XXXVII.

THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH.

I MY soul is sad, and much dismay'd!
See, LORD, what legions of my foes,
With fierce Appolyon at their head,
My heav'nly 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.

3 Their fiery arrows reach the mark ;*
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 ths east is from the west.

5 Come then, and chase the cruel host,
Heal the deep wounds I have receiv'd!
Nor let the pow'rs of darkness boast,
That I am foil'd and thou art griev'd!

* Eph. vi. 16.

XXXVIII.

PEACE AFTER A STORM.

I 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 wand'ring heart,
And blush that I should ever be
Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one bad 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.

4 Sweet truth, and easy to repeat !
But when my faith is sharply try'd,
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.

I

3

5

6

XXXIX.

MOURNING AND LONGING.

THE Saviour hides his face!

My spirit thirsts to prove

Renew'd supplies of pard'ning 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!

What trifles teaze me now!
They swarm like summer flies;
They cleave to ev'ry thing I do,
And swim before my eyes.

How dull the sabbath-day,

Without the sabbath's LoRD! How toilsome then to sing and pray,

And wait upon the word!

Of all the truths I hear,

How few delight my taste!

I glean a berry here and there,

But mourn the vintage past.

Yet let me, (as I ought)

Still hope to be supply'd;

No pleasure else is worth a thought,

Nor shall I be deny'd.

7

Though I am but a worm,
Unworthy of his care;

The LORD will my desire perform
And grant me all my pray❜r.

XL.

SELF-ACQUAINTANCE.

I DEAR LORD! accept a sinful heart,

Which of itself complains,

And mourns, with much and frequent smart,

The evil it contains.

2 The fiery seeds of anger lurk,

Which often hurt my

frame;

And wait but for the tempter's work,

To fan them to a flame..

3 Legality holds out a bribe

To purchase life from thee;
And discontent would fain prescribe
How thou shalt deal with me.

4 While unbelief withstands thy grace,
And puts the mercy by,

5.

Presumption, with a brow of brass,
Says, "Give me or I die."

How eager are my thoughts to roam
In quest of what they love!

But ah! when duty calls them home,
How heavily they move!

6 Oh, cleanse me in a Saviour's blood,
Transform me by thy pow'r,
And make me thy belov'd abode,
And let me rove no more.

XLI.

PRAYER FOR PATIENCE.

LORD, who hast suffer'd all for me,
My peace and pardon to procure;
The lighter cross I bear for thee,
Help me with patience to endure.

The storm of loud repining hush,

I would in humble silence mourn;

Why should th' unburnt, though burning bush, Be angry as the crackling thorn?

3 Man should not faint at thy rebuke,

Like Joshua falling on his face,*

*

When the curs'd thing, that Achan took,
Brought Israel into just disgrace.

5 Perhaps some golden wedge suppress'd,
Some secret sin offends my GOD;
Perhaps the Babylonish vest,
Self-righteousness, provokes the rod.

5 Ah! were I buffeted all day,

Mock'd, crown'd with thorns, and spit upon,
I yet should have no right to say,

My great distress is mine alone.

Joshua, vii. 10, 1I.