XXXVI. THE INWARD CALL. WHO gives to man sufficiency? and whence The righteous deed, save from the source divine, Thine be the wish with knowledge meet to join God or his Church expects; but the just aim XXXVII. PASTORAL STUDIES. WHO would teach others, first himself must learn For grace must beg God's wisdom to discern, Nor fail God's sacred book by day to turn, By night yet think not 'twill God's pow'r impeach, If weapons, meet to pierce the hidden speech, He fetch from learning's armory, nor spurn Aid from well-cultur'd reason. Truth divine Comes not with light intuitive to guide The man of God; tho', duly sought, 'twill shine His polar star. Then may his vessel ride In safety on nor from its course decline Astray, nor founder in the darkling tide. XXXVIII. PASTORAL RECREATIONS. WHAT fitter, man of God, thy thoughts to share, Than thy great Master's works ?-The wild fieldInsect or bird, that gaily wings the air, And what earth holds of wonderful and fair, [flower, Invite thee forth; to thread the coppice bower, Pierce the deep glen, or climb the rocky tower, Wave-hollow'd bank, thick wood, or mountain bare. Rich is the volume of the word of God: Rich is the volume of his works! At home Be that; be this thy cherish'd search abroad! Like Noah's dove, there see each fine-wrought plume God's love attest: each plant, like Aaron's rod, With signs of might and thought paternal bloom! XXXIX. THE PREACHER. WHO would not choose the PREACHER'S words sincere, The wounded spirit, and the weak to rear Gently with mild endurance! Wouldst thou find Go, elsewhere seek it! His the soberer part, And "draw by cords of man" 1 the obedient heart. 1 Hos. xi. 4 XL. PREACHING EVANGELICAL. SAY, what is GOSPEL-PREACHING ?-'Tis to show, Mankind, he charg'd the shepherds of his sheep: He "sows the wind, and shall the whirlwind reap." XLI. PREACHING UN-EVANGELICAL. "To shut the gates of mercy on mankind,” By God's mere will excluded, save a few, To sin and endless woe; to hold to view Unjust, unpardoning, pitiless, unkind: "2 IS THIS TO PREACH the GOSPEL ?-In thy word XLII. THE POOR MAN'S FRIEND. "He was the POOR MAN'S FRIEND! He sought and knew Who needed succor, and would fain incline His ear and hearken. From his care benign The parent help, the child instruction true, Deriv'd: on age a cheering gleam he threw; The sick man's wounds he bath'd with oil and wine: On sin denounc'd the scourge of wrath divine, But more the meek with words of comfort drew."You've read his epitaph: do you ask his name? Full many a POOR MAN'S FRIEND does Britain own Among her pastors; though from public fame Remote they labor, mark'd by God alone, And those they tend; but mid the world's acclaim [known. XLIII. THE PASTOR'S HELP MEET. AND no kind HELP dost thou, my country know, Comfort herself too oft, when left to feel And soothe the heart which none but God can heal! XLIV. THE PASTOR'S WIDOW AND ORPHANS. YES, she must go, and from their place of birth May'st thou watch over them! May'st thou provide Friends, shelter, food, and comfort yet to come, The ORPHAN'S Father, and the WIDOW's Guide! XLV. THE ARK OF CHRIST'S CHURCH. RENT were at once the floodgates of the sky, And burst the great deep's fountains. All was dark, Throng'd with the forms of drowning men: and hark, O'er the wide earth one agonising cry! Then mid the swelling surge, careering high, Fraught with the world's remains, the Patriarch's ARK Went o'er the waters: for that wondrous bark Liv'd in the safeguard of Jehovah's eye, Past is the plague! But still o'er earth the flood. Of sin reigns paramount: still God provides An Ark of health for those who walk with God; His power secures it, and his wisdom guides. Faith clings obedient to that lov'd abode, And o'er the waves the life-fraught vessel rides. 9 |