THE LIGHT ABOVE US.

THE
Ta light unseen by outward eyes;

HERE is a light in yonder skies,

A

But clear and bright to inward sense
It fhines, the ftar of Providence.

The radiance of the central throne,
It comes from God, and God alone;
The ray that never yet grew pale,
The ftar that "fhines within the veil."

And faith, unchecked by earthly fears,
Shall lift its eye, though filled with tears,
And while around 't is dark as night,
Untired, fhall mark that heavenly light.

In vain they smite me. Men but do
What God permits with different view ;-
To outward fight they wield the rod,
But faith proclaims it all of God.

Unmoved, then, let me keep my way;
Supported by that cheering ray
Which, fhining diftant, renders clear
The clouds and darkness thronging near.
Madame Guyon.

1648-1717.

FOREST HYMN.

HERE, sweetly forgetting and wholly forgot
By the world and its turbulent throng,
The birds and the ftream lend me many a note
That aids meditation and song.

Ye desolate scenes, to your solitude led,

My life I in praises employ,

And scarce know the source of the tears that I fhed, Whether springing from sorrow or joy.

Though awfully filent, and fhaggy and rude,
I am charmed with the peace ye afford;

Your fhades are a temple where none will intrude,
The abode of my Lover and Lord.

Ah, send me not back to the race of mankind,
Perversely by folly beguiled;

For where in the crowds I have left fhall I find
The spirit and heart of a child?

Here let me, though fixed in a desert, be free,
A little one whom they despise;

Though loft to the world, if in union with Thee,
I am holy, and happy, and wise.

Madame Guyon. 1648-1717.

DIVINE CONSOLATIONS.

Y heart is easy and my burden light;

MY

I smile, though sad, when God is in my fight;

The more my woes in secret I deplore,

I taste thy goodness, and I love Thee more.

There, while a solemn ftillness reigns around,
Faith, love, and hope within my soul abound;
And while the world suppose me loft in care,
The joys of angels unperceived I share.

Thy creatures wrong thee, O thou Sovereign Good!
Thou art not loved, because not understood;
This grieves me moft, that vain pursuits beguile
Ungrateful men, regardless of thy smile.

Frail beauty and false honor are adored,

While Thee they scorn, and trifle with thy word;
Pass, unconcerned, a Saviour's sorrows by,

And hunt their ruin with a zeal to die.

Madame Guyon. 1648-1717.

RESIGNATION.

I

PLACE an offering at Thy fhrine,

From taint and blemish clear,

Simple and pure in its design,

Of all that I hold dear.

I yield Thee back thy gifts again,
Thy gifts which most I prize;
Defirous only to retain

The notice of thine eyes.

But if by thine adored decree
That bleffing be denied,
Refigned, and unreluctant, see
My every with subfide.

Thy will in all things I approve,
Exalted or caft down;

Thy will in every state I love,

And even in thy frown.

Madame Guyon. 1648-1717.

LOVE.

ES! I will always love; and, as I ought,

YES!

Tune to the praise of love my ceaseless voice; Preferring love, too vast for human thought,

In spite of erring men, who cavil at my choice.

Why have I not a thousand, thousand hearts,
Lord of my soul! that they might all be thine?
If thou approve,
-the zeal thy smile imparts,
How fhould it ever fail? Can such a fire decline?

Love, pure and holy, is a deathless fire;

Its object heavenly, it must ever blaze;

Eternal love a God must needs inspire,

When once he wins the heart and fits it for his praise.

Self-love dismiffed, 't is then we live indeed;

In her embrace, death, only death is found;

Come then, one noble effort, and succeed,

Caft off the chain of self with which thy soul is bound.

O, I would cry, that all the world might hear,
Ye self-tormenters, love your God alone;

Let his unequalled excellence be dear,

Dear to your inmoft souls, and make him all your own. Madame Guyon. 1648-1717.