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In lark and nightingale we see
What honour hath humility.

When Mary chose the better part,
She meekly sat at Jesus' feet;
And Lydia's gently-opened heart

Was made for God's own temple meet;

Fairest and best adorn'd is she,

Whose clothing is humility.

The saint that wears heaven's brightest crown,

In deepest adoration bends;

The weight of glory bows him down

The most, when most his soul ascends;

Nearest the throne itself must be

The footstool of humility.

THE CONTRITE HEART.

THE Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow;
Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel:

If aught is felt, 'tis only pain
To find I cannot feel.

I sometimes think myself inclin'd
To love thee if I could;

But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.

My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;
But when I cry, "My strength renew,"
Seem weaker than before.

Thy saints are comforted, I know,
And love thy house of pray'r;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

O make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break;

And heal it, if it be.

E

THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS ECHO.

TRUE faith, producing love to God and man,
Say, Echo, is not this the Gospel plan?
The Gospel plan!

Must I my faith and love to Jesus shew,
By doing good to all, both friend and foe?
Both friend and foe!

But if a brother hates and treats me ill,
Must I return him good, and love him still?
Love him still!

If he my failings watches to reveal,
Must I his faults as carefully conceal?
As carefully conceal!

But if my name and character he blast,
And cruel malice, too, a long time last;
And if I sorrow and affliction know,
He loves to add unto my cup of woe:
In this uncommon, this peculiar case,
Sweet Echo, say, must I still love and bless ?
Still love and bless!

Whatever usage ill I may receive,
Must I be patient still, and still forgive?

Be patient still, and still forgive!

Why, Echo, how is this? thou'rt sure a dove! Thy voice shall teach me nothing else but love! Nothing else but love!

Amen! with all my heart, then be it so,
'Tis all delightful, just, and good, I know,
And now to practice I'll directly go.
Directly go!

Things being so, whoever me reject,
My gracious God me surely will protect.
Surely will protect!

Henceforth I'll roll on him my every care,
And then both friend and foe embrace in prayer.
Embrace in prayer!

But after all those duties I have done,

Must I, in point of merit, them disown,
And trust for heaven through Jesus' blood alone?
Through Jesus' blood alone!

Echo, enough! thy counsels to mine ear,

Are sweeter than to flowers the dew-drop tear;

Thy wise instructive lessons please me well:
I'll go and practise them. Farewell, farewell.

PRACTISE them. Farewell, farewell!

"IT IS THE GLORY OF A MAN TO PASS

OVER A TRANSGRESSION."

THUS wisdom speaks aloud, and yet

Pride hardly will resign:
Though to forgive, and to forget,
Is godlike-is divine.

When injur'd, I can scarce tell how

To pass the injury by;
My angry spirit will not bow,

Nor let resentment die.

The heaving billows swell within,

Till all is tempest grown;
And thus I share another's sin,
And make his guilt my own.

But come, my proud, my selfish heart,
One serious thought bestow;

Do I thus act the Christian part?

Has Jesus acted so?

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