Trust in God whate'er betide thee!
Trust him though he sometimes chide thee:
'Tis in love to lead thee back
When thou turnest from the track.
Trust him, cling to him forever,
And he will desert thee—never.
Trust in God, the Rock of ages!
Louder still the tempest rages,
Earthquakes heave and thunders roar,
Mountain surges lash the shore,
Nations tremble—hark! the warning,
"Comes the night, and comes the morning."
Watchmen on the walls of Zion
Catch a glimpse of Judah's Lion!
Man of sorrows, Lamb once slain,
Comes as King of kings to reign,
And from long oppressed Creation,
Break the anthems of salvation.
Trust in God! the morn awaits thee,
And while such a hope elates thee,
Wilt thou fold thy hands in ease?
No, the golden moments seize!
Lay thy gift upon the altar,
Thou hast duties—do not falter!
A PARADOX.
Alone, and yet not alone am I; sad, and yet not sad. No human form intrudes upon my solitude, and yet He who fills creation with himself is surely with me; sad I am, for there are many earthly thoughts that contribute to cast a shade upon my soul, and yet heavenly thoughts soon dispel such mournful ones. Oh, that my whole affection might be placed upon things above, and not on things on the earth! Why should my heart be gloomy when such a glorious prospect opens before me?—a world of immortal beauty, enlivened by the presence of God himself, and a glorious city, even the New Jerusalem. "Fly, lingering moments, fly away, and bring that long expected day" when Christ shall appear in glory to take his weary children home.
"THOU SHALT KNOW HEREAFTER."
The wind has ceased—how still and tranquil all!
The ghastly moon still shines upon the wall;
While other eyes are closed why do I weep?
Begone, ye phantoms, welcome, balmy sleep!
And bear me to the shadowy land of dreams
Where yesternight I roamed by crystal streams,
And gathered flowers methought would never fade,
Or talked with angels 'neath the pleasant shade!
It was a dream; ah, yes, and life to me
Was once a dream—smooth as the placid sea
When all is calm, and on its bosom lies
The golden radiance of the summer skies.
There came a storm—the thunder's dreadful roar,
The angry waves that beat against the shore
Awakened me—oh, I had lived too long
In the bright realms of fancy and of song.
Perhaps 'twas well the storm swept o'er the sea,
Perhaps 'twas well the tumult startled me,
'Twas well I learned there's much to do and dare,
Much to be suffered, much to meekly bear,
But when I found the real though unsought,
And thought of life and trembled as I thought,—
When like the leaves in autumn day by day
The hopes I cherished hastened to decay,
And hopeless, helpless in my great despair
I turned to earth but found no solace there,
'Twas well for me that in the darkened skies
I saw the Star of Bethlehem arise!