Earthliness, coldness, unthankful behaviour-
Ah! thou may'st sorrow, but do not despair;
Even this grief thou may'st bring to thy Saviour,
Cast upon Him e'en this burden and care!
Bring all thy hardness: His power can subdue it,
How full is the promise! the blessing how free!
"Whatsoever ye ask in My name, I will do it,"
Abide in My love, and be joyful in Me.
JESUS OF NAZARETH PASSETH BY."
WATCHER, Who wakest by the bed of pain,
While the stars sweep on with their midnight train,
Stifling the tear for thy loved one's sake,
Holding thy breath lest her sleep should break
In thy loneliest hour there's a helper nigh-
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Stranger, afar from thy native land,
Whom no one takes with a brother's hand,
Table and hearth-stone are glowing free,
Casements are sparkling, but not for thee;
There is one who can tell of a home on high,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Sad one, in secret bending low,
A dart in thy breast that the world may not know,
Wrestling the favour of God to win,
His seal of pardon for days of sin—
Press on, press on, with thy prayerful cry,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.”
Mourner, who sitt'st in the churchyard lone,
Scanning the lines on that marble stone-
Plucking the weeds from thy children's bed,
Planting the myrtle and rose instead-
Look up from the tomb with thy tearful eye,
"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
Fading one, with the hectic streak
In thy veins of fire, and thy wasted cheek—
Fear'st thou the shade of that darkened vale?
Look to the guide who never can fail ;
He hath trod it Himself! He will hear thy sigh"Jesus of Nazareth passeth by."
"In Heaven there's rest!" that thought hath a power To scatter the shades of life's dreariest hour; Like a sunbeam it draws on the stormy sky; Like the first glimpse of home to a traveller's eye, 'Tis the balm of the heart, of sorrow the cure, The hope that deceives not, the promise that's sure.
How sweet to the weary! "in heaven there's rest!" The tears are all dried from the eyes of the blest;
And the smiles that succeed are so dazzling and bright,
That none but a spirit could dwell in their light;
Oh! not like the smiles that here glow on the cheek;
But to hide the deep anguish no language can speak.
"In heaven there's rest!" earth's happiest hour
Fades softly away like a morning flower!
There, fadeless the bowers, unclouded the skies;
There, joy hath no end, and time never flies ;
There, nature is freed from its earliest stain;
There, love hath no sorrow, and life hath no pain.
"In heaven there's rest," Oh! how deep that repose!
Life's bitterness passed, with its follies and woes;
Its passions all hushed, like the waves of the deep,
When tempests expire, and winds are asleep,
And only soft airs and sweet odours arise,
Like the evening incense that soars to the skies.
Those sounds breathe sweet music, "in heaven there's rest!"
I long to escape to that land of the blessed,
Inspired by the prospect through life's busy day,
To act and to suffer, to watch and to pray ;
Then gladly exchange when the summons is given,
The tumults of earth for the calmness of heaven.
CHILD of sorrow,-bending 'neath the blow
Of secret anguish,-thou whose heart is lone;
Thine elder brother shares with thee this heavy woe,
Jesus, the God-Man every pang has known.
The cross He sent; to gently lure thy heart
In safety to the Fatherland above;
These severed links-'twas hard for them to part,
But faith says low-"the trial came in love."
And when you stand in glory on that shore
Gazing in rapture o'er the crystal sea;
While as you gaze-shines forth more and more,
The love that God has shewn for thee.
Then shalt thou see how all this grief and pain,
These light afflictions-only for a day;
Together worked for good in the great chain
Of Love, which ne'er can pass away.
CONSOLATION.
WHEN wearied with the cares of life,
And the cross seems hard to bear;
Amidst the tumult and the strife,
Oh! let our refuge then be prayer.
"Wait on the Lord," and trust Him still,
Though dark and dreary be the road;
Pray in submission to His will
That He will gently lift the load.
And oh! forget not Jesu's love,
His sympathy is ever near; Thine elder brother is above,
And heeds each sigh and bitter tear.
And when in secret bending low,
Nigh crushed beneath thy load of care ; With griefs those round thee may not know, A dart thy bosom friend can't share.
To Jesus then-pour out thy soul,
Trust Him with all this weight of grief;
When storms arise He can control,
And give the aching heart relief.
SAVIOUR, I come to Thee,
A weary child, with pain and care opprest;
O let me lean this aching burdened heart
Upon Thy loving breast!
The way is very dark;
I cannot see it, Lord, through these my tears; Take Thou my hand, and draw me up to Thee Through all the lonely years.
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