'Mid alternate cold and heat, We must learn before we die, For the glorious world on high! Where afflictions are unknown? Can we, if disease invade us, As our comforts us forsake. If the hopes our hearts have cherish'd, Good as wise, should take away; Then, Amen! devoutly say? And, when death at length approaches, (Whose precursors pass'd before,) Are we then prepared to utter The Amen! and God adore? What He wills, and nothing more? DIVINE WORSHIP. "Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?"-ISAIAH lx. O LORD, we to thy Temple come, Round sacred fanes in nests of clay, Themselves in hope and joy away; Yet while we linger, we would fain Across the wide unbounded main Of fathomless eternity. But, O Thou great INSCRUTABLE, That shrouds in thickest gloom tny face; How dare to bid JEHOVAH hail, Within his high and holy place; When the lawgiver trembling stood In darkness as the Lord passed by,* With mortal powers-with mortal eyes, Exodus xxxiii. 22. K Vain is thy search, Philosophy, Science and Art are helpless all; They seek in vain thy face to see, They rise-but rise again to fall; Though eagle-like they soar, to gaze On thy perfections in their blaze, And fain would scan thy works and ways. O! Mind-Imagination-Thought Reason-Reflection-all are nought, Her fair and comprehensive book, And seems immortal in her look,When showing how thy glory reigns, Thy bounty gives, thy wisdom guides, Thy never-failing power sustains, And everlasting care provides; She can but bring us to the verge Of thy full Love's immensity, And blenches like the quailing surge Amid the shallows of that sea, When daring to explore the deep Unsearchable and holy things, Reserved alone for those that leap Heavenwards upon salvation's wings.* SAVIOUR OF MEN, INCARNATE WORD, Through Thee alone, our GOD we see; † And hail JEHOVAH as our LORD Of Godliness all clear and bright, And in an ecstasy divine, At Mercy's all-embracing shrine; Within the "Temple of the mind" A birthright deed for every nation, When by the Saviour signed and sealed. For this, O let us raise the voice Of praise, and in our praise rejoice. Heb. 1x.; St. John vii. 32. † 1 Cor. iii. And spreading onwards far and wide, Of human nature, cleansing, healing; Its placid brilliance well can hold O Lord our God, then let us bend Steadfast in faith before thee now, Thy wings of love in peace extend, When at thy altar sinking low; And like fond flowers rejoicing in The glory of the summer's SUN, We'll lift our heads from earth and sin, Our fountain in the desert springing, Our constant and increasing beam, New joy and hope each moment bringing, Our shading gourd, our mighty tower, Our rock, our fortress, and our trust; That, leaning on thy righteous power, We may not centre all in dust; But like those feeble plants, that draw Nutrition from some goodly tree, So will we fix our roots in thee, Our breath the pure and vital air Of constant praise and earnest prayer, |