Friend of the friendless and the faint! Did ever mourner plead with thee, That were a grief I could not bear, Fair is the lot that's cast for me; Poor though I am, despised, forgot,* For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead. XXXIX. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH. My soul is sad, and much dismay'd, See, from the ever-burning lake, How like a smoky cloud they rise! With horrid blasts my soul they shake, With storms of blasphemies and lies. Their fiery arrows reach the mark,* My throbbing heart with anguish tear; Each lights upon a kindred spark, And finds abundant fuel there. I hate the thought that wrongs the Lord; Come, then, and chase the cruel host, Heal the deep wounds I have received! Nor let the powers of darkness boast, That I am foil'd, and thou art grieved! XL. PEACE AFTER A STORM. WHEN darkness long has veil'd my mind, And smiling day once more appears; Then, my Redeemer, then I find The folly of my doubts and fears. Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be Thus prone to act so base a part, Or harbour one hard thought of thee! * Ephes. vi. 16. Oh let me then at length be taught Sweet truth, and easy to repeat! Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide. But, O my Lord, one look from thee Thou art as ready to forgive Thou, therefore, all the praise receive; XLI. MOURNING AND LONGING. THE Saviour hides his face! The favour'd souls who know What glories shine in him, Pant for his presence as the roe Pants for the living stream! What trifles tease me now! They swarm like summer flies, How dull the Sabbath day, How toilsome then to sing and pray, Of all the truths I hear, Yet let me (as I ought) Still hope to be supplied; No pleasure else is worth a thought, Though I am but a worm, The Lord will my desire perform, XLII. SELF-ACQUAINTANCE. DEAR Lord! accept a sinful heart, And mourns, with much and frequent smart, There fiery seeds of anger lurk, Legality holds out a bribe To purchase life from thee; And discontent would fain prescribe How thou shalt deal with me. While unbelief withstands thy grace, How eager are my thoughts to roam Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood, XLIII. PRAYER FOR PATIENCE. LORD, who hast suffer'd all for me, |