TRIAL.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.—Psalm cxxxix. 23.
The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.—I. Peter, i. 7.
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.—I. Peter, iv. 12.
Lest our trial, when least sought,
May find us both perhaps far less prepared.
Milton.
Within our life these sorrows we contain
Uncertain days, yet full of certain grief;
In number few, yet infinite in pain;
O’ercharged with wants, but naked of relief,
In ruling it our evil parts are chief;
And though our time be not cut short by death,
Old age will creep to stop uncertain breath.
Yet to the much affliction of the mind,
This of the body is a scant compare,
Wherein so many and so much I find,
As would astone my spirits to declare—
Trial can only tell us what we are:
For we whom custom hath with grief acquainted,
By us her sad proportion best is painted.
Christopher Lever, 1607.
He bids him glow with unremitting love
To all on earth, and to Himself above
Condemns the injurious deed, the slanderous tongue,
The thought that meditates a brother’s wrong;
Brings not alone the more conspicuous part—
His conduct—to the test, but tries his heart.
Cowper.
Lord, search my soul, try ev’ry thought;
Though my own heart accuse me not
Of walking in a false disguise,
I beg a trial of Thine eyes.
Doth secret mischief lurk within?
Do I indulge some unknown sin?
O turn my feet whene’er I stray,
And lead me in Thy perfect way.
Watts.