COMETIMES a light surprises The Chriftian while He fings; It is the Lord, who rises With healing in His wings: When comforts are declining, He grants the soul again A season of clear fhining To cheer it after rain. In holy contemplation We sweetly then pursue The theme of God's salvation, And find it ever new: Set free from present sorrow, It can bring with it nothing Will clothe His people too; Will give His children bread. Though vine nor fig-tree neither I cannot but rejoice. William Cowper. 1779. The chosen portion of my heart! Thou chiefeft good to me! Who has Thee is satisfied; To whom Thou doft reveal He lives in joy in every place, In every time has what he will. Who in his deep heart-ground Still and joyful knows no fear. Earth grows dim when Thou art near. O highest joy of joy! True reft! Comfort of every aching breast! Whom can earth trouble and annoy, All I seek for out of Thee Whom Thou doft call Thy child, By all on earth may be unknown, He needs no other bliss. If I know that I have Thee, Life and ftrength and joy may flee, Griefs may come, - they move not me. Come, O thou blessed One, My choice! Now in Thy light make me rejoice, Come, fill the soul which Thou haft won. Come, take the whole, that I I am Thine, O, be Thou mine, Thy face on me fhall fully fhine! Tersteegen. 1731. MAJESTY OF GOD. HE Lord descended from above, THE And bowed the heavens moft high, And underneath His feet He caft The darkness of the fky. On cherubim and seraphim Full royally He rode, And on the wings of mighty winds He sat serene upon the floods, Their fury to restrain; And He, as sovereign Lord and King For evermore shall reign. Sternhold, 1540. CHRIST. H CHRIST'S MESSAGE. ARK! the glad sound! the Saviour comes! Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice a song. On him the Spirit, largely poured, Exerts its sacred fire; Wisdom and might, and zeal and love, He comes, the prisoner to release, The gates of brass before him burst, He comes from thickest films of vice And on the eyeballs of the blind To pour celeftial day. |