5 Fair distant land, could now our eyes
But half its charms explore,

How would our spirits long to rise
And dwell on earth no more.

6 Oh, may the heav'nly vision fire
Our hearts with ardent love,

Till wings of faith and strong desire
Bear ev'ry thought above.

XLIV.

"My God will enlighten my darkness."-Ps. xviii.

28.

1 WHY fear the path of grief to tread ?
Why, Father, shrink from thy decree?

If thus my longing soul be led
A safer, shorter way to thee?

2 On wings of faith, o'er fogs of earth,
Thy servant, Father, teach to rise,
And view the blessing's native worth,
Clear'd from affliction's dark disguise.

3 Yon clouds, a mass of sable shade
To mortals gazing from below,
By angels from above survey'd,
With universal sunshine glow.

XLV.

"I am a worm, and no man.”—Ps. xxii. 6.

1 ART thou a child of tears,
Cradled in care and woe,

And seems it hard thy vernal years
Few vernal joys can show ?

2 And fall the sounds of mirth
Sad on thy lonely heart,

From all the hopes and charms of earth
Untimely called to part?

3 Look here, and hold thy peace:
The Giver of all good

Even from the womb takes no release
From suffering, tears, and blood.

4 If thou wouldst reap in love,
First sow in holy fear;

So life a winter's morn may prove
To a bright endless year.

XLVI.

"He hath done this!"-Ps. xxii. 81.

1 GLORY unto Jesus be!

From the curse he set us free:
All our guilt on Him was laid,
He the ransom fully paid.

2 All his glorious work is done;
God's well pleased in his Son;
For he rais'd him from the dead :
Christ now reigns, the Church's Head.

3 His redeem'd his praise show forth,
Ever glorying in his worth;
Angels sing around the throne,-
"Thou art worthy, thou alone!"

4 Ye who love him, cease to mourn,
He will certainly return;

All his saints with him shall reign;
Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen.

70

XLVII.

"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, yet will I fear no evil."-Ps. xxiii. 4.

1 When the spark of life is waning,

Weep not for me:

When the languid eye is straining,
Weep not for me :

When the feeble pulse is ceasing,
Start not at its swift decreasing:
'Tis the fetter'd soul's releasing:
Weep not for me.

2 When the pangs of death assail me,

Weep not for me:

Christ is mine,-He cannot fail me,

Weep not for me:

Yes, though sin and doubt endeavour

From his love my soul to sever,

Jesus is my strength for ever!

Weep not for me.

71

XLVIII.

"My times are in thy hand."-Ps. xxxi. 15.

1 "My times are in thy hand,"

My God! I wish them there;

My life, my friends, my soul I leave,
Entirely to thy care.

2 "My times are in thy hand,"
Whatever they may be;
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to Thee.

3 "My times are in thy hand,"
Why should I doubt or fear?

My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.

4 "My times are in thy hand,”—

Jesus the crucified!

The hand my cruel sins had pierced
Is now my guard and guide.

5 "My times are in thy hand,"
I'll always trust in thee;

And after death, at thy right hand
I shall for ever be.