, yet praise, Bewail, and yet approve, And all my mournful, joyful Days I will lament, and love.

A HYMN for MIDNIGHT.

I.

WHILE Midnight Shades the Earth o'erspread, And veil the Bosom of the Deep, Nature reclines her weary Head, And Care respires and Sorrows sleep: My Soul still aims at Nobler Rest, Aspiring to her Saviour's Breast.

II.

Aid me, ye hov'ring Spirits near, Angels and Ministers of Grace; Who ever, while you guard us here, Behold your Heav'nly Father's Face! Gently my raptur'd Soul convey To Regions of Eternal Day.

III.

Fain would I leave this Earth below. Of Pain and Sin the dark Abode; Where shadowy Joy, or solid Woe Allures, or tears me from my GOD: Doubtful and Insecure of Bliss, Since Death alone confirms me His.

IV.

Till then, to Sorrow born I sigh, And gasp, and languish after Home; Upward I send my streaming Eye, Expecting till the Bridegroom come: Come quickly, Lord! Thy own receive, Now let me see thy Face, and live.

V.

Absent from Thee, my exil'd Soul Deep in a Fleshly Dungeon groans; Around me Clouds of Darkness roll, And lab'ring Silence speaks my Moans: Come quickly, Lord! Thy Face display, And look my Midnight into Day.

VI.

Error and Sin, and Death are o'er If Thou reverse the Creature's Doom; Sad, Rachel weeps her Loss no more, If Thou the GOD, the Saviour come:

Of Thee possest, in Thee we prove The Light, the Life, the Heav'n of Love.

After considering some of his Friends.

I.

WHY do the Deeds of happier Men Into a Mind return, Which can, opprest by Bands of Sloth, With no such Ardors burn?

II.

GOD of my Life and all my Pow'rs, The Everlasting Friend! Shall Life so favour'd in its Dawn, Be fruitless in its End?

III.

To Thee, O Lord, my tender Years A trembling Duty paid, With Glimpses of the mighty GOD Delighted and afraid.

IV.

From Parents' Eye, and Paths of Men, Thy Touch I ran to meet; It swell'd the Hymn, and seal'd the Pray'r, 'Twas calm, and strange, and sweet!

V.

Oft when beneath the Work of Sin Trembling and dark I stood, And felt the Edge of eager Thought, And felt the kindling Blood:

VI.

Thy Dew came down—my Heart was Thine, It knew nor Doubt nor Strife; Cool now and peaceful as the Grave, And strong to Second Life.

VII.

Full of Myself I oft forsook The Now, the Truth, and Thee, For sanguine Hope, or sensual Gust, Or earth-born Sophistry:

VIII.

The Folly thriv'd, and came in Sight Too gross for Life to bear; I smote the Breast for Man too base, I smote—and GOD was there!

IX.

Still will I hope for Voice and Strength To glorify thy Name; Tho' I must die to all that's Mine, And suffer All my Shame.

RELIGIOUS DISCOURSE.

TO speak for GOD, to sound Religion's Praise, Of sacred Passions the wise Warmth to raise; T' infuse the Contrite wish to Conquest nigh, And point the Steps mysterious as they lie; To seize the Wretch in full Career of Lust, And sooth the silent Sorrows of the Just:

Who would not bless for This the Gift of Speech, And in the Tongue's Beneficence be rich?

But who must talk? Not the mere modern Sage Who suits the soften'd Gospel to the Age; Who ne'er to raise degen'rate Practice strives, But brings the Precept down to Christian's Lives. Not He, who Maxims from cold Reading took, And never saw Himself but thro' a Book: Not He, who Hasty in the Morn of Grace, Soon sinks extinguish'd as a Comet's Blaze. Not He, who strains in Scripture-phrase t' abound Deaf to the Sense, who stuns us with the Sound: But He, who Silence loves; and never dealt In the false Commerce of a Truth Unfelt.

Guilty you speak, if subtle from within Blows on your Words the Self-admiring Sin: If unresolv'd to choose the Better Part, Your forward Tongue belies your languid Heart, But then speak safely, when your peaceful Mind Above Self-seeking blest, on GOD reclin'd, Feels Him at once suggest unlabour'd Sense, And ope a Sluce of sweet Benevolence. Some high Behasts of Heav'n you then fulfil, Sprung from his Light your Words, and issuing by his Will.

Nor yet expect so Mystically long, Till Certain Inspiration loose your Tongue: Express the Precept runs, "Do good to all;" Nor adds, "Whene'er you find an inward Call." 'Tis GOD commands: no farther Motive seek, Speak or without, or with Reluctance speak: To Love's Habitual Sense by Acts aspire, And kindle, till you catch the Gospel-Fire.

Discoveries immature of Truth decline, Nor prostitute the Gospel Pearl to Swine. Beware, too rashly how you speak the whole, The Vileness, or the Treasures of your Soul. If spurn'd by some, where weak on Earth you lie, If judg'd a Cheat or Dreamer, where you fly; Here the Sublimer Strain, th' exerted Air Forego; you're at the Bar, not in the Chair.

To the pert Reas'ner if you speak at all, Speak what within his Cognizance may fall: Expose not Truths Divine to Reason's Rack, Give him his own belov'd Ideas back, Your Notions till they look like His, dilute; Blind he must be—but save him from Dispute! But when we're turn'd of Reason's noontide Glare, And Things begin to shew us what they are, More free to such your true Conceptions tell; Yet graft them on the Arts where they excel. If springhtly Sentiments detain their Taste; If Paths of various Learning they have trac'd; If their cool Judgment longs, yet fears to fix: Fire, Erudition, Hesitation mix.

All Rules are dead: 'tis from the Heart you draw The living Lustre, and unerring Law. A State of Thinking in your Manner show, Nor fiercely soaring, nor supinely low: Others their Lightness and each inward Fault Quench in the Stilness of your deeper Thought, Let all your Gestures fixt Attention draw, And wide around diffuse infectious Awe; Present with GOD by Recollection seem, Yet present, by your Chearfulness, with Them.

Without Elation Christian Glories paint, Nor by fond am'rous Phrase assume the Saint. Greet not frail Men with Compliments untrue, With smiles to Peace confirm'd and Conquest due, There are who watch t' adore the Dawn of Grace, And pamper the young Proselyte with Praise: Kind, humble Souls! They with a right good Will Admire his Progress—till he stands stock still.

Speak but to Thirsty Minds of things Divine, Who strong for Thought, are free in yours to join. The Busy from his Channel parts with Pain, The Lanquid loaths an Elevated Strain: With these you aim but at good-natur'd Chat, Where all, except the Love, is low and flat.

Not one Address will diff'rent Tempers fit. The Grave and Gay, the Heavy and the Wit. Wits will sift you; and most Conviction find Where least 'tis urg'd, and seems the least design'd. Slow Minds are merely passive; and forget Truths not inculcated: to these repeat, Avow your Counsel, nor abstain from Heat.

Some gentle Souls, to gay Indiff'rence true, Nor hope, nor fear, nor think the more for you. Let Love turn Babbler here, and Caution sleep, Blush not for shallow Speech, nor muse for deep; These to your Humour, not your Sense attend, 'Tis not th' Advice that sways them, but the Friend. Others have large Recesses in their Breast, With pensive Process all they hear digest: Here well-weigh'd Words with wary Foresight sow, For all you say will sink, and ev'ry Seed will grow.

At first Acquaintance press each Truth severe, Stir the whole Odium of your Character: Let harshest Doctrines all your Words engross, And Nature bleeding on the Daily Cross. Then to yourself th' Ascetic Rule enjoin, To others stoop surprizingly benign; Pitying, if from Themselves with Pain they Part, If stubborn Nature long holds out the Heart. Their Outworks now are gain'd; forbear to press The more you urge them, you prevail the less; Let Speech lay by its Roughness to oblige, Your speaking Life will carry on the Siege: By your Example struck, to GOD they strive To live, no longer to Themselves alive.

To positive Adepts insidious yield, T' ensure the Conquest, seem to quit the Field: Large in your Grants; be their Opinion shown: Approve, amend—and wind it to your own. Couch in your Hints, if more resign'd they hear, Both what they will be soon, and what they are: Pleasing These Words now to their conscious Breast, Th' anticipating Voice hereafter blest.

In Souls just wak'd the Paths of Light to choose, Convictions keen, and Zeal of Pray'r infuse. Let them love Rules; till freed from Passion's Reign, Till blameless Moral Rectitude they gain.

But lest reform'd from each Extremer Ill, They should but Civilize old Nature still, The loftier Charms and Energy display Of Virtue model'd by the Godhead's Ray; The Lineaments Divine, Perfection's Plan, And all the Grandeur of the Inner Man.

Commences thus the Agonizing Strife Previous to Nature's Death, and second Life: Struck by their own inclement piercing Eye, Their feeble Virtues blush, subside and die; They view the Scheme that mimick Nature made, A fancy'd Goodness, and Religion's Shade; With angry Scorn they now reject the whole, Unchang'd their Heart, undeify'd their Soul; Till Indignation sleeps away to Faith, And GOD's own Pow'r and Peace take root in sa|cred Wrath.

Aim less to Teach than Love. The Work begun In Words, is crown'd by artless Warmth alone. Love to your Friend a Second Office owes, Yourself and Him before Heav'ns Footstool throws: You place his Form as Suppliant by your Side, (A helpless Worm, for whom the Saviour dy'd) Into his Soul call down th' Eternal Beam, And longing ask to spend, and to be spent for Him.

MAN'S MEDLEY. From Herbert.

I.

HARK how the Woods with Musick ring, How sweet the feather'd Minstrels sing! They have Their Joys, and Man has His: Yet, if we judge our State aright, The present is not Man's Delight, Hereafter brings his Perfect Bliss.

II.

This Life belongs to Things of Sense, Justly to this They make Pretence;

Angels possess the Next by Birth: Man, grov'ling glorious Man alone Angel and Brute unites in one, While this Hand Heav'n, that touches Earth.

III.

Glorious in Soul, he mounts and flies, Grov'ling in Flesh, he sinks and dies: His Treasure holds in Earth confin'd— The Body's Calls forbid to hear, Born to regard with list'ning Ear▪ The Dictates of his nobler Mind.

IV.

Not but his gracious Master here Allows and bids him taste the Cheer: As Birds, that drinking lift their Head, Thankful like them he bids him drink, And of those Streams of Pleasure think That ever chear th' Immortal Dead.

V.

His Joys are Double—And his Pains; While of Two Winters he complains, The Brute Creation feels but One: Round, and Within him Tempests roll; Frost chills his Veins, and Thought his Soul; Two Deaths he fears, and He alone.

VI.

Yet ev'n the sharpest heaviest Grief May with it bring its own Relief, If right his State the Suff'rer weighs: Happy the Man, who finds the Art To turn, by Thankfulness of Heart, His double Pains to double Praise!

MISERY. From the same.

I.

LORD, let the Angels praise thy Name, Man is a Feeble, Foolish thing! Folly and Sin play all his Game, Still burns his House, He still doth sing: To day he's here, to Morrow gone, The Madman knows it—and sings on.

II.

How canst Thou brook his Foolishness? When heedless of the Voice Divine, Himself alone he seeks to please, And carnal Joys prefers to Thine, Eager thro' Nature's Wilds to rove, Nor aw'd by Fear, nor charm'd by Love.

III.

What strange Pollutions does he wed, Slave to his Senses and to Sin! Naked of GOD, his Guilty Head He strives in Midnight Shades to skreen: Fondly he hopes from Thee to fly, Unmark'd by thine all-seeing Eye.

IV.

The best of Men to Evil yield, If but the slightest Trial come; They fall, by Thee no more upheld: And when Affliction calls them home, Thy gentle Rod they scarce endure, And murmur to accept their Cure.

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V.

Wayward they haste, while Nature leads, T' escape Thee; but thy Gracious Dove Still mildly o'er their Folly spreads The Wings of his expanded Love: Thou bring'st them back, nor suff'rest those Who Would be, to Remain thy Foes.

VI.

My GOD, thy Name Man cannot praise, All Brightness Thou, all Purity! The Sun in his Meridian Blaze Is Darkness, if compar'd to Thee. O how shall sinful Worms proclaim, Shall Man presume to speak thy Name?

VII.

Man cannot serve Thee: All his Care Engross'd by grov'ling Appetite, Is fixt on Earth; his Treasure there, His Portion, and his base Delight: He starts from Virtue's thorny Road, Alive to Sin, but dead to GOD!

VIII.

Ah foolish Man, where are thine Eyes? Lost in a Crowd of Earthly Cares: Thy Indolence neglects to rise, While Husks to Heav'n thy Soul prefers; Careless the starry Crown to seize, By Pleasure bound, or lull'd by Ease.

IX.

To GOD, thro' all Creation's Bounds Th' unconscious Kinds their Homage bring; His Praise thro' Ev'ry Grove resounds, Nor know the Warblers whom they sing:

But Man, Lord of the Creatures, knows The Source from whence their being flows.

X.

He owns a GOD—but eyes him not, But lets his mad Disorders reign: They make his Life a constant Blot, And Blood Divine an Off'ring vain. Ah Wretch! thy Heart unsearchable, Thy Ways mysterious who can tell!

XI.

Perfect at first, and blest his State, Man in his Maker's Image shone; In Innocence divinely great He liv'd; he liv'd to GOD alone: His Heart was Love, his Pulse was Praise, And Light and Glory deck'd his Face.

XII.

But alter'd now and faln he is, Immerst in Flesh, and dead within; Dead to the Taste of native Bliss, And ever sinking into Sin: Nay by his wretched Self undone. Such is Man's State—And such my own!

The SINNER. From the same.

I.

WHEN all the Secrets of my Heart With Horror, Lord, I see, Thine is, I find, the smallest Part, Tho' All be due to Thee.

Thy Footsteps scarce appear within, But Lusts a countless Crowd; Th'immense Circumference is Sin, A Point is all my Good.

II.

O break my Bonds, let Sin enthrall My struggling Soul no more; Hear thy fall'n Creature's feeble Call, Thine Image O restore! And tho' my Heart senseless and hard To Thee can scarcely groan, Yet O remember, gracious Lord, Thou once didst write in Stone!

REPENTANCE. From the same.

I.

LORD, I confess my Sin is great, Great is my Sin! O gently treat Thy tender Flow'r, thy fading Bloom, Whose LIfe's still aiming at a Tomb.

II.

Have Mercy, Lord! Lo I confess I feel, I mourn my Foolishness: O spare me, whom thy Hands have made, A with'ring Leaf, a fleeting Shade.

III.

Sweeten at length this bitter Bowl Which Thou hast pour'd into my Soul! O tarry not! If still Thou stay, Here sets in Death my short-liv'd Day.

IV.

When Thou for Sin rebukest Man, His drooping Heart is fill'd with Pain; Blasted his Strength, his Beauty too Consumes away as Morning Dew.

V.

When wilt Thou Sin and Grief destroy That all the broken Bones may joy; And at thy all-reviving Word Dead Sinners rise, and praise the Lord?

COMPLAINING. From the same.

I.

THOU, Lord, my Pow'r and Wisdom art, O do not then reject my Heart! Thy Clay that weeps, thy Dust I am That calls, O put me not to Shame!

II.

Thy Glories, Lord, in all things shine, Thine is the Deed, the Praise is Thine: A seeble helpless Creature. I Do at thy Pleasure live or die.

III.

Art Thou All Justice?—shews thy Word Thro' Ev'ry Page and Angry Lord? Am I all Tears?—Is this to live? Is all my Business here, to grieve?

IV.

Fill not my Life's short Hour with Pain: Or, O contract the Wretched Span; So shall I mount from Sorrow free, And find Relief and Heav'n in Thee!

HOME. From the same.

I.

FAINT is my Head, and sick my Heart, While Thou dost ever, ever stay! Fixt in my Soul I feel thy Dart, Groaning I feel it Night and Day: Come, Lord, and shew Thyself to me, Or take, O take me up to Thee!

II.

Canst Thou with-hold thy healing Grace, So kindly lavish of thy Blood; When swiftly trickling down thy Face, For Me the purple Current flow'd! Come Lord, and shew, &c.

III.

When Man was lost, LOVE look'd about, To see what Help in Earth or Sky: In vain; for none appear'd without, The Help did in thy Bosom lie! Come, Lord, &c.

IV.

There lay thy Son: but left his Rest Thraldom and Mis'ry to remove From those, who Glory once possest, But wantonly abus'd thy Love. Come, Lord, &c.

V.

He came—O my Redeemer dear! And canst Thou after this be strange? Not yet within my Heart appear! Can Love like Thine or fail or change? Come Lord, &c.

VI.

But if Thou tarriest, why must I? My GOD, what is this World to me! This World of Woe—hence let them fly, The Clouds that part my Soul and Thee. Come, Lord, &c.

VII.

Why should this weary World delight, Or Sense th'immortal Spirit bind? Why should frail Beauty's Charms invite, The trifling Charms of Womankind? Come, Lord, &c.

VIII.

A Sigh Thou breath'st into my Heart, And earthly Joys I view with Scorn: Far from my Soul, ye Dreams depart, Nor mock me with your vain Return! Come, Lord, &c.

IX.

Sorrow and Sin, and Loss and Pain Are all that here on Earth we see; Restless we pant for Ease in vain, In vain—till Ease we find in Thee. Come, Lord, &c.

X.

Idly we talk of Harvests here, Eternity our Harvest is: Grace brings the great Sabbatic Year, When ripen'd into Glorious Bliss. Come, Lord, &c.

XI.

O loose this Frame, Life's Knot untie, That my free Soul may use her Wing; Now pinion'd with Mortality, A weak, entangled, wretched Thing! Come, Lord, &c.

XII.

Why should I longer stay and groan? The most of me to Heav'n is fled: My Thoughts and Joys are thither gone; To all below I now am dead. Come, Lord, &c.

XIII.

Come, dearest Lord! my Soul's Desire With eager Pantings gasps for Home: Thee, Thee my restless Hopes require; My Flesh and Spirit bid Thee come! Come, Lord, and shew Thyself to me, Or take, O take me up to Thee!

LONGING. From the same.

I.

WITH bending Knees, and aking Eyes, Weary and faint, to Thee my Cries, To Thee my Tears, my Groans I send: O when shall my Complainings end?

II.

Wither'd my Heart, like barren Ground Accurst of GOD; my Head turns round, My Throat is hoarse: I faint, I fall, Yet falling still for Pity call.

III.

Eternal Streams of Pity flow From Thee their Source to Earth below: Mothers are kind, because Thou art, Thy Tenderness o'erflows their Heart.

IV.

LORD of my Soul, bow down thine Ear, Hear, Bowels of Compassion, hear! O give not to the Winds my Pray'r: Thy Name, thy hallow'd Name is there!

V.

Look on my Sorrows, mark them well, The Shame, the Pangs, the Fires I feel: Consider, LORD; thine Ear incline! Thy Son hath made my Suff'rings Thine.

VI.

Thou, JESU, on th' accursed Tree Didst bow thy Dying Head for me; Incline it now! Who made the Ear, Shall he; shall He forget to hear!

VII.

See thy poor Dust, in Pity see, It stirs, it creeps, it aims at Thee! Haste, save it from the greedy Tomb! Come!—Ev'ry Atom bids Thee come!

VIII.

'Tis Thine to help! Forget me not! O be thy Mercy ne'er forgot! Lock'd is thy Ear? Yet still my Plea May speed: for Mercy keeps the Key.

IX.

Thou tarriest, while I sink, I die, And fall to Nothing! Thou on high Seest me Undone. Yet am I stil'd By Thee (lost as I am) thy Child!

X.

Didst Thou for This forsake thy Throne? Where are thy Ancient Mercies gone? Why should my Pain my Guilt survive, And Sin be dead, yet Sorrow live?

XI.

Yet Sin is dead; And yet abide Thy Promises; they speak, they chide: They in thy Bosom pour my Tears, And my Complaints present as Theirs.

XII.

Hear, JESU! hear my broken Heart! Broken so long, that ev'ry Part Hath got a Tongue that ne'er shall cease, Till Thou pronounce "Depart in Peace."

XIII.

My Love, my Saviour, hear my Cry; By these thy Feet at which I lie! Pluck out thy Dart! Regard my Sighs; Now heal my Soul, or now it dies.

The SEARCH. From the same.

I.

WHITHER, O whither art Thou fled, My Saviour and my Love? My Searches are my daily Bread, Yet unsuccessful prove. My Knees on Earth, on Heav'n mine Eye Is fixt; and yet the Sphere, And yet the Center both deny That Thou, my GOD, art there.

II.

Yet can I mark that Herbs below Their fragrant Greens display, As if to meet Thee They did know, While wither'd I decay. Yet can I mark how Stars above With conscious Lustre shine, Their Glories borrowing from thy Love, While I in Darkness pine.

III.

I sent a Sigh to seek Thee out, Drawn from my Heart in Pain, Wing'd like an Arrow; but my Scout Return'd alas! in vain. Another from my endless Store I turn'd into a Groan, Because the Search was dumb before: But all alas! was one.

IV.

Where is my GOD? What secret Place Still holds, and hides Thee still? What Covert dares eclipse thy Face?— Is it thy Awful Will? O let not That thy Presence bound: Rather let Walls of Brass, Let Seas and Mountains gird Thee round, And I thro' all will pass.

V.

Thy Will so vast a Distance is, Remotest Points combine, East touches West, compared to this, And Heav'n and Hell conjoin. Take then these Bars, these Lengths away, Turn and restore my Soul: Thy Love Omnipotent display, Approach! and make me whole.

VI.

When Thou, my LORD, my GOD art nigh, Nor Life, nor Death can move, Nor deepest Hell, nor Pow'rs on high Can part me from thy Love.

For as thy Absence passes far The widest Distance known, Thy Presence brings my Soul so near, That Thou and I are One!

DISCIPLINE. From the same.

I.

O Throw away thy Rod, O throw away thy Wrath! My Gracious Saviour and my GOD, O take the gentle Path.

II.

Thou feest, my Heart's Desire Still unto Thee is bent: Still does my longing Soul aspire To an entire Consent.

III.

Not ev'n a Word or Look Do I approve or own, But by the Model of thy Book, Thy sacred Book alone.

IV.

Altho' I fail, I weep; Altho' I halt in pace, Yet still with trembling Steps I creep Unto the Throne of Grace.

V.

O then let Wrath remove: For Love will do the Deed! Love will the Conquest gain; with Love Ev'n stony Hearts will bleed.

VI.

For Love is swift of Foot, Love is a Man of War; Love can resistless Arrows shoot, And hit the Mark from far.

VII.

Who can escape his Bow? That which hath wrought on Thee, Which brought the King of Glory low, Must surely work on me.

VIII.

O throw away thy Rod; What tho' Man Frailties hath? Thou art my Saviour and my GOD! O throw away thy Wrath!

DIVINE LOVE. From the German.

I.

THOU hidden Love of GOD, whose Height, Whose Depth unfathom'd no Man knows, I see from sar thy beauteous Light, Inly I sigh for thy Repose. My Heart is pain'd, not can it be At Rest, till it finds Rest in Thee.

II.

Thy secret Voice invites me still The Sweetness of thy Yoke to prove; And fain I would: but tho' my Will Be fixt, yet wide my Passions rove. Yet Hindrances strew all the Way; I aim at Thee, yet from Thee stray.

III.

'Tis Mercy all, that Thou hast brought My Mind to seek her Peace in Thee! Yet while I seek, but find Thee not, No Peace my wandring Soul shall see. O when shall all my Wandrings end, And all my Steps to Thee-ward tend?

IV.

Is there a Thing beneath the Sun, That strives with Thee my Heart to share? Ah tear it thence, and reign alone, The Lord of ev'ry Motion there: Then shall my Heart from Earth be free, When it has found Repose in Thee.

V.

O hide this SELF from me, that I No more, but CHRIST in me may live! My vile Affections crucify, Nor let one darling Lust survive. In all things nothing may I see, Nothing desire, or seek but Thee!

VI.

O LOVE, thy Sov'reign Aid impart, To save me from low-thoughted Care: Chase this Self-will thro' all my Heart, Thro' all its latent Mazes there. Make me thy duteous Child, that I Ceaseless may Abba Father cry.

VII.

Ah no! ne'er will I backward turn: Thine wholly, thine alone I am!

Thrice happy He, who views with Scorn Earth's Toys for Thee his constant Flame. O help, that I may never move From the blest Footsteps of thy Love!

VIII.

Each Moment draw from Earth away My Heart, that lowly waits thy Call: Speak to my inmost Soul, and say I am thy Love, thy GOD, thy All! To feel thy Pow'r, to hear thy Voice, To taste thy Love is all my Choice!

Written in the Beginning of a Recovery from Sickness.

I.

PEACE, flutt'ring Soul! the Storm is o'er, Ended at last the doubtless Strife: Respiring now, the Cause explore That bound thee to a wretched Life.

II.

When on the Margin of the Grave, Why did I doubt my Saviour's Art? Ah! why mistrust his Will to save? What meant that Fault'ring of my Heart?

III.

'T was not the searching Pain within That fill'd my coward Flesh with Fear; Nor Conscience of uncancel'd Sin; Nor Sense of Dissolution near.

IV.

Of Hope I felt no Joyful Ground, The Fruit of Righteoufness alone; Naked of CHRIST my Soul I found, And started from a GOD unknown.

V.

Corrupt my Will, nor half subdu'd, Could I his purer Presence bear? Unchang'd, unhallow'd, unrenew'd Could I before his Face appear?

VI.

Father of Mercies, hear my Call! Ere yet returns the Fatal Hour, Repair my Loss, retrieve my Fall, And raise me by thy quick'ning Pow'r.

VII.

My Nature re-exchange for Thine; Be Thou my Life, my Hope, my Gain; Arm me in Panoply Divine, And Death shall shake his Dart in vain.

VIII.

When I thy promis'd CHRIST have seen, And clasp'd him in my Soul's Embrace, Possest of my Salvation, Then— Then, let me, LORD, depart in Peace!

After a Recovery from Sickness.

I.

AND live I yet by Pow'r Divine? And have I still my Course to run? Again brought back in its Decline The Shadow of my parting Sun?

II.

Wondring I ask, Is This the Breast Struggling so late and torn with Pain! The Eyes that upward look'd for Rest, And dropt their weary Lids agin!

III.

The recent Horrors still appear: O may they never cease to awe! Still be the King of Terrors near, Whom late in all his Pomp I saw.

IV.

Torture and Sin prepar'd his Way, And pointed to a yawning Tomb! Darkness behind eclips'd the Day, And check'd my forward Hopes of Home.

V.

My feeble Flesh refus'd to bear Its strong redoubled Agonies: When Mercy heard my speechless Pray'r, And saw me faintly gasp for Ease.

VI.

JESUS to my Deliv'rance flew, Where sunk in mortal Pangs I lay: Pale Death his Ancient Conq'ror knew, And trembled, and ungrasp'd his Prey▪

VII.

The Fever turn'd its backward Course, Arrested by Almighty Pow'r; Sudden expir'd its Fiery Force, And Anguish gnaw'd my Side no more.

VIII.

GOD of my Life, what just Return Can sinful Dust and Ashes give? I only Live my Sin to mourn, To love my GOD I only Live!

IX.

To Thee, benign and saving Pow'r I consecrate my lengthen'd Days; While mark'd with Blessings, ev'ry Hour Shall speak thy co-extended Praise.

X.

How shall I teach the World to love, Unchang'd myself, unloos'd my Tongue? Give me the Pow'r of Faith to prove, And Mercy shall be all my Song.

XI.

Be All my Added Life employ'd Thy Image in my Soul to see: Fill with Thyself the Mighty Void; Enlarge my Heart to compass Thee!

XII.

O give me, Saviour, give me more! Thy Mercies to my Soul reveal: Alas! I see their endless Store, Yet O! I cannot, cannot feel!

XIII.

The Blessing of thy Love bestow: For This my Cries shall never fail; Wrestling I will not let Thee go, I will not, till my Suit prevail.

XIV.

I'll weary Thee with my Complaint; Here at thy Feet for ever lie, With longing sick, with groaning faint: O give me Love, or else I die!

XV.

Without this best, divinest Grace. 'Tis Death, 'tis worse than Death to live; 'Tis Hell to want thy Blissful Face, And Saints in Thee their Heav'n receive.

XVI.

Come then, my Hope, my Life, my Lord, And fix in me thy lasting Home! Be mindful of thy gracious Word, Thou with thy promis'd Father, come!

XVII.

Prepare, and then possess my Heart, O take me, seize me from above: Thee Do I love, for GOD Thou art; Thee Do I feel, for GOD is Love!

A PRAYER under Convictions.

I.

FATHER of Light, from whom proceeds Whate'er thy Ev'ry Creature needs, Whose Goodness providently nigh Feeds the young Ravens when they cry; To Thee I look; my Heart prepare, Suggest, and hearken to my Pray'r.

II.

Since by Thy Light Myself I see Naked, and poor, and void of Thee, Thine Eyes must all my Thoughts survey, Preventing what my Lips would say: Thou seest my Wants; for Help they call, And ere I speak, Thou know'st them all.

III.

Thou know'st the Baseness of my Mind Wayward, and impotent and blind, Thou know'st how unsubdu'd my Will, Averse to Good, and prone to Ill: Thou know'st how wide my Passions rove, Nor check'd by Fear, nor charm'd by Love.

IV.

Fain would I know, as known by Thee, And feel the Indigence I see; Fain would I all my Vileness owr, And deep beneath the Burden groan: Abhor the Pride that lurks within, Detest and loath myself and Sin.

V.

Ah give me, LORD, myself to feel, My total Misery reveal: Ah give me, LORD, (I still would say.) A Heart to mourn, a Heart to pray; My Business this, my only Care, My Life, my ev'ry Breath be Pray'r.

VI.

Scarce I begin my sad Complaint, When all my warmest Wishes faint; Hardly I lift my weeping Eye, When all my kindling Ardors die; Nor Hopes nor Fears my Bosom move, For still I cannot, cannot love.

VII.

Father, I want a thankful Heart; I want to taste how good Thou art, To plunge me in thy Mercy's Sea, And comprehend thy Love to me; The Breadth, and Length, and Depth, and Height Of Love divinely infinite.

VIII.

Father, I long my Soul to raise And dwell for ever on thy Praise, Thy Praise with Glorious Joy to tell, In Extasy unspeakable; While the Full Pow'r of FAITH I know, And reign triumphant here below.

The 53^d Chapter of ISAIAH.

1

WHO hath believ'd the Tidings? Who? Or felt the Joys our Words impart? Gladly confess'd our Record true, And found the Saviour in his Heart? Planted in Nature's barren Ground, And cherish'd by JEHOVAH's Care, There shall th' Immortal Seed be found, The Root Divine shall flourish there!

2

See the Desire of Nations comes; Nor outward Pomp bespeaks Him near, A Veil of Flesh the GOD assumes, A Servant's Form he stoops to wear; He lays his every Glory by; Ignobly low, obscurely mean, Of Beauty void, in Reason's Eye, The Source of Loveliness is seen.

3

Rejected and despis'd of Men, A Man of Griefs, inur'd to Woe; His only Intimate is Pain, And Grief is all his Life below. We saw, and from the irksome Sight Disdainfully our Faces turn'd; Hell follow'd Him with fierce Despight, And Earth the humble Object scorn'd.

4

Surely for Us He humbled was, And griev'd with Sorrows not his own: Of all his Woes were We the Cause, We fill'd his Soul with Pangs unknown.

Yet Him th' Offender we esteem'd, Stricken by Heaven's vindictive Rod, Afflicted for Himself we deem'd, And punish'd by an Angry GOD.

5

But O! with our Transgressions stain'd, For our Offence He wounded was; Ours were the Sins that bruis'd and pain'd And scourg'd, and nail'd Him to the Cross. The Chastisement that bought our Peace, To Sinners due, on him was laid: Conscience be still! thy Terrors cease! The Debt's discharg'd, the Ransom's paid.

6

What tho' we All as wandring Sheep Have left our GOD, and lov'd to stray, Refus'd his mild Commands to keep, And madly urg'd the downward Way; Father, on Him thy Bolt did fall, The Mortal Law thy Son fulfill'd, Thou laid'st on Him the Guilt of All, And by his Stripes we All are heal'd.

7

Accus'd his Mouth He open'd not, He answer'd not by Wrongs opprest; Pure tho' He was from sinful Spot What Guilt He Silently confest! Meek as a Lamb to Slaughter led, A Sheep before his Shearers dumb To suffer in the Sinner's stead Behold the Spotless Victim come!

8

Who could his Heavenly Birth declare When bound by Man he silent stood, When Worms arraign'd Him at their Bar, And doom'd to Death th' Eternal GOD!

Patient the Sufferings to sustain The Vengeance to Transgressors due, Guiltless He groan'd and died for Man: Sinners rejoice, He died for you!

9

For your imputed Guilt he bled, Made Sin a sinful World to save; Meekly he sunk among the Dead: The Rich supplied an Honour'd Grave? For O! devoid of Sin, and free From Actual or Intail'd Offence, No Sinner in Himself was He, But pure and perfect Innocence.

10

Yet Him th' Almighty Father's Will▪ With bruising Chastisements pursu'd, Doom'd Him the Weight of Sin to feel, And sternly just requir'd his Blood. But lo! the Mortal Debt is paid, The costly Sacrifice is o'er, His Soul for Sin an Offering made Revives, and He shall die no more.

11

His numerous Seed He now shall see, Scatter'd thro' all the Earth abroad, Blest with His Immortality, Begot by Him, and born of GOD. Head to his Church o'er all below Long shall He here his Sons sustain; Their bounding Hearts his Power shall know, And bless the lov'd Messiah's Reign.

12

'Twixt GOD and Them He still shall stand The Children whom his Sire hath given,

Their Cause shall prosper in his Hand While RIGHTEOUSNESS looks down from Heaven. While pleas'd He counts the Ransom'd Race. And calls and draws them from above; The Travail of his Soul surveys, And rests in his Redeeming Love.

13

Tis done! my Justice asks no more, The Satisfaction's fully made: Their Sins He in his Body bore; Their Surety all the Debt has paid. My Righteous Servant and my Son Shall each Believing Sinner clear, And All, who stoop t'abjure their own, Shall in His Righteousness appear.

14

Them shall He claim His just Desert, Them His Inheritance receive, And many a contrite humble Heart Will I for his Possession give. Satan He thence shall chase away, Assert his Right, his Foes o'ercome; Stronger than Hell, retrieve the Prey, And bear the Spoil triumphant Home.

15

For charg'd with all their Guilt he stood, Sinners from Suffering to redeem, For Them He pour'd out all his Blood, Their Substitute, He died for Them. He died; and rose his Death to plead, To testify Their Sins forgiven— And still I hear Him interceed, And still He makes Their Claim to Heaven!

HEB. xii. 2. Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.

I.

WEARY of struggling with my Pain, Hopeless to burst my Nature's Chain, Hardly I give the Contest o'er, I seek to free myself no more.

II.

From my own Works at last I cease, GOD that creates must seal my Peace; Fruitless my Toil and Vain my Care, And all my Fitness is Despair.

III.

LORD, I despair myself to heal, I see my Sin, but cannot feel: I cannot, till thy Spirit blow, And bid th' Obedient Waters flow.

IV.

'Tis Thine a Heart of Flesh to give, Thy Gifts I only can receive: Here then to Thee I all resign, To draw, redeem, and seal is Thine.

V.

With simple Faith, to Thee I call. My Light, my Life, my LORD, my All: I wait the Moving of the Pool; I wait the Word that speaks me Whole.

VI.

Speak gracious Lord, my Sickness cure, Make my infected Nature pure; Peace, Righteousness and Joy impart, And pour Thyself into my Heart.

GAL. iii. 22. The Scripture hath concluded all under Sin, that the Promise by Faith of JESUS CHRIST might be given to them that believe.

I.

JESU, the Sinner's Friend, to Thee Lost and undone for Aid I flee, Weary of Earth, Myself, and Sin— Open thine Arms, and take me in.

II.

Pity and heal my sin-sick Soul, 'Tis Thou alone canst make me whole, Fal'n, till in Me thine Image shine, And curst I am till Thou art mine.

III.

Hear, JESU, hear my helpless Cry, O save a Wretch condemn'd to die! The Sentence in Myself I feel, And all my Nature teems with Hell.

IV.

When shall Concupiscence and Pride No more my tortur'd Heart divide! When shall this Agony be o'er, And the Old Adam rage no more!

V.

Awake, the Woman's Conqu'ring Seed, Awake, and bruise the Serpent's Head, Tread down thy Foes, with Power controul The Beast and Devil in my Soul.

VI.

The Mansion for Thyself prepare, Dispose my Heart by Entring there! 'Tis This alone can make me clean, 'Tis This alone can cast out Sin.

VII.

Long have I vainly hop'd and strove To force my Hardness into Love, To give Thee all thy Laws require; And labour'd in the Purging Fire.

VIII.

A thousand specious Arts essay'd, Call'd the deep Mystic to my Aid: His boasted Skill the Brute refin'd, But left the subtler Fiend behind.

IX.

Frail, dark, impure, I still remain, Nor hope to break my Nature's Chain: The fond self-emptying Scheme is past, And lo! constrain'd I yield at last.

X.

At last I own it cannot be That I should fit Myself for Thee: Here then to Thee, I all resign, Thine is the Work, and only Thine.

XI.

No more to lift my Eyes I dare Abandon'd to a just Despair; I Have my Punishment in View. I Feel a thousand Hells my Due.

XII.

What shall I say thy Grace to move? LORD I am Sin—but Thou art Love: I give up every Plea beside "LORD I am Damn'd—but Thou hast died!

XIII.

While groaning at thy Feet I fall Spurn me away, refuse my Call, If Love permit, contract thy Brow, And, if Thou canst, destroy me now!

Hoping for GRACE. From the German.

I.

MY Soul befor Thee prostrate lies, To Thee her Source my Spirit flies, My Wants I mourn, my Chains I see: O let thy Presence set me free!

II.

Lost and undone, for Aid I cry; In thy Death, Saviour, let me die! Griev'd with thy Grief, pain'd with thy Pain, Ne'er may I feel Self-love again.

III.

JESU, vouchsafe my Heart and Will With thy meek Lowliness to fill; No more her Pow'r let Nature boast, But in thy Will may mine be lost.

IV.

In Life's short Day let me yet more Of thy enliv'ning Pow'r implore: My Mind must deeper sink in Thee, My Foot stand firm from Wandring free.

V.

Ye Sons of Men, here nought avails Your Strength, here all your Wisdom fails; Who bids a sinful Heart be clean? Thou only, LORD, supreme of Men.

VI.

And well I know thy tender Love; Thou never didst unfaithful prove: And well I know Thou stand'st by me, Pleas'd from Myself to set me free.

VII.

Still will I watch, and labour still To banish ev'ry Thought of Ill; Till Thou in thy good Time appear, And sav'st me from the Fowler's Snare.

VIII.

Already springing Hope I feel; GOD will destroy the Pow'r of Hell: GOD from the Land of Wars and Pain Leads me, where Peace and Safety reign.

IX.

One only Care my Soul shall know, Father, all thy Commands to do: Ah deep engrave it on my Breast, That I in Thee ev'n now am blest.

X.

When my warm'd Thoughts I fix on Thee, And plunge me in thy Mercy's Sea, Then ev'n on me thy Face shall shine, And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this dead Heart of mine.

XI.

So ev'n in Storms my Zeal shall grow; So shall I thy Hid Sweetness know; And feel (what endless Age shall prove) That Thou, my LORD, my GOD, art Love!

The DAWNING. From Herbert.

I.

AWAKE, sad Heart, whom Sorrows drown, Lift up thine Eyes, and cease to mourn, Unfold thy Forehead's settled Frown; Thy Saviour, and thy Joys return.

II.

Awake, sad drooping Heart, awake! No more lament, and pine, and cry: His Death Thou ever dost partake, Partake at last his Victory.

III.

Arise; if thou dost not withstand, CHRIST's Resurrection Thine may be: O break not from the Gracious Hand Which, as it rises, raises Thee.

V.

Chear'd by thy Saviour's Sorrows rise; He griev'd, that Thou mayst cease to grieve; Dry with his Burial Cloths thine Eyes, He dy'd Himself, that Thou mayst live!

MATTH. V. 3. Blessed are they that mourn.

I.

JESU! my great High-priest above, My Friend before the Throne of Love! If now for Me prevails thy Prayer, If now I find Thee pleading there; If Thou the Secret Wish convey, And sweetly prompt my Heart to pray, Hear; and my weak Petitions join, Almighty Advocate, to Thine!

II.

Fain would I know my utmost Ill, And groan my Nature's Weight to feel, To feel the Clouds that round me roll, The Night that hangs upon my Soul. The Darkness of my Carnal Mind, My Will perverse, my Passions blind, Scatter'd o'er all the Earth abroad, Immeasurably far from GOD.

III.

JESU! my Heart's Desire obtain, My Earnest Suit present and gain, My Fulness of Corruption show, The Knowledge of Myself bestow; A deeper Displicence at Sin, A sharper Sense of Hell within, A stronger Struggling to get free, A keener Appetite for Thee.

IV.

For Thee my Spirit often pants, Yet often in pursuing faints, Drooping it soon neglects t' aspire, To fan the ever-dying Fire: No more thy Glory's Skirts are seen, The World, the Creature steals between; Heavenward no more my Wishes move, And I forget that Thou art Love.

V.

O Sovereign Love, to Thee I cry, Give me Thyself, or else I die. Save me from Death, from Hell set free, Death, Hell, are but the Want of Thee.

Quickned by thy imparted Flame, Sav'd, when possest of Thee, I am; My Life, my only Heav'n Thou art: And lo! I feel Thee in my Heart!

The CHANGE. From the German.

I.

JESU, whose Glory's streaming Rays, Tho' duteous to thy high Command Not Seraph's view with open Face, But veil'd before thy Presence stand: How shall weak Eyes of Flesh, weigh' down With Sin, and dim with Error's Night, Dare to behold thy awful Throne, Or view thy unapproached Light?

II.

Restore my Sight! let thy free Grace An Entrance to the Holiest give! Open my Eyes of Faith! thy Face So shall I see; yet seeing live. Thy Golden Scepter from above Reach forth: see my whole Heart I bow: Say to my Soul, Thou art my Love, My Chosen midst ten thousand Thou.

III.

O JESU, full of Grace! the Sighs Of a sick Heart with Pity view! Hark how my Silence speaks; and cries, Mercy, Thou GOD of Mercy, shew! I know Thou canst not but be Good! How shouldst Thou, LORD, thy Grace restrain?

Thou, LORD, whose Blood so largely flow'd To save me from all Guilt and Pain.

IV.

Into thy gracious Hands I fall, And with the Arms of Faith embrace! O King of Glory, hear my Call! O raise me, heal me by thy Grace! —Now Righteous thro' thy Wounds I am: No Condemnation now I dread: I taste Salvation in thy Name, Alive in Thee my Living Head!

V.

Still let thy Wisdom be my Guide, Nor take thy Light from me away: Still with me let thy Grace abide, That I from Thee may never stray. Let thy Word richly in me dwell; Thy Peace and Love my Portion be, My Joy t' endure, and do thy Will, Till perfect I am found in Thee l

VI.

Arm me with thy whole Armour, LORD, Support my Weakness with thy Might: Gird on my Thigh thy conq'ring Sword, And shield me in the threat'ning Fight. From Faith to Faith, from Grace to Grace, So in thy Strength shall I go on, Till Heav'n and Earth flee from thy Face, And Glory end what Grace begun.