62

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

Crush'd under sin's enormous weight,

Increasing ev'ry hour!

The night, when pass'd entire with thee,
How luminous and clear!
Then sleep has no delights for me,

Lest THOU shouldst disappear.

My Saviour! occupy me still
In this secure recess;

Let reason slumber if she will,
My joy shall not be less :

Let reason slumber out the night;
But if Thou deign to make

My soul th' abode of truth and light,
Ah, keep my heart awake!

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

Vol. 3, Cantique 97.

LONG plung'd in sorrow, I resign

My soul to that dear hand of thine,
Without reserve or fear;

That hand shall wipe my streaming eyes;
Or into smiles of glad surprise,

Transform the falling tear.

My sole possession is thy Love;
In earth beneath, or heav'n above,

I have no other store;

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

And though with fervent suit I pray,
And importune thee night and day,
I ask thee nothing more.

My rapid hours pursue the course
Prescrib'd them by love's sweetest force;
And I, thy sov'reign Will,

Without a wish t' escape my doom;
Though still a suff 'rer from the womb,
And doom'd to suffer still.

By thy command, where'er I stray,
Sorrow attends me all my way,
A never-failing friend;

And if my suff'rings may augment
Thy praise, behold me well content-
Let sorrow still attend!

It costs me no regret, that she,

Who follow'd Christ, should follow me;
And though, where'er she goes,
Thorns spring spontaneous at her feet,
I love her, and extract a sweet

From all my bitter woes.

Adieu! ye vain delights of earth ;
Insipid sports, and childish mirth,
I taste no sweets in you;
Unknown delights are in the Cross,
All joy beside, to me is dross;

And Jesus thought so too.

63

64

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

The Cross! Oh ravishment and bliss

How grateful e'en its anguish is;
Its bitterness, how sweet!
There ev'ry sense, and all the mind,
In all her faculties refin'd,

Tastes happiness complete.

Souls once enabl'd to disdain
Base sublunary joys, maintain
Their dignity secure ;
The fever of desire is pass'd,

And Love has all its genuine taste,
Is delicate and pure.

Self-love, no grace in sorrow sees,
Consults her own peculiar ease;

'Tis all the bliss she knows :
But nobler aims true Love employ;
In self-denial is her joy,

In suff'ring her repose.

Sorrow, and Love, go side by side;
Nor height, nor depth, can e'er divide
Their heav'n-appointed bands;
Those dear associates still are one,
Nor, till the race of life is run,
Disjoin their wedded hands.

JESUS, avenger of our Fall,
Thou faithful Lover, above all

The Cross has ever borne !

JOY IN MARTYRDOM.

Oh! tell me,-Life is in thy voice

How much afflictions were thy choice,
And sloth and ease thy scorn!

Thy choice, and mine, shall be the same;
Inspirer of that holy flame,

Which must forever blaze !

To take the Cross, and follow Thee,
Where love and duty lead, shall be
My portion, and my praise.

JOY IN MARTYRDOM.

Vol. 2, Cantique 110.

SWEET tenants of this grove!
Who sing, without design,

A song of artless love,

In unison with mine;

These echoing shades return
Full many a note of ours,
That wise ones cannot learn,
With all their boasted pow'rs.

Oh! Thou, whose sacred charms
These hearts so seldom love,
Although thy beauty warms,
And blesses all above;
How slow are human things,

To choose their happiest lot!

65

66

SIMPLE TRUST.

All-glorious King of Kings,
Say, why we love thee not?

This heart, that cannot rest,
Shall thine for ever prove;
Though bleeding and distress'd,
Yet joyful in thy love:
'Tis happy, though it breaks
Beneath thy chast'ning hand;
And speechless, yet it speaks
What thou canst understand.

SIMPLE TRUST.

Vol. 3, Cantique 95.

STILL, still, without ceasing,

I feel it increasing,
This fervor of holy desire;

And often exclaim,

Let me die in the flame

Of a Love that can never expire!

Had I words to explain,

What she must sustain,

Who dies to the world and its ways;

How joy and affright,

Distress and delight,

Alternately chequer her days;

Thou, sweetly severe !

I would make thee appear,
In all thou art pleased to award,