A TRUE HYMN. My joy, my life, my crown! My heart was meaning all the day, And still it runneth muttering up and down Yet slight not these few words; The fineness which a Hymn or Psalm affords, He who craves all the mind, And all the soul, and strength, and time, Justly complains, that somewhat is behind Whereas if the heart be moved, Although the Verse be somewhat scant, God doth supply the want. As when the heart says (sighing to be approved), Oh, could I love! and stops; God writeth, Loved. THE ANSWER. My comforts drop and melt away like snow : M Flies of estates and sunshine. But to all, Who think me eager, hot, and undertaking, Scorns his first bed of dirt, and means the sky; In that dark state of tears: to all, that so Which they that know the rest, know more than I. A DIALOGUE-ANTHEM. CHRISTIAN, DEATH. CHR. Alas, poor Death! where is thy glory? DEA. Alas! poor mortal, void of story, Go spell and read how I have kill'd thy King. CHR. Poor Death! and who was hurt thereby? DEA. Let losers talk, yet thou shalt die ; CHR. Spare not, do thy worst. I shall be one day better than before: Thou so much worse, that thou shalt be no more. THE WATER-COURSE. THOU who dost dwell and linger here below, For who can look for less that loveth Life? But rather turn the pipe, and water's course Who gives to man, as he sees fit, Salvation. SELF-CONDEMNATION. THOU who condemnest Jewish hate, For choosing Barabbas a murderer Before the Lord of glory; Look back upon thine own estate, Call home thine eye (that busy wanderer), That choice may be thy story. He that doth love, and love amiss, The world an ancient murderer is; He that hath made a sorry wedding Hath done what he condemns in reading: Thus we prevent the last great day, And judge ourselves. That light which sin and passion Did before dim and choke, When once those snuffs are ta'en away, Shines bright and clear, even unto condemnation, Without excuse or cloak. BITTER-SWEET. Aн, my dear angry Lord, I will complain, yet praise; THE GLANCE. WHEN first thy sweet and gracious eye Vouchsafed even in the midst of youth and night To look upon me, who before did lie Weltering in sin; I felt a sugar'd strange delight, Passing all Cordials made by any Art, Bedew, embalm, and overrun my heart, And take it in. Since that time many a bitter storm My soul hath felt, even able to destroy, Had the malicious and ill-meaning harm His swing and sway : But still thy sweet original joy, Sprung from thine eye, did work within my soul, And surging griefs, when they grew bold, control, And got the day. If thy first glance so powerful be, A mirth but open'd, and seal'd up again ; What wonders shall we feel, when we shall see Thy full-eyed love! When thou shalt look us out of pain, And one aspect of thine spend in delight More than a thousand suns disburse in light, In Heaven above. THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM. THE God of love my shepherd is, And he that doth me feed: He leads me to the tender grass, Then to the streams that gently pass: |