If men of earth, for earth's renown,
Are willing long to wait or toil,
Nor shrink to lay existence down
Upon the war-field's bloody soil;--
...
Oh Thou, who givest the true desire,
Thyself the only source of love,
Within our humbled hearts inspire
Affections, springing from above,
...
How happy is the peaceful breast,
No agitating strife that knows;--
Through which the stream of holy rest
In one unbroken current flows?
...
If there e'er was a time of rejoicing, 'twas then
When we first broke asunder the shackles that bound us,
...
In prison, when the early saints
Wore despotism's chains,
'Twas Faith that silenced their complaints,
In solacing their pains.
...
Jehovah, sov'reign of my heart!
My joy and by night and day!
From Thee, oh may I never part,
From Thee ne'er go astray.
...
Oh love! thou day-star of my heart!
Ascend upon thy throne!
Victor and lord, where'er thou art,
To all within the power impart,
...
Oh, could I rule my erring thought,
Each wrong desire subdue;
And serve my maker as I ought,
As Thou would'st have me do.
...
Oh, what a fearful thing it is,
That, from the better way,
Attracted by illusive bliss,
We love to go astray.
...