The God of Israel never sleeps ;
The angelic band strict vigil keeps :
Above, below, amidst, around,
They float in air, or walk the ground,
Leave their bright mansion in the sky,
And watch the world with sleepless eye.
And shall I then, the slave of sense,
Sink on the lap of indolence?
Shall I not wake, and watch, and pray,
Ere morn leads on the drowsy day;
And 'midst the shades of night prolong
The patient prayer and cheerful song!
Come, Thou great Shepherd of the sheep!
Come, Thou whose mercies never sleep!
Descend, as in the showers of spring;
Shed holy vigour from Thy wing;
Thou swift to hear, and strong to bless,
Inspire the grace of watchfulness!
Years have been lost! up, stir thee to redeem
All that of life may yet be thine; who knows
How little? Life is but a scanty ledge,
Where the poor pilgrim walks suspended 'twixt
Two fathomless abysses, hell and heaven.
Oh, let him heed his footing, heed his side!
Dangers surround him momently; and each
May sweep him to the unknown, next which he stands,
For ever! what a volume lies
Within these simple words alone! How we regret, how dearly prize What once was trifling in our eyes, When 'tis for ever flown
Time was, is past; thou canst not it recal:
Time is, thou hast; employ the portion small:
Time future, is not; and may never be:
Time present is the only time for thee.
Haste, haste! a man by nature is in haste;
For who shall answer for another hour?
'Tis highly prudent to make one sure friend;
And that thou canst not do this side the skies.
The spirit walks of every day deceased,
And smiles an angel, or a fury frowns.
Rise, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy better portion trace;
Rise from transitory things,
To heaven, thy native place!
Sun, and moon, and stars, decay;
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away,
To seats prepared above!
Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course :
Fire, ascending, seeks the sun;
Both speed them to their source:
Thus a soul, when born of God,
Pants to view His glorious face,
Upward tends to His abode,
To rest in His embrace.
Cease, ye pilgrims! cease to mourn ;
Press onward to the prize :
Soon the Saviour will return
Triumphant in the skies:
Yet a season, and you know
Happy entrance will be given ;
All your sorrows left below,
And earth exchang'd for heav'n.
Think not of rest: though dreams be sweet,
Start up, and ply your heavenward feet.
Is not God's oath upon your head,
Ne'er to sink back on slothful bed,
Never again your loins untie,
Nor let your torches waste and die,
Till, when the shadows thickest fall,
Ye hear your Master's midnight call?
When first thine eyes unveil, give thy soul leave
To do the like; our bodies but fore-run
The spirit's duty: true hearts spread and heave
Unto their God as flowers do to the sun;
Give Him thy first thoughts then, so shalt thou keep
Him company all day, and in Him sleep.
Yet never sleep the sun up; prayer should
Dawn with the day; there are set awful hours
'Twist heaven and us; the manna was not good
After sun-rising; far-day sullies flowers:
Rise to prevent the sun; sleep doth sins glut,
And heaven's gate opens when the world's is shut.
O Son of God and man, receive
This humble work of mine;
Worth to my meanest labour give,
By blessing it with Thine.
Servant of all, to toil for man
Thou would'st not, Lord, refuse :
Thy Majesty did not disdain
To be employed for us.
In all I think, or speak, or do,
Let me shew forth Thy praise ;
Thy bright example still pursue
Throughout my future days.
By faith through outward cares I go,
From all distraction free;
My hands are but engaged below,
My heart is still with Thee.
O when wilt Thou, my Life, appear
How gladly would I cry,
"Tis done, the work Thou gav'st me here, 'Tis finish'd, Lord," and die!
In life, in death, a voice is heard,
Speaking in heaven's own eloquence,
That calls on purposes deferred,
On wandering, on wildering sense,
And bids reflection, long interred,
Arouse from its indifference.
The present, future, and the past,
It offers to our thoughtless eye;
That present is too short to last-
That past is gone for ever by ;
That future comes-a stormy blast
That sweeps us to eternity.
|