2 What are the mines of shining wealth,
The strength of youth, the bloom of health!
What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting Word bestows!

3 Long unafflicted, undismay'd,

In pleasure's path secure I stray'd;
Thou madest me feel thy chastening rod, 1
And straight I turn'd unto my God.

4 What though it pierced my fainting heart, I bless thine hand that caused the smart; It taught my tears awhile to flow,

But saved me from eternal woe.

5 Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised,
Thy precept I had still despised;
And still the snare in secret laid,
Had my unwary feet betray'd.

6 I love thee, therefore, O my God,
And breathe towards thy dear abode;
Where, in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest.

XXXVII. TEMPTATION.

1 THE billows swell, the winds are high, Clouds overcast my wintry sky;

Out of the depths to thee I call,—

My fears are great, my strength is small.

1 Psalm cxix. 71.

2 O Lord, the pilot's part perform,

And guard and guide me through the storm,
Defend me from each threatening ill,
Control the waves,—say, “ Peace, be still!"

3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,

My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.

4 Dangers of every shape and name
Attend the followers of the Lamb,
Who leave the world's deceitful shore,
And leave it to return no more.

5 Though tempest-toss'd and half a wreck,
My Saviour through the floods I seek;
Let neither winds nor stormy main
Force back my shatter'd bark again.

XXXVIII. LOOKING UPWARDS IN A STORM.

1 GOD of my life, to Thee I call,
Afflicted at Thy feet I fall;

When the great water-floods prevail, 1
Leave not my trembling heart to fail!

2 Friend of the friendless and the faint!
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with Thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor!

1 Psalm lxix. 15.

3 Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner's plea ?
Does not the word still fix'd remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain ?

4 That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer ;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God,
Supports me under every load.

5 Fair is the lot that's cast for me;
I have an Advocate with Thee;
They whom the world caresses most
Have no such privilege to boast.

6 Poor though I am, despised, forgot,'
Yet God, my God, forgets me not:
And he is safe, and must succeed,

For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

XXXIX. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF
DEATH.

1 My soul is sad, and much dismay'd;
See, Lord, what legions of my foes,
With fierce Apollyon at their head,
My heavenly pilgrimage oppose!

2 See, from the ever-burning lake

How like a smoky cloud they rise!
With horrid blasts my soul they shake,
With storms of blasphemies and lies.

1 Psalm xl. 17.

3 Their fiery arrows reach the mark,1 My throbbing heart with anguish tear ; Each lights upon a kindred spark,

And finds abundant fuel there.

4 I hate the thought that wrongs the Lord;
Oh! I would drive it from my breast,
With thy own sharp two-edged sword,
Far as the east is from the west.

5 Come, then, and chase the cruel host,

Heal the deep wounds I have received! Nor let the powers of darkness boast,

That I am foil'd, and Thou art grieved!

XL. PEACE AFTER A STORM.

1 WHEN darkness long has veil'd my mind, And smiling day once more appears;

Then, my Redeemer, then I find

The folly of my doubts and fears.

2 Straight I upbraid my wandering heart, And blush that I should ever be

Thus prone to act so base a part,

Or harbour one hard thought of Thee!

3 Oh! let me then at length be taught
What I am still so slow to learn;

That God is Love, and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn.
'Ephesians vi. 16.

4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat !
But, when my faith is sharply tried,
I find myself a learner yet,

Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

5 But, O my Lord, one look from Thee
Subdues the disobedient will;

Drives doubt and discontent away,
And thy rebellious worm is still.

6 Thou art as ready to forgive
As I am ready to repine ;

Thou, therefore, all the praise receive;
Be shame and self-abhorrence mine.

XLI. MOURNING AND LONGING.

1

THE Saviour hides his face!

2

My spirit thirsts to prove

Renew'd supplies of pardoning grace,

And never-fading love.

The favour'd souls who know
What glories shine in him,

Pant for his presence, as the roe

Pants for the living stream!

3

What trifles tease me now!
They swarm like summer flies;

They cleave to every thing I do,

And swim before my eyes.