45. SUBMISSION.

LORD, my best desire fulfill,
And help me to refign

Life, health, and comfort to thy will,
And make thy pleasure mine.

Why should I shrink at thy command,
Whofe love forbids my fears?

Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?

No, rather let me freely yield
What most I prize to thee;
Who never haft a good withheld,
Or wilt withhold from me.

Thy favour, all my journey through,
Thou art engaged to grant;
What else I want, or think I do,
'Tis better ftill to want.

Wisdom and mercy guide my way,
Shall I refift them both?

A poor blind creature of a day,

And crush'd before the moth!

But ah! my inward spirit cries,
Still bind me to thy fway;

Elfe the next cloud that veils the skies,
Drives all these thoughts away.

46. THE HAPPY CHANGE.

OW bleft thy creature is, O God,
When, with a single eye,

He views the luftre of thy word,
The dayspring from on high!

Through all the storms that veil the skies,
And frown on earthly things,
The Sun of Righteousness he eyes,
With healing on his wings.

Struck by that light, the human heart,

A barren foil no more,

Sends the sweet smell of grace abroad,
Where ferpents lurk'd before.*

The foul, a dreary province once
Of Satan's dark domain,
Feels a new empire form'd within,
And owns a heavenly reign.

The glorious orb, whofe golden beams
The fruitful year control,
Since firft, obedient to thy word,

He started from the goal,

Has cheer'd the nations with the joys

His orient rays impart;

But, Jefus, 'tis thy light alone

Can fhine upon the heart.

*Ifaiah xxxv. 7.

47. RETIREMENT.

AR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From ftrife and tumult far;

From scenes where Satan wages ftill His most fuccessful war.

The calm retreat, the filent fhade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And feem, by thy fweet bounty made,
For those who follow Thee.

There if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh, with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God!

There like the nightingale fhe pours

Her folitary lays;

Nor afks a witness of her fong,

Nor thirfts for human praise.

Author and guardian of my life,
Sweet fource of light divine,
And (all harmonious names in one)
My Saviour, Thou art mine!

What thanks I owe thee, and what love,

A boundless, endless store,

Shall echo through the realms above

When time shall be no more.

48. THE HIDDEN LIFE.

O tell the Saviour all my wants,
How pleafing is the task!

Nor less to praise him when he
Beyond what I can ask.

My labouring fpirit vainly feeks

To tell but half the joy ;

With how much tenderness he speaks,
And helps me to reply.

Nor were it wife, nor fhould I choose,
Such fecrets to declare;

grants

Like precious wines their taste they lose,
Exposed to open air.

But this with boldness I proclaim,

Nor care if thousands hear, Sweet is the ointment of his name,

Not life is half fo dear.

And can you frown, my former friends,
Who knew what once I was;

And blame the fong that thus commends
The Man who bore the cross?

Trust me, I draw the likeness true,

And not as fancy paints;

Such honour may he give to you,

For fuch have all his faints.

49. JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING.

OMETIMES a light surprises

The Christian while he fings; It is the Lord who rifes With healing on his wings: When comforts are declining, He grants the foul again. A feafon of clear fhining, To cheer it after rain.

In holy contemplation,

We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's falvation,
And find it ever new;
Set free from present forrow,
We cheerfully can say,

E'en let the unknown to-morrow *
Bring with it what it may.

It can bring with it nothing,
But He will bear us through;
Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too;
Beneath the spreading heavens
No creature but is fed;
And He who feeds the ravens
Will give his children bread.

*Matthew vi. 34.