See Hymn on Psalm cxix. 71,
page 359.
51. DWELLING IN MESECH. Psa. cxx. 5-7.
WHAT a mournful life is mine,
Fill'd with crosses, pains, and cares!
Every work defiled with sin,
Every step beset with snares!
If alone I pensive sit,
I myself can hardly bear;
If I pass along the street,
Sin and riot triumph there.
Jesus! how my heart is pain'd,
How it mourns for souls deceived!
When I hear Thy name profaned,
When I see Thy Spirit grieved!
When Thy children's griefs I view,
Their distress becomes my own;
All I hear, or see, or do,
Makes me tremble, weep, and groan.
Mourning thus I long had been,
When I heard my Saviour's voice:
'Thou hast cause to mourn for sin,
But in Me thou mayst rejoice.'
This kind word dispell'd my grief,
Put to silence my complaints;
Though of sinners I am chief,
He has rank'd me with His saints.
Though constrain'd to dwell awhile
Where the wicked strive and brawl;
Let them frown, so He but smile,-
Heaven will make amends for all!
There, believers, we shall rest,
Free from sorrow, sin, and fears;
Nothing there our peace molest,
Through eternal rounds of years.
Let us, then, the fight endure,
See our Captain looking down;
He will make the conquest sure,
And bestow the promised crown.
See Hymn on Psalm cxxxi., page 417.
52. C. WISDOM. Chap. viii. 22-31.
ERE God had built the mountains,
Or raised the fruitful hills;
Before He fill'd the fountains
That feed the running rills;
In Me, from everlasting,
The wonderful I AM
Found pleasures never wasting,
And Wisdom is My Name.
See Hymn on Prov. viii. 34, Wisdom's Gates,' page 236.
When, like a tent to dwell in,
He spread the skies abroad,
And swathed about the swelling
Of Ocean's mighty flood;
He wrought by weight and measure,
And I was with Him then:
Myself the Father's pleasure,
And Mine the sons of men.
Thus Wisdom's words discover
Thy glory and Thy grace,
Thou everlasting Lover
Of our unworthy race!
Thy gracious eye survey'd us
Ere stars were seen above;
In wisdom Thou hast made us,
And died for us in love.
And couldst Thou be delighted
With creatures such as we,
Who, when we saw Thee, slighted
And nail'd Thee to a tree?
Unfathomable wonder!
And mystery divine!
The voice that speaks in thunder,
Says, 'Sinner, I am thine!'
53. A FRIEND THAT STICKETH CLOSER THAN A BROTHER. Chap. xviii. 24.
ONE there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of Friend!
His is love beyond a brother's,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once His kindness prove,
Find it everlasting love!
Which of all our friends, to save us,
Could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
Reconciled in Him to God:
This was boundless love indeed-
Jesus is a Friend in need!
Men, when raised to lofty stations,
Often know their friends no more;
Slight and scorn their poor relations,
Though they valued them before:
But our Saviour always owns
Those whom He redeem'd with groans.
When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name:
Now above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same:
Still He calls them brethren, friends,
And to all their wants attends.
Could we bear from one another
What He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
Loves us though we treat Him thus:
Though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.
Oh! for grace our hearts to soften ;
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
We, alas! forget too often,
What a Friend we have above:
But when home our souls are brought,
We will love Thee as we ought.
54. VANITY OF LIFE.* Chap. i. 2.
THE evils that beset our path,
Who can prevent or cure?
We stand upon the brink of death
When most we seem secure.
If we to-day sweet peace possess,
It soon may be withdrawn;
Some change may plunge us in distress
Before to-morrow's dawn.
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