Thou'rt hedged with visions of despair,
With words of hate, with looks of scorn;
Like wayside thorns which pierce and tear
The fainting traveller weak and worn.
Relentless odium's bitter ill,
Cold disregard thy ways infest;
Like wintry blasts that chill and kill
The very heart within the breast.
Fragment of a Hymn.
God of mercy without measure!
God of all-embracing love!
Show'ring in Thy gracious pleasure
Countless blessings from above;
Bounteous benefits bestowing
In a kind, continuous course,
Favour from Thee ever flowing,
As a stream from ocean source.
Grateful praise my aspiration;
Pardon my presumptuous pen;
And accept my poor oblation,
And forgive its feeble strain;
Thou to whom such praise is given,
Too divine for mortal ears,
In the angel choirs of heaven
And the music of the spheres.
Prayer for Submission.
How often, Lord, when 'tis Thy will
To use the chastening rod,
My soul, possessed of passions ill,
Rebels against its God!
Denies that Justice reigns in heaven,
Doth His decrees pervade;
And loathes the blessings He hath given,
The creatures He hath made!
Do thou the spirit me instil
Of sweet submission, Lord,
And teach me to Thy sovereign will
In meekness to accord;
Like Him who felt affliction's fire,
But never did repine;
And bore the cross at Thy desire,
When harder far than mine.