When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,

And find it ever new

Set free from present sorrow
We cheerfully can say,

E'en let the unknown to-morrow
Bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing,
But he will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.

The vine nor fig-tree neither +

Their wonted fruit should bear, Though all the field should wither, Nor flocks nor herds be there:

Yet God the same abiding,

His praise shall tune my voice; For, while in him confiding,

I cannot but rejoice.

*Matthew vi. 34.

Habakkuk iii. 17, 18.

XLIX. TRUE PLEASURES.

LORD, my soul with pleasure springs,

When Jesus' name I hear;

And when God the Spirit brings
The word of promise near :
Beauties too, in holiness,

Still delighted I perceive;

Nor have words that can express
The joys thy precepts give.

Clothed in sanctity and grace,
How sweet it is to see

Those who love thee as they pass,
Or when they wait on thee:
Pleasant too, to sit and tell

What we owe to love divine;
Till our bosoms grateful swell,
And eyes begin to shine.

Those the comforts I possess,
Which God shall still increase,
All his ways are pleasantness,*
And all his paths are peace.
Nothing Jesus did or spoke,
Henceforth let me ever slight;
For I love his easy yoke,†
And find his burden light.

*Prov. iii. 17

VOL. VIII.

+ Matt. xi. 30.

L

L. THE CHRISTIAN.

HONOUR and happiness unite

To make the Christian's name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!

A kingly character he bears,

No change his priestly office knows;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.

Adorn'd with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face ;
His robe is of the ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.

Inferior honours he disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth:
The King of kings himself maintains
The expenses of his heavenly birth.

The noblest creature seen below,
Ordain'd to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love!

My soul is ravish'd at the thought!
Methinks from earth I see him rise!
Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies!

LI. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR.

I was a grovelling creature once,
And basely cleaved to earth;

I wanted spirit to renounce

The clod that gave me birth.

But God has breath'd upon a worm,
And sent me, from above,
Wings such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky
The spacious promised land.

The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promised it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain
As far as faith can see.

How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;
I stand upon a mountain's edge,
Oh save me, lest I fall!

Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not my own;

Then let me tremble at his word,

And none shall cast me down.

LII. FOR THE POOR.

WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent,
And wept o'er Ishmael,

A message from the Lord was sent
To guide her to a well.*

Should not Elijah's cake and cruise†
Convince us at this day,

A gracious God will not refuse
Provisions by the way?

His saints and servants shall be fed,

The promise is secure ;

"Bread shall be given them," he has said,
"Their water shall be sure."‡

Repasts far richer they shall prove,
Than all earth's dainties are ;
'Tis sweet to taste a Saviour's love,
Though in the meanest fare.

To Jesus then your trouble bring,
Nor murmur at your lot;
While you are poor and he is King,
You shall not be forgot.

LIII. MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD.

I THIRST, but not as once I did

The vain delights of earth to share ;

Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid

That I should seek my pleasures there.

*Gen. xxi. 19. +1 Kings xvii. 14. † Isa. xxxiii, 16.