TO A FRIEND, SETTING OUT ON A LONG JOURNEY.
MAY heavenly guides attend thee,
May heavenly guards defend thee,
May heavenly influence send thee
Sweet themes for holy thought;
Though shades of night enfold thee,
The Eye will still behold thee
Of Him that slumbers not.
No evil shall befal thee,
No enemy appal thee,
Bright messengers shall call thee,
Throughout the silent night,
To share their high communion,
Sweet pledge of future union,
With sainted heirs of light.
No human voice may cheer thee,
No earthly listener hear thee,
But still one Friend is near thee,
The kindest and the best;
His smile can banish sadness,
His presence fill with gladness
The solitary breast.
GOD! when I think upon thy name,
No doubts before my spirit rise;
I hear all nature's voice proclaim
That Thou art great, and good, and wise. Yet would I, if it were thy will,
See thy bright image, brighter still.
If Israel longed to see thy face,
While roared the thunders of the law; Shall we, who know Thee, God of grace! Shrink from thy countenance in awe ? While saints below, and thrones above, Proclaim thy mightiest title-LOVE!
Impress thy image on my mind,
Let me but see Thee as thou art :
If mortal eyes at best are blind,
Let me behold thee with my heart.
In mercy and in love be nigh,
Oh! visit thou my mental eye!
But rest, thou ever-restless soul!
Thy feverish hours are flying fast; The clouds before thee shall unroll
The glorious vision shine at last; And thou without a shade between, Shall see, as thou thyself art seen.
GIFTS OF PROVIDENCE AND GRACE.
LORD of my life! whose glories shine
Through ocean, earth, and skies,
Give me to trace thy hand divine
Where'er I turn my eyes.
When in my daily walks I view
Thy bounties from above,
Oh, let my grateful heart renew
The tribute of its love!
Fresh tokens every season brings,
Of wonder-working power;
'Tis seen in every herb that springs,
In every genial shower.
By many signals we are led
To trust thy heavenly care:
Lilies are clothed, and birds are fed;
Then why should we despair?
A nobler pledge the cross supplies;
No richer could be given;
There God's own Son for sinners dies,
To make them heirs of heaven.
'Tis darkness all!-No star appears
Upon the dusky brow of night:
No moon the anxious watcher cheers,
Or charms him with her gentle light;
While one small ship, its sails all riven,
Abides the furious blasts of heaven.
Loud, and more loud, the billows roar,
And dash their white foam o'er the deck;
The storm is fiercer than before;
And soon that ship must be a wreck;
But who is this that lies asleep,
Where all beside in anguish weep?
The master wakes from his repose,
And views the storm with look serene;
He speaks, the listening water flows,
Calm as in Eden's peaceful scene!
The winds his high commands obey,
And in soft whispers die away.
Who is it? He whose hand hath made
The Heavens, too bright for mortal eye,
And given to earth the cooling shade,
And flowers of every varied dye!
He made the sun's bright surface glow,
And bade the obedient waters flow.
Who is it? He who meekly laid
His pomp of heavenly glory by,
And, in the form of man was made,
To atone for sins of deepest dye.
His power, his love, are still the same
And JESUS is his gracious name!
A WOMAN, at her Saviour's feet,
For pardoning mercy sought;
Conscious of guilt, to Him she came,
Who saw her inmost thought.
No power less strong, she knew could save,
No love less deep forgive;
Believing, she implored his word,
To bid her go and live.
Others would fain the contrite soul
Away from Christ have driven;
But Jesus knew her faith, and said,
"Thy sins are all forgiven."
Sinners like her, may we be saved,
And join the song of heaven,—
The song of praise to Him who died,
That we might be forgiven!
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