When toss'd on Life's tempestuous shoals, Where storms arise, and ocean rolls, And all is drear but heaven! There, Faith lifts up her cheerful eye There fragrant flowers, immortal, bloom, There rays divine disperse the gloom : THE UNION OF THE THREE GRACES. Anonymous. FAITH, Hope, and Love, now dwell on earth, But Faith and Hope must yield to Love, Hope shall to full fruition rise, And Faith be sight above; These are the means, but this the end; HOPE BEYOND THE GRAVE. Beattie. 'Tis night, and the landscape is lovely no more; Nor yet for the ravage of winter I mourn; 'Twas thus, by the glare of false science betray'd, That leads to bewilder, and dazzles to blind, My thoughts wont to roam, from shade onward to shade, Destruction before me, and sorrow behind. "O pity, great Father of light," then I cried, "Thy creature, who fain would not wander from Thee! Lo, humbled in dust, I relinquish my pride; From doubt and from darkness Thou only canst free." And darkness and doubt are now flying away, See Truth, Love, and Mercy, in triumph descending, And Nature all glowing in Eden's first bloom! On the cold cheek of Death smiles and roses are blending, And Beauty Immortal awakes from the tomb! RESIGNATION. Barter. LORD, it belongs not to my care, Whether I die or live; To live and serve Thee is my share, And this thy grace must give. If short, yet why should I be sad, Christ leads me through no darker rooms Than he went through before; He that into God's kingdom comes, Must enter by his door. Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet Thy blessed face to see; For if thy work on earth be sweet, What will thy glory be? Then shall I end my sad complaints, And weary, sinful days; And join with the triumphant saints, My knowledge of that life is small, But 'tis enough that Christ knows all, And I shall be with Him. CONTENTMENT. Cowper. FIERCE passions discompose the mind, But calm content and peace we find, In vain by reason, and by rule, For none but in the Saviour's school Since at his feet my soul has sat, “Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said; "Then how canst thou complain? How light thy troubles here, if weigh'd With everlasting pain! |