XXXIII. SEEKING THE BELOVED. To those who know the Lord I speak, Is my beloved near? The bridegroom of my soul I seek, Though once a man of grief and shame, Yet now he fills a throne, And bears the greatest, sweetest name, Grace flies before, and love attends Though none can see him but his friends, He speaks-obedient to his call Then love in every heart would reign, Such Jesus is, and such his grace, VOL. VIII. * Cant. v. 8. K XXXIV. THE WAITING SOUL. BREATHE from the gentle south, O Lord, I wish, thou know'st, to be resign'd, Help me to reach the distant goal, Pity the sickness of a soul That faints for love of thee. Cold as I feel this heart of mine, I seem forsaken and alone, I hear the lion roar; And ev'ry door is shut but one, There, till the dear Deliv'rer come, The Lord shall find me there. XXXV. WELCOME CROSS. 'Tis my happiness below Not to live without the cross, But the Saviour's power to know, Sanctifying every loss: Trials must and will befall; But with humble faith to see Love inscribed upon them all, This is happiness to me. God in Israel sows the seeds Trials give new life to prayer; Trials bring me to his feet, Lay me low, and keep me there. Did I meet no trials here, No chastisement by the way: * Hebrews xii. 8. XXXVI. AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD. O HOW I love thy holy word, Thy gracious covenant, O Lord! It guides me in the peaceful way; What are the mines of shining wealth, Long unafflicted, undismay'd, What though it pierced my fainting heart, But saved me from eternal woe. Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised, I love thee, therefore, O my God, *Psalm cxix. 71. XXXVII. TEMPTATION. THE billows swell, the winds are high, Out of the depths to thee I call, My fears are great, my strength is small. And guard and guide me through the storm, My soul still hangs her hope on thee; Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck, Force back my shatter'd bark again. XXXVIII. LOOKING UPWARDS IN A STORM. GOD of my life, to thee I call, Afflicted at thy feet I fall; When the great water-floods prevail,* Leave not my trembling heart to fail! * Psalm lxix. 15. |