Resign, and all the load of life
That moment you remove;
Its heavy tax, ten thousand cares
Devolve on One above;

Who bids us lay our burden down

On His Almighty hand;

Softens our duty to relief,

To blessing, His command.

For joy what cause? how every sense
Is courted from above!

The year around with presents rich,
The growth of endless love!

But most o'erlook the blessings pour'd,
Forget the wonders done,
And terminate, wrapt up in sense,
Their prospect at the sun.

From that, their final point of view,
From that, their radiant goal,
On travel infinite of thought

Sets out the nobler soul

Broke loose from time's tenacious ties
And earth's involving gloom,
To range at last its vast domain,
And talk with worlds to come.

Who would not with an heart at ease, Bright eye, unclouded brow, Wisdom and goodness at the helm, The roughest ocean plough?

Thy will is welcome, let it wear

Its most tremendous form;

Roar waves! rage winds! I know that Thou Canst save me by a storm.

For what is Resignation? 'tis

Man's weakness understood;

And wisdom grasping with an hand

Far stronger, every good.

E. Young

CLXXXV

CONSCIENCE

My conscience is my crown;
Contented thoughts my rest;

My heart is happy in itself;
My bliss is in my breast.

Enough, I reckon wealth;
A mean, the surest lot;

That lies too high for base contempt,
Too low for envy's shot.

My wishes are but few,

All easy to fulfil :

I make the limits of my power
The bounds unto my will.

I feel no care of coin;
Well-doing is my wealth:
My mind to me an empire is

While Grace affordeth health.

I wrestle not with rage,

While fury's flame doth burn; It is in vain to stop the stream, Until the tide doth turn.

But when the flame is out,

And ebbing wrath doth end;
I turn a late enragèd foe
Into a quiet friend;

And taught with often proof,
A temper'd calm I find
To be most solace to itself,
Best cure for angry mind.

No change of fortune's calms
Can cast my comforts down ;
When fortune smiles, I smile to think
How quickly she will frown;

And when, in froward mood,
She moved an angry foe,

Small gain I found to let her come,

Less loss to let her go.

R. Southwell

CLXXXVI

RETURN

Return, O wanderer, to thy home;

Thy Father calls for thee: No longer now an exile roam, In guilt and misery,

Return, return!

Return, O wanderer, to thy home;
'Tis Jesus calls for thee:

The Spirit and the Bride say, Come:
O now for refuge flee;
Return, return!

Return, O wanderer, to thy home;
'Tis madness to delay;

There are no pardons in the tomb,

And brief is mercy's day :

Return, return!

Thos. Hastings

CLXXXVII

JUST AS I AM

Just as I am, without one plea

But that Thy Blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose Blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, though toss'd about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,

O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve!
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!

Just as I am, (Thy Love unknown
Has broken every barrier down,)
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come

Just as I am, of that free love

The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,

O Lamb of God, I come!

C. Elliott

CLXXXVIII

ABIDE WITH ME

Abide with me! fast falls the even-tide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide !
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see ;
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But, as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free,
Come, not to sojourn, but abide, with me.