The world can proffer no relief, Beasts have their dens-wherein they creep, Birds to their nests for shelter flee;— Thou art their refuge :—in the day But if we hope thine outstretch'd arm For, though thy love may condescend Yet justly may thy praise employ, And selfish, sure, their thoughts must be NOTE. AFTER the composition of the preceding Verses, the further progress of this little volume had been, for some time, suspended; indeed its author had for a while felt little ability or inclination to proceed in it, its completion appearing to him almost a hopeless contingency. A candid statement of this circumstance may perhaps explain, if not justify the insertion of the following. A SOLILOQUY. "Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul."- Psalm, xxv. I. ONCE more, lov'd solace of my lonely hours, Would I renew my intercourse with thee, Suspended for a time-while Spring's gay flowers, Her bursting foliage, and her songs of glee Allured me from my task to budding bowers, To shady lane, green copse, or blossom'd lea; In the fond hope, but not more fond than vain, Their charms might lend fresh vigour to my strain. Mistaken thought! To me shall come no more Not that I darkly view, or lightly prize, The beauties and the harmonies of Spring; Yet is there what green earth, nor laughing skies, Nor blooming flowers, nor song of birds can bring Over the spirit ;-hid from human eyes Deep in the heart, like a far holier thing Than outward nature's richest stores can yield, The fount of thought and feeling is unseal'd. And he who writes of themes which must endure O! may I now, with no misgiving dread, Because no inly-answ'ring flood of light The just shall walk by faith, and not by sight! And he who seeks to frame a heavenly song Through conscious weakness may be render'd strong. Strong in the might and strength of Him, alone, Bones dry and lifeless which in silence slept ; These, at the word divine, His power made known, And on their feet a living army leapt ; So may the spirit He vouchsafes to raise Revive as from the dead to sing His praise. CONFIDENCE IN PROTECTION. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters."-Psalm, xxiii. 2. SHEPHERD of Israel's gather'd fold! By silent streams of crystal sheen; |