Hunger, thirst, disease unknown,
On immortal fruits they feed;
Them, the Lamb amidst the throne,
Shall to living waters lead.
Joy and gladness banish sighs;
Perfect love dispels their fears;
And forever from their eyes,
God shall wipe away all tears.
Say ye to the righteous, it shall be well with him. Isaiah 3: 10.
DESERTED by each faithless friend,
When fortune's smiles no more attend;
Submissive to his Father's will,`
The patient Christian trusts him still;
Still walks in wisdom's pleasant way,
And loves to hear, and praise, and pray,
His joy and peace, O who can tell!
In wealth and want, with him 'All's well.'
On passing through death's gloomy vale,
When fears invade and doubts assail,
While leaning on the staff and rod
Of his unchanging faithful God;
A gleam of heavenly light appears,
The Saviour wipes away his tears,
Triumphant over death and hell,
In life and death, with him' All's well.'
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee. - Numb. 6: 24.
PARTING Soul! the flood awaits thee,
And the billows round thee roar :
- the crystal city
Stands on yon celestial shore!
There are crowns and thrones of glory,
There the living waters glide;
There the just, in shining raiment,
Wander by Immanuel's side.
Linger not, the stream is narrow,
Though its cold dark waters rise;
He who passed the flood before thee,
Guides the path to yonder skies:
Hark! the sound of angels, hymning,
Rolls harmonious o'er thine ear:
See the walls and golden portals
Through the mist of death appear.
Soul, adieuthis gloomy sojourn
Holds thy captive feet no more;
Flesh is dropped, and sin forsaken,
Sorrow done, and weeping o'er.
Through the tears thy friends are shedding
Smiles of hope serenely shine;
Not a friend remains behind thee,
But would change his lot for thine.
He giveth his beloved sleep. - Psalm 127: 2.
LIE down in peace to take thy rest!
Dear cherished form! no longer mine,
But bearing in thy clay-cold breast
A hidden germ of life divine;
Which, when the eternal spring shall bloom,
Will burst the shackles of the tomb.
Lie down in peace to take thy rest!
Unbroken will thy slumbers be,
Satan can now no more molest,
And death has done his worst on thee;
Lie down, thy hallowed sleep to take,
Till clothed with glory thou shalt wake.
Lie down in peace to take thy rest!
We can no longer watch thy bed,
But glorious angels, spirits blest,
Shall guard thee day and night instead;
And when thine eyes unclosed shall be,
Christ in his glory they shall see.
Lie down in peace to take thy rest!
My eyes must weep-my heart must mourn ;
But to thy soul, with Jesus blest,
For comfort and for hope I turn;
Thou wilt not mark these tears that flow,
Sorrow can never reach thee now.
Lie down in peace to take thy rest!
Let me betake myself to prayer,
Binding faith's corslet on my breast,
Lest Satan find an entrance there;
God gave though now his gift he claim,
Still, blessed be his holy name!
He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.- Heb. 11: 27.
ARE Nature's charms all hidden
Forever from thy view?
Am I in darkness bidden
My journey to pursue?
My Father! O, my Father!
Thy child can trust thee still,
And strength from thee can gather,
To suffer all thy will.
Though many a form be shrouded,
That once inspired delight,
My soul's clear eye unclouded,
And filled with inward light,
May gaze with steadier vision
On things to faith revealed,
And wait in meek submission
For all to be unsealed.
Vain things that once deluded,
The world's false glare and show,
By loss of sight excluded,
Nor please, nor tempt me now.
Should I not welcome blindness,
If sent, my God, by thee,
In thy parental kindness,
To break earth's spells for me?
O, if this sad privation,
Which men misfortune deem,
Make Christ and his salvation
'The one thing needful' seem,
I then shall gain that treasure,
Impervious to decay,
Which care, ambition, pleasure,
Might else have snatched away.
On thee, my God! reclining,
From things external freed,
Calm, peaceful, unrepining,
I go where thou shalt lead.
Loved looks, still lovelier seeming,
In memory's glow arrayed,
On me are ever beaming,
Undimmed by sorrow's shade.
Loved voices still can cheer me,
Sweet birds my ear can charm,
Kind guardians, ever near me,
Watch to protect from harm;
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