Thou art gone to the grave,- -we no longer behold thee, Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side; But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold thee, And sinners may hope, since the sinless has died.
Thou art gone to the grave,-and its mansions forsaking,
Perhaps thy tried spirit in doubt lingered long; But the sunshine of heaven beamed bright on thy waking,
And the sound which thou heard'st was the seraphim's
Thou art gone to the grave,-but 'twere wrong to deplore thee.
When God was thy Ransom, thy Guardian, thy Guide, He gave thee, and took thee, and He will restore thee, Where death hath no sting, since the Saviour hath died.
Time to me this truth hath taught,
"Tis a truth that's worth revealing;
More offend from want of thought,
Than from any want of feeling;-
If advice we would convey,
There's a time we should convey it;
If we've but a word to say,
There's a tone in which to say it !
Many a beauteous flower decays,
Though we tend it e'er so much,
Something secret on it preys,
Which no human aid can touch!
So in many a lovely breast,
Lies some canker-grief conceal'd ;
That if touch'd is more oppress'd!
Left unto itself-is heal'd
Oft, unknowingly, the tongue
Touches on a chord so aching,
That a word, or accent, wrong,
Pains the heart almost to breaking.
Many a tear of wounded pride,
Many a fault of human blindness,
Has been soothed or turned aside,
By a quiet voice of kindness.
Time to me this truth hath taught,
"Tis a truth that's worth revealing ;-
More offend from want of thought,
Than from any want of feeling.
'TIS SWEET TO WORK FOR JESUS.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus,
In this life's little day;
To spread around "the joyful sound,"
As those forgiven may;
To tell His loving kindness,
His promises so true:
To urge the young, that they may come,
And trust this Saviour too.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus:
Be this our one desire,
Our purpose still, to do His will,
Whatever He require.
No action is too lowly,
No work of love too small;
If Christ but lead, we may, indeed,
Well follow such a call.
'Tis sweet to work for Jesus-
Oh! weary not of this,
But onward press with cheerfulness
Though rough the pathway is.
Hold on, unmoved and patient,
Till He shall call thee home,
With joy to stand at God's right hand
To serve before the throne.
DO I LOVE THE LORD?
'Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought,
Do I love the Lord or no?
Am I His or am I not?
Could my heart so hard remain,
Prayer a task and burden prove,
Any duty give me pain,
If I knew a Saviour's love?
When I turn mine eyes within,
O how dark, and vain, and wild;
Prone to unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?
Yet I mourn my stubborn will,
Find my sin a grief and thrall;
Should I grieve for what I feel
If I did not love at all?
Could I love Thy saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhor'd,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?
Saviour, let me love Thee more,
If I love at all. I pray
If I have not loved before
Help me to begin to-day.
TO BE THE THING WE SEEM.
To be the thing we seem;
To do the thing we deem
Enjoined by duty;
To walk in faith, nor dream
Of questioning God's scheme
Of truth and beauty;
Casting self-love aside,
Discarding human pride,
Our hearts to measure;
In humble hope to bide
Each change in fortune's tide,
At God's good pleasure;
To trust, although deceived,
Tell truth, though not believed;
Falsehood disdaining;
Patient of ills received,
To pardon when aggrieved;
Passion restraining;
With love no wrongs can chill,
To save, unwearied still,
The weak from falling:
This is to do God's will
On earth-and to fulfil
Our heavenly calling.
THE GOLDEN RULE.
To do to others as I would
That they should do to me,
Will make me honest, kind, and good,
As children ought to be.
We never need behave amiss,
Nor feel uncertain long,
As we can always tell by this
If things are right or wrong.
I know I should not steal or use
The smallest thing I see,
Which I should never like to loose
If it belonged to me.
And this plain rule forbids me quite
To strike an angry blow,
Because I should not think it right
If others served me so.
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