No graven image would he blindly use,
Before no wafer-idol how the knee,
No fancied queen of heaven for Saviour choose,
No priestly absolution make his plea.
The Word of Truth he made his only guide,
To God, his Father, every want he brought,
On Jesus' grace, believing, he relied,
The Spirit's sanctifying power he sought.
Thus did he live on earth a life of faith;
Thus was he armed against the sting of death.
TO A PROTESTANT LADY IN
FRANCE.
AH, be not sad, although thy lot be cast
Far from the flock, and in a boundless waste:
No shepherds tents within thy view appear,
But the chief shepherd is for ever near;
Thy tender sorrows and thy plaintive strain
Flow in a foreign land, but not in vain ;
Thy tears all issue from a source divine,
And every drop bespeaks a Saviour thine;
So once in Gideon's fleece the dews were found,
And drought on all the drooping herbs around.
HAPPINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN.
HAPPINESS! thou lovely name,
Where's thy seat? O tell me where?
Learning, pleasure, wealth, and fame,
All cry out, it is not here!
Not the wisdom of the wise
Can inform me where it lies,
Not the grandeur of the great
Can the bliss, I seek, create.
Object of my first desire,
Jesus! crucified for me,
All to happiness aspire,
Only to be found in Thee:
Thee to praise and Thee to know,
Constitute our bliss below;
Thee to see and Thee to love,
Constitute our bliss above.
Lord! it is not life to live,
If Thy presence Thou deny;
Lord! if Thou Thy presence give,
'Tis no longer death to die.
Source and Giver of repose,
From Thy smile alone it flows,
Peace and happiness are Thine,
Mine they are, if Thou art mine.
THERE is a stream which issues forth
From God's eternal throne,
And from the Lamb a living stream,
Clear as the crystal stone!
This stream doth water Paradise,
It makes the angels sing,
One cordial drop revives my heart,
Hence all my joys do spring.
Such joys as are unspeakable,
And full of glory too;
Such hidden manna, hidden pearls,
As worldlings do not know:
Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,
From fancy 'tis conceal'd,
What thou, Lord, hast laid up for thine, And hast to me reveal'd.
I see thy face, I hear thy voice,
I taste thy sweetest love;
My soul doth leap, but oh, for wings,
The wings of Noah's dove!
Then should I flee far hence away,
Leaving this world of sin;
Then should my Lord put forth his hand
And kindly take me in,
THE AGED PASTOR'S DEATH-BED,
BEHOLD, upon his bed of death,
The aged Pastor laid!
Faintly he draws his quivering breath!
In vain is human aid!
His lamp is quenched, his soul is dark,
And thick the gathering gloom;
Oh for one bright returuing spark,
The spirit to illume!
There came a gentle friend to him,
And spoke the sufferer's name;
For when our memory's light is dim,
Love sometimes fans the flame;
He answered low and mournfully,
In faltering words and few-
"What stranger comes and speaks to me
Of one I never knew ?"
"Lamenting friends are at thy side,
Thy sons are weeping round;"
And shall not memory's ebbing tide,
Flow backward at the sound?
Again he feebly raised his head,
And turn'd his languid eye-
"What art thou telling me," he said,
"No friends nor sons have I!"
Yet, we must waken memory's tone,
Before his spirit flee-
Come here thou darling little one,
And let us speak of thee.
He gazed upon the wondering child,
And gently press'd his brow-
Then spoke in accents low and mild,
"I have no darling now."
'Tis vain-and must he pass away
In darkness and in gloom,
Unconscious of one cheering ray
To gild the opening tomb ?
No! there is One in heaven above,
Dearer than aught below;
Then tell him of the Saviour's love,
And memory's tide shall flow!
Scarce has he heard that blessed name,
When once again his eye
Is kindling with a holy flame
Of life and energy!
Once more he feebly strives to raise
His dying hands in prayer,
And the rejoicing words of praise
Again are sounding there.
"Oh Saviour! precious to my heart!
"I do remember thee!
"Come, and thy heavenly strength impart, "Draw near and comfort me.
Though death is standing at my side,
"And earthly friends are gone!
"I will not fear if thou abide,
"Then I am not alone!
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