THOUGHTS IN A RELIGIOUS MEETING.
THOUGH few in number, Father, Lord!
Still in Thy name we come,
To wait for Thy inteaching Word,
Though human lips be dumb ;
Though neither sad nor joyful tone
Be lent to mortal ear,
Thou, Thou, who knowest the heart alone,
Wilt kindly listen here.
The while a cold and formal throng
We seem to mortal eye,
Thou knowest full many a grateful song,
And many a burdened sigh,
And heartfelt prayers for strength and grace
To walk from error free,
Rise from this silent gathering place,
In sounds of power to Thee.
The few that here are wholly Thine,
Who tread the narrow way, Told not by outward seal or sign Of their baptismal day.
Thou only knowest the way and time
Their covenant begun,
Thou, only, when they seek sublime
Communion with Thy Son.
Join me to these, as deep to deep,
Their way be still my choice;
My soul e'en as an infant keep,
That knows its parent's voice.
While others labour in Thy cause,
With words of power and skill,
Be it but mine to know Thy laws,
To love Thee, and be still.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life."-JOHN. vi. 35
THE world with stones, instead of bread,
My weary soul has often fed ;
It promised health,-in one short hour
Perished the fair, but fragile flower;
It promised riches,-in a day
They made them wings and fled away ;
It promised friends,—all sought their own,
And left my widowed heart alone.
Lord, with the barren service spent,
To Thee my suppliant knee I bent ;
And found in Thee a Father's grace,-
His hand, His heart, His faithfulness ;—
The voice of peace, the smile of love,
The bread that feeds the saints above,
I tasted in this world of woe,
A joy its children never know.
MAN IS NOT HIS OWN.
THOUGH taught by woes to mortals seldom known,
The humbling truth, that "man is not his own,"
That, till we live to Him, for us who died,
All love is selfish, and all knowledge pride,
All happiness a momentary gleam,
All hope a meteor, and all peace a dream :
Though taught this truth by discipline severe,
(Such as health could not, life could scarcely bear,)
Strong are the ties which still my mind entwine,
And counteract the work of love divine.
The world, the world, its glittering bait prepares,
Its friendship offers, and obtrudes its cares ;
Still would intemperate fancy wildly stray,
Spite of the secret check, the secret ray;
Weak to withstand, and yet afraid to yield,
I neither keep, nor wholly quit the field,
Father of mercies, "till the day-spring rise,"
And Thy salvation glad my longing eyes;
Till doubt and fear like "morning shadows flee,"
And all my griefs are lost in love of Thee ;
While through this cheerless world. I faintly strive,
Hope sore depressed, and Faith but just alive,
Teach me to dread all guidance but Thy own,
And patient tread in "paths I have not known";
Forgive my murmurings; let Thy quickening power
Support my spirits in the gloomy hour.
And when the hosts of household foes appal,
"Turn, Thou beloved," at my feeble call,
Come "with the swiftness of the mountain roe,"
And strength, proportioned to my wants, bestow;
Teach me those wants more deeply still to feel,
And deeply feeling, suppliant when to kneel;
Oh! in my soul that ardent thirst renew,
Which nought can satiate but celestial dew;
Drive thou from thence unprofitable care,
Yea, all that mars it for a house of prayer ;
Dislodge alike the abject and the proud,
Passion's low mist, and notion's airy cloud;
Whate'er Thy power has shaken, shake again,
Till nought but things immovable remain.
Thus, gracious Father, break each false repose,
And unrelenting, "rule amidst Thy foes,"
Till, every low propensity exiled,
"My soul is even as a weaned child,"
From mean self-love, or gross, or specious, free,
And all my treasures, all my springs in Thee.
THY WILL BE DONE.
My God and Father while I stray,
Far from my home on life's rough way,
Oh! help me from my heart to say,
Though dark my path and sad my lot,
Let me be still, and murmur not,
Or breathe the prayer divinely taught,
Thy will be done.
What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends beloved no longer nigh,
Submissive still I would reply,
If thou shouldst call me to resign
What most I prize, it ne'er was mine,
I only yield thee what was Thine,
Thy will be done.
Should pining sickness haste away
My life in premature decay,
My Father, still I'll strive to say,
Thy will be done.
If but my fainting heart be blest
With Thy sweet Spirit for its guest,
My God, with Thee I leave the rest,
Thy will be done.
Renew my heart from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away
Whatever makes it hard to say
Then, when on earth I breathe no more,
The prayer, oft mixed with tears before,
I'll sing upon a happier shore,
"What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence come they?"-REV. vii. 15.
OH! these are they, the tried and proved, of every age and clime;
The patient sufferers of earth-Redeemer they are
Through tribulations they have come, trusting in Thee alone,
Clothed with Thy righteousness, they stand faultless before the throne !
All nations, kindreds, and tongues-one bright assembly
Salvation through Thy name and power, their neverending theme!
And Thou wilt lead and feed them there, and wipe away their tears,
For pure and perfect happiness eternally is theirs.
These, 'mid a vain and wicked world, have borne their daily cross,
And all the treasures of the earth esteemed they but as dross;
Its empty pleasures-vain pursuits-its honours and
They sought a more enduring prize, a never-ending
Affliction was their portion here, amid reproach and shame,
Yet they accounted it all joy, to suffer for Thy name. And now, all they endured below, these light afflictions seem
Compared with all this endless joy, a momentary dream!
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