CXXXI. Longing for the Prefence of
CHRIST. C. M.
'N vain the dufky night retires,
And fullen fhadows fly;
In vain the morn, with purple light,
Adorns the eastern sky.
In vain difpenfing vernal fweets,
The gentle breezes play :
In vain the birds, with cheerful fongs,
Salute the new-born day.
In vain, unless my SAVIOR'S face,
Thefe gloomy clouds controul;
And diffipates the fullen fhades,
That prefs my drooping foul.
O, vifit then, thy fervants, LORD,
With favor from on high:
Arife, thou bright, immortal Sun!
And all these fhades fhall die.
LORD, when shall we behold thy face,
All radiant and ferene;
Without these envious dusky clouds,
That make a veil between?
When shall that long expected Day
Of facred vifion be;
When our impatient fouls fhall make
A near approach to thee?
CXXXII. Trust in GoD, under the various Cala mities of Life. L.M.
HY, oh! my heart, these anxious cares? Why thefe tumultuous fick'ning fears ? Why, thus all penfive and forlorn
Doft thou thy thick'ning troubles mourn.
When threat'ning ftorms around thee rife,
And low'ring tempefts fpread the skies
On GOD, my foul, the burden cast,
And seek, in him, a peaceful reft.
If falfhood, and deceit abound,
And envy's darts in fecret wound:
If earthly fprings of comfort dry,
And ev'ry blooming joy fhould die.
Silent I'd bear thy chaft'ning rod,.
Thy juft correction, oh! my God;
On thee I'll wait with eager eyes,
To thee my pray'r with hope fhall rife.
Yes, I fhall hear thy cheering voice,
In thee my foul fhall yet rejoice;
Thou wilt reveal thy fmiling face,
And hence thefe gloomy horrors chafe.
Thou art my SAVIOR, thou my GoD,
Thy grace will I proclaim abroad;
That grace which bears my guilt away,
And turns the blackest night to day.
CXXXIII. Loving an abfent SAVIOR. C. M
HRICE happy, who on earth beheld
The dear REEDEMER'S face:
And happy we, who in his word,
His lovely image trace.
Our faith in this fair mirror views
His bleeding glories fhine;
Truth, wisdom, juftice, pow'r, and grace,
And majesty divine.
That filial piety to GOD,
That tender love to man:
Which in his spotless bofom glow'd,
And through his actions ran.
Amaz'd we traverse o'er the fcenes,
Through which, the SAVIOR past ;
Each rifing proof of love adore,
But fcarce fupport the laft.
Around the crofs his glory fhines,
With moft refulgent rays;
Scarce can our feeble faith fuftain.
Th' unfufferable blaze.
We catch the fire, these icy breafts
Are kindled to a flame;
Seraphs describe the love we bear
An abfent SAVIOR's name.
The Two following Hymns were first fung at Salem Chapel, on Sunday Morning, July 3, 1791, when a Sermon was preached, by the Editor, on Matt. xxvi.
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