SELF-EXAMINATION. SELF-CONDEMNATION. "If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things." -I JOHN iii. 20. LORD, many times I am a-weary quite Of my own self, my fin and vanity; Yet be not Thou, or I am loft outright, Weary of me. And hate against myself I often bear, And enter with myself in fierce debate; Take Thou my part against myself, nor fhare In that just hate. Best friends might loathe us, if what things perverse We know of our own selves they also knew ; Lord, Holy One! if Thou, who knoweft worse, Shouldft loathe us too! FOR a closer walk with God, What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! But now I find an aching void Return, O holy Dove, return, I hate the fins that made thee mourn, The deareft idol I have known, Help me to tear it from thy throne, So fhall my walk be close with God, That leads me to the Lamb. Wm. Cowper. 1779. GROWING IN GRACE. "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Chrift." 2 PETER iii. 18. HIS did not once so trouble me, THI That better I could not love Thee; That only when we love, we find While we had little care to call And when we gave yet flighter heed In doing is this knowledge won, And give us grace, a growing store, R. C. Trench. THE WORLD. "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of fin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." — JOHN xvi. 8. HE world is wise, for the world is old; THE Five thousand years their tale have told; Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, — Why is it? why is it? O, answer me! The world is kind if we ask not too much; It is sweet to the taste, and smooth to the touch; Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, The world is ftrong, with an awful strength, And full of life in its breadth and length; Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, — Why is it? why is it? O, answer me! The world is so beautiful one may fear Its borrowed beauty might make it too dear; Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, Why is it? why is it? O, answer me! The world is good in its own poor way, There is reft by night and high spirits by day; Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, Why is it? why is it? O, answer me! The Cross fhines fair, and the church-bell rings, Yet the world is not happy, as the world might be, - What lackest thou, world? for God made thee of old; Why, thy faith hath gone out, and thy love grown cold; Thou art not happy, as thou mightest be, For the want of Chrift's fimplicity. It is blood that thou lackeft, thou poor old world! Who fhall make thy love hot for thee, frozen old world? Thou art not happy, as thou mightest be, For the love of dear Jesus is little in thee. Poor world! if thou craveft a better day, Frederick Faber. |