He whose eye no sleep can seal,
He whose arm can help reveal,
He whose word is faithful yet,
Neither can nor will forget.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE TEMPTER.

"Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God, and die.”Job, ii. 9.

Such is the language to this hour,

Of Satan in the heart,

When tribulation fiercest power

Has wing'd its fiery dart.

When night more dark than of the tomb

Appears to veil our sky,

Are heard his whispers through the gloom-
Now curse thy God, and die.

Why thy integrity retain

When He hath cast thee off,

And left thee to thy foes' disdain,
Or friends' more cruel scoff?

Thou tried, and tempted! hast thou heard

A voice like this within?

Be one unfailing prayer preferr'd

66

Lord, save me from this sin !"

Seek for that patient faith which lives
Dependant on His will,

Whose hand, while every good it gives,
Dispenses needful ill.

Still thine integrity hold fast,

66

The tempter's counsel spurn,

Hope against hope!"—and God at last

Will for thy help return.

He never yet abandon'd one

Who strove to Him to cleave,

And watch'd, and waited through His Son

Salvation to receive.

DESPONDENCY REPROVED.

"Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in ?"— Job, iii. 23.

ENQUIRE not thou why light is thine,
Because it useless seems to be ;-
While God permits that light to shine,
Doubt not it may be bless'd to thee.

Think not thy way a path unknown,

Though hid from thee, and veil'd from man;

God, from his omnipresent throne

That way can trace, thy footsteps scan.

Nor say that He hath hedg'd thee in,
If scanty seem thy prospect's bound;
When doubt, despondency, and sin,
Perchance combine to hem thee round.

Turn to that light; while light is lent,
Thy way, though hidden, still pursue,
Be with thy present path content,
Though bounded may appear its view.

E

Lord! when most useless seems thy light,

Our way most hid, our views obscure, Teach us to trust thy love, and might, To know thy promises are sure.

Within our hearts thy grace reveal,
Though there it seems to shine in vain ;
In paths most hidden make us feel

That Thou canst make them straight and plain.

CHASTISEMENT MERCIFUL.

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty."-Job, v. 17.

INSTRUCT us, Lord! from day to day,

To feel and understand

How kind and merciful alway

Is thy chastising hand:

May we such chast'ning ever prize,
And own the mercy it implies.

The sunshine to the flower may give
The tints that charm the sight,
But scentless would that flow'ret live
If skies were always bright;

Dark clouds and showers its scent bestow,
And purest joy is born of woe.

He who each bitter cup rejects,
No living spring shall quaff;
He whom thy rod in love corrects,
Shall lean upon thy staff:
Happy, thrice happy, then, is he
Who knows his chast'ning is from Thee.

THE PRAYER OF SORROW.

"O that I might have my request, and that God would grant me the thing I long for."-Job, vi. 8.

SUCH, such is sorrow's bitter cry,

Pour'd forth, O God! to thee on high,

Too oft in hasty mood;

Grief, though importunate it be,

Is little qualified to see

Its real ill, or good.