8. Not to my wish, but to my want, Do thou thy gifts apply:
Unask'd, what good thou knowest grant What ill, tho' ask'd, deny.
SECTION XVI..
The happy choice.
1. BESET with snares on ev'ry hand, In life's uncertain path I stand: Father Divine! diffuse thy light, To guide my doubtful footsteps right. 2. Engage this frail, and wav'ring heart, Wisely to choose the better part To scorn the trifles of a day, For joys that never fade away.
3. Then let the wildest storms arise; Let tempests mingle earth and skies; No fatal shipwreck shall I fear; But all my treasures with me bear. 4. If thou, my Father! still art nigh, Cheerful I live, and peaceful die: Secure, when mortal comforts flee, To find ten thousand worlds in thee.
SECTION XVII.
The fall of the leaf.
1. SEE the leaves around us falling, Dry and wither'd to the ground; Thus to thoughtless mortals calling, In a sad and solemn sound:
2. "Sons of Adam, (once in Eden, When, like us, he blighted fell,) Hear the lecture we are reading; 'Tis, alas! the truth we tell,
8. Virgins, much, too much presuming On your boasted white and red; View us late in beauty blooming, Number'd now mong the dead
4. Youths, though yet no losses grieve you, Gay in health, and many a grace; Let not cloudless skies deceive you; Summer gives to autumn place.
5. Yearly in our course returning," Messengers of shortest stay; Thus we preach this truth concerning, - Heav'n and earth shall pass away.
6. On the tree of life eternal,
Man, let all thy hopes be staid
Which alone, for ever vernal,
Bears a leaf that shall not fade."
SECTION XVIII.
Trust in the grodness of God.
1. WHY, O my soul, why thus deprest, And whence this anxious fear? Let former favours fix thy trust, And check the rising tear.
2. When darkness and when sorrows rose, s'd on ev'ry side,
Did not the Lord sustain thy steps, And was not God thy guide?
3. Affliction is a stormy deep,
Where wave resounds to wave: Tho' o'er my head the billows roll, I know the Lord can save.
4. Perhaps before the morning dawns, He'll reinstate my peace; For he who bade the tempest roar, Can bid the tempest cease.
5. In the dark watches of the night, I'll count his mercies o'er;
I'll praise him for ten thousand past, And humbly sue for more.
6. Then, O my soul, why thus deprest, And whence this anxious fear Let former favours fix thy trust, And check the rising tear.
7 Here will I rest, and build my hopes, Nor murmur at his rod; He's more than all the world to me, My health, my life, my God!
SECTION XIX.
The Christian race.
1 AWAKE, my soul, stretch ev'ry nervo, And press with vigour on: A heav'nly race demands thy zeal, And an immortal crown.
2. A cloud of witnesses around, Hold thee in full survey: Forget the steps already trod, And onward urge thy way.
8. "Tis God's all-animating voice, That calls thee from on high; 'Tis his own hand presents the prize To thine aspiring eye:
4. That prize with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,
When victors' wreaths, and monarchs' gems,
Shall blend in common dust.
5. My soul, with sacred ardour fir'd, The glorious prize pursue;
And meet with joy the high command, To bid this earth adieu.
SECTION XX.
The dying Christian to his soul.
1. VITAL spark of heav'nly flame! Quit, oh quit this mortal frame: Trembling, hoping, ling'ring, flying, Oh the pain, the bliss of dying! Cease, fond nature, cease thy strife, And let me languish into life.
2. Hark! they whisper; angels say, "Sister spirit, cone away.”-
What is this absorbs me quite; Steals my senses, shuts my sight, Drowns my spirits, draws my breath? Tell me, my soul, can this be death? 8 The world recedes; it disappears! Heav'n opens on my eyes! my ears With sounds seraphic ring:
Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! O Grave! where is thy victory? O Death! where is thy sting?
SECTION XXI.
Epitaph on a poor and virtuous man.
1. STOP, reader, here, and deign to look On one without a name; Ne'er enter'd in the ample book Of fortune, or of fame.
2. Studious of peace, he hated strife; Meek virtues fill'd his breast:
66 arms, a spotless life" "An honest heart," his crest.
3. Quarter'd therewith was innocence; And thus his motto ran:
"A conscience void of all offence Before both God and man."
1. In the great day of wrath, tho' pride Now scorns his pedigree,
Thousands shall wish they'd been allied To this great family.
1. WHEN Christ, among the sons of In humble forin was found, With cruel slanders, false and vain, He was encompass'd round.
2. The woes of men, his pity mov'd; Their peace, he still pursu'd;
They render'd hatred for his love, And evil for his good.
3 Their malice rag'd without a cause, Yet, with his dying breath,
He pray'd for murd'rers on his cross, And bless'd his foes in death.
4. From the rich fountain of his love, What streams of mercy flow! "Father, forgive them," Jesus cries, "They know not what they do." 5. Let not this bright example shine, In vain before our eyes!
Give us, great God, a soul like his, To love our enemies.
The dangers and snares of life.
1. AWAKE, my soul! lift up thine eyes; See where thy foes against thee rise, In long array, a num❜rous host! Awake, my soul, or thou art lost
2. Here giant danger threat'ning stands, Must'ring his pale terrific bands; There pleasure's silken banners spread, And willing souls are captive led.
See where rebellious passions rage, And fierce desires and lusts engage; The meanest foe of all the train Has thousands and ten thousands slain.
Thou tread'st upon enchanted ground; Perils and snares beset thee round: Beware of all, guard every part, But most the traitor in thy heart.
Come then, my soul, now learn to wield The weight of thine immortal shield: Put on the armour from above
Of heav'nly truth and heav'nly love.
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