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These, guarded by thine outstretch'd arm,
Are strong in seeming impotence;
Secured from danger and alarm
By quiet humble confidence,
And trusting, Lord! in thee alone,
All other confidence disown.

Look down on those who widely stray
As through a wilderness unblest,
Where no still waters cheer their way,
Nor herbage yields them food or rest;
and faint the wand'rers roam,

Weary

Thy hand, alone, can guide them home.

THE BELIEVER'S LIFE AND LIGHT.

"For with thee is the fountain of life in thy light shall we see light."- Psalm, xxxvi. 9.

THERE is a life, more dear.

Than that which by our outward breath we live ; There is a light more clear

And glorious than the noon-day sun can give.

Deep, deep the heart within,
By grace divine this life is first begot ;
Though man, enthrall'd by sin,

In its first breathings, stirrings, knows it not.

In the awaken'd mind

This light first dawns, a faint and glimm'ring ray; But, to its glory blind,

Man from its gentle radiance turns away.

Thou only, Lord! canst give

The light wherein, alone, THY light we see;
And teach us how to live

An inward life still hid with Christ in Thee.

That so each gift and grace Bestow'd by Thee its Giver may recall;

And each believer trace

In Thee the Fount of Life, of Light, of All.

F

THE REWARD OF PATIENT WAITING.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."- Psalm, xl. 1.

SUCH was the language us'd of yore,
O God! by Israel's shepherd king,

And they who patiently adore,

And wait, thy goodness yet shall sing.

Thou didst not hear unmov'd of old

Such waiting suppliant's plaintive cry,
Nor dost thou coldly now behold
The patient mourner's watchful eye.

Thy boundless mercy still is near

To those who would that mercy crave; Undimm'd thine eye, unseal'd thine ear, Thine arm omnipotent to save.

But, weaken'd by our sins, and cares,
Our ears and eyes nor hear nor see;
Our hearts grow weary, faint our prayers,
We wait not patiently for Thee.

Nor can we of ourselves obtain

The faith which keeps impatience dumb, Which waits, though waiting seem in vain, Believing that thy time will come.

Thy grace, which must the will prepare
To watch and pray at Wisdom's gate,
Must give the boon of patience there
For thy appointed time to wait.

ENCOURAGEMENT.

“He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head."- Psalm, cx. 7.

GREAT need had He who trod for us
The wine-press of thy wrath, O God!
To be refresh'd and strengthen'd thus
In the rough path he meekly trod.

And they who for themselves, alone,

Would seek to shun thy righteous wrath, Now need each comfort thou mak'st known To cheer their tribulated path.

And blessed be Thy name, and power,
And His, their high and holy Head,
Thou dost not, in the needful hour,
Forget the toilsome way they tread.

Thou giv'st them, in thy boundless love, Their hopes to cheer, their souls to stay, Times of refreshment from above,

And brooks of comfort by the way.

But these, if such we hope to share,
If thine their glorious fruits may be,
Must yet be sought in faith and prayer,
And have their origin in Thee.

Gourds we may plant, alas! are vain,
Brief is the shelter they can give;
Cisterns we hew can ne'er contain
Waters by which the soul can live.

The Rock of Ages yet must throw
Its shadow o'er the way we tread,
And living streams which from it flow—

When drank-shall lift in hope the head.

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