Madame Guyon - Poems, 1802

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presented to

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1bume from tbe books ot

ZTbe late Ibonourable ]E^war^ 36lafee Cbanccllor of tbe tlntversit^ of (Toronto

(1876=1900)

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POEMS yV)

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Translated from Ike French of <i otrvK N

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MADAME DE LA MOTHE

GUION,

BY THE LATE

WILLIAM COWPER,

Esq.

AUTHOR OF THE TASK.

To which

are addad

SOME ORIGINAL POEMS OF

Mil.

COW PER,

NOT INSERTED IN

WORKS.

HIS

n--g

THE SECOND EDITION. NEWPORT-PAGNEL, ?RINTEt>

AND SOLD BY

J.

WAKEFIELD;

sold at si by

T.

WILLIAMS,

10,

STATIONER'S COURT, LONDON.

(PRICE,

3s. 6u.)

1802.

[Entered at Stationers Li all.]

PQ

TO

THE REV. WILLIAM BULL,* ttess

Translations ofafeiu of the Spiritual Songs

OF THE EXCELLENT

MADAME made

GUION,

at his e.rhress desire, are dedicated,

ly lux

dd'ccinni'ti'

Friend and Servant,

WILLIAM

Jitiii,

1782,

COV/PJ7-R.

Preface.

IT

seems needless,

if

not impertinent, in an

obscure individual, to say any thing

Author of the Task,

It

is

of

in praise

of the

more consequence

to

inform the reader of the circumstances that have led to this

publication.

About twenty

years ago a very

dear and venerable friend* introduced great and amiable Mr. Cowper.

me

to the truly

This gave

a

rise to

friendship which increased with every repeated inter-

view, and for several years I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with this

him every week.

delightful intercourse

moval

to a distant situation,

A$ length

was terminated, by

hi,s

re-

and the painful approaches

of that event which dissolves every social connexion.

#

2'fc Rev, Jo.pl Neii'ton, Hector ,/

.$'/.

Mury

H'oolnot/t,

\i

Frjtce.

One day amusing myself with of

the poetical

Madame Guion,

the celebrated

1

work|

was struck with

the peculiar beauty of some of her poems, as well ai

edited with the piety and devotion of which they arc I

strongly expressive.

and partly

to

amuse

mentioned them

a solitary

to

hour, partly to keep in

the genius of this incomparable

exercise

Mr. C.j

man,

I

re-

quested him to put a few of the poems into an english dress.

Afterward, during

v

Absence upon a journey,

it

"I

says,

have but

That

may seem.

*'

devoted for a month after your departure

'

translation

" " .

strange as

little leisure,

my

which Mr. C.

I received a letter in

last

" plicae, tbr

my

MaJame Guion.

t!.e

occasion,

" when we

"

of

copies of all

pieces

and

rr^c-t.

you may purpose

" amuied me. and

I

to

have made

have produced on

will put

They

I

little

them

into

are yours to

I

the fair

this

your hands

serve as

you

take and leave them as you like, is

I

already

served.

They have

have no further demand upon

vii

Preface.

" them."

On my

these translations, Protestant

The

return, to

which he added the Letter

to a

Lady in France, and the Poem on Friendship. idea cf printing

them was afterwards sug-

Mr. C; and he gave

gested to

me with

Mr. C. presented

consent, in-

his full

tending to revise them before I should send them to

Various circumstances prevented him from

the press.

doing

this

;

and the poems would probably have

remained unpublished, Several

if

it

still

had not been found that

copies of them had already got abroad.

The

Editor therefore had reason to beleive, that they would *

otherwise have less correct

script.

made

than

if

their appearence in

will,

state far

printed from the original

Nor can he imagine

form, they

a

that

even

on the whole, tend

in their

to

Manupresent

diminish the

well-deserved reputation of their excellent Author.

To

infer that the peculiarities of

heological sentiments,

Madam

Guion's

were adopted either by Mr. C.

viii

Prrfacf,

or by the Editor, would be almost as absurd as to sup*

pose the inimitable Translator of

He

a pagan.

Homer

to

have been

reverenced her piety, admired

genius, and judged that several of her

her

poems would be

read with pleasure and edification by serious and can*

did persons, I have taken the liberty to

add the Stan/as sub*

to the Bills of Mortality,

which had been pub-

joined lished

a

few years past

at

Epitaph, which had appeared tion.

They

sufficiently

Northampton

j

and the

in a periodical publica-

m.iik

the

genius of iheir

Author, correspond with the other paits of

volume, and have not before been printed

this

in a

small

uniform

planner with his poems.

William Bull,

6t/tofJu/i",

1

80 1,

fc

(

)

CONTENTS. PACE

THE

Nativity

G od neither

known nor

The Swallow The Triumph

A

oj'

-

-

Heavenly Love desired

-

-

-

9

-

-

12

-

-

14

1

figurative description of the procedure of Divine

Love

in bringing a soul to the point of Self-renun-

ciation

A

loved by the world

-

-

and absolute acquiescence

Child of

God longing

to see

Aspirations of the Soul after

Gratitude an.l Love to

Hfippy Solitiuk

Living Water

Truth

-

find Divine Lnv?.

Divine Justice Tt't?

God

Unhappy

a;, liable

-

Man

-19

-

-

-

23

-

-

-

25

-

-

-

27

-

-

-

23

-

29

-

3

reeled by I he World -

-15

-

him beloved

God

-

-

-

Soul thai laves Godjlnds him every where

1

CONTENTS.

X

Page,

The Testimony of Divine Adoption -

Divine Love endures no rival

Glory

/<>

God God alone

The Love of God Love fail !-j'nl

in

t'i>

the

The Tin

Surrender

i-ntire

1 ,

jif-rft'ct

God liid< s

Sacrifice

his people

The

secrets

The

i-i<

t>J

-42

-

-

-

44

-

-

-

-

45

-

-

-

48

-

-

50

of the Beloved

-

-51

-

-

- 5'2

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

54

-

-

-

-

55

-

-

58

-

<>5

-

7-

On

-

74

The

-

M

end of Life

-

Divine Love are to be kept '(I

-

Writ citing unto

same

I'ti-

J.nj

J

i'i.'

God

^40

-

ti!.-s<:>icc

Love pure andfen- -nt

58

-

and Ti ulh incompatible

Self-love

-

-

The acquiescence ofpure Love Repose in

-35

-

-

-

pelf-diffidence

-

in

I h^:

Christian Life

in the night season

-

53

-

Pnw

-

-

r

CONTENTS.

Xt

Page,

Joy

in

Martyrdom

Simple Trust

The

-

-

-

-

85

-

-

-

-

86

-

-

-88

.

-

-

91

-

-

-

94

-

necessity of Self-abasement

Love increased by

suffering

Scenes favourable to Meditation

ORIGINAL POEMS. w*^s^

An

Fjjistle to

Friendship

a Protestant -

-

Lady

in France

.

101

-

-

104

-

Stanzas subjoined to a Bill of Mortality for the year 1787

-

-

-11?

Stanzas subjoined to a Bill of Mortality for the year 1788

-

-

- 119

-

-

122

.... ....

127

-

133

17*89

-

The same for 1790

-

The same for

The same for 1792 The same for 1793

An Epitaph

-

-

-

.

.

.

-124

.

129

THE

NATIVITY. Poeme

Vol.

Heroiyuf-

4.

4.

sn IS Folly

Of Parian

let

all

and

porticos,

me

no more be told

roofs of gold

;

Delightful views of Nature dress'd by Art,

Enchant no longer

The Lord

of

all

Makes mean

The

this indiff'rent heart;

things, in his

humble

birth,

the proud magnificence of Earth

;

straw, the manger, and the mould'ring wall,

Eclipse

its

lustre

;

and

I scorn

it all.

Canals, and fountains, and delicious valr>,

Green

Deep

slopes,

and plains whose plenty never

fail-;

;

rooted groves, whose heads sublimely rise,

Earth-born, and yet ambitious of the skies

Th' abundant

foliage of

Vainly the sun Where warbled

in all its

Whose

lives

verdure .B

airs

;

whose gloomy shades, pow'r invades;

of sprightly birds resound

;

while winter scowl* around

:

THE NATIVITY.

2 Rocks,

And

lofty

mountains, caverns <Lirk and deep,

torrents raving

down

Smooth downs, whose

Meads crown'd with

Whose Their

The

artless

That seems all

An

flow'rs

;

streams musical and clear,

charms,

to

make

the scene divine

a rolling sea of golden grain lost

God

;

the charms they once possessed

reigns sovereign in

Bethl'em's bosom

I

my

j

breast;

no more will rove;

There dwells the Saviour, and there

Ye

;

vineyard, and the furrow'd plain,

have

infant

From

;

siker waters, and whose murmurs, join

fruitful

All,

the rugged steep

flagrant herbs the spirits cheer/

rests

my

love.

mightier rivers, that with sounding force

Urge down

the valleys your impetuous course Winds, clouds,and lightnings! and ye waves,whose heads !

Curl'd into monstrous forms, the seaman dreads

Horrid abyss, where all expetience fails, Spread with the wreck of planks and shatter'd

On whose

sails

;

broad back grim Death triumphant ride*,

While havock

floats

on

all

thy swelling tides,

shores a scene of ruin, strew'd around

Thy With

vessels bulged,

Yc

And

!

and bodies of the drown'd

!

Fish, that sport beneath the boundless waves.

rest,

secure from

man,

in

rocky caves;

THE NATIVITY. and whales of hideous

S\vift darting sharks,

Whom Had I

I

aquatic world with terror eyes

all th'

!

but Faith immoveable and true,

might defy the

The

size,

fiercest storm, like

you

:

world, a more disturb'd and boisi'ruus sea,

When Jesus shews a smile, affrights not me He hides me, and in vain the billows roar, Break harmless

Thou azure

at

my

feet,

and leave the shore.

vault,where,through the gloom of night,

Thick sown, we see such countless worlds Thou Moon, whose car, encompassing the Restores

Again

lost

j

nature to our wond'ring eyes

retiring,

when

of light

skies, j

the brighter Sun,

Begins the course he seems in haste

Behold him where he shines

run

to

!

His rapid rays, Themselves unmeasur'd, measure all our days !

;

Nothing impedes the race he would pursue, Nothing escapes

A

his

penetrating view,

thousand lands confess his quick'ning heat,

And

all

he cheers, are

fruitful, lair,

and

sv, t-t t.

Far from enjoying whr.l these scenes disclose, I feel the thorn, alas

Too

More

but miss the rose

!

I

know

this

solid

gcod

to

well

:

aching heart lequires

fill

its

vast desires

j

!

THE NATIVITY.

4 Iii

vain they represent his matchless might

Who

call'd

them out of deep primeval night

Their form and beauty but augment I

my woe

seek the Giver of those charms they

Him

Nor,

Infinite

whom

I trust for

God, thou great

makes

glory

Compar'd with

How

a blot of

thine,

art

bliss, the light

my

In thee alone dwells

All darkness

flies

all

;

his beauty

his golden

by which

that I can love

when thou

made,

ONE,

yonder sun

how dim

:

:

cure or aid.

unrivall'd

quench'd the radiance of

Thou

\\

beside, throughout the world he

Lives there, in

Whose

sin

;

I

seem*,

beams

move

!

j

;

art pk-as'd

t'

appear,

A

sudden spring renews the fading year; Where'er I turn, I see thy power and grace

The

watchful guardians of our heedless race

Thy

various creatures in one strain agree,

times and places, speak of thee

;

All, in

all

Ev'n

with trembling heart and i&Btmering tongue,

I,

Attempt thy

praise,

;

and join the gen'ral song. this wondrous plan,

Almighty Former of

Faintly reflected in thine image,

Holy and Fills

just

and supports

Man

the Greatness of whose this universal

frame,

name

THE NATIVITY.

5

Diffus'd throughout th' infinitude of space,

Who

art thyself thine

Soul of our soul,

own

whom

vast dwelling-place;

yet no sense of ours

Discerns, eluding our most active pow'rs

;

Encircling shades attend thine awful throne,

That

veil thy face,

Unknown, though Lord of

and keep thee

still

unknown

;

dwelling in our inmost part,

the thoughts, and Sov'reign of the heart

Repeat the charming truth

!

that never tires,

No God is like the God my soul desires He at whose voice heav'n trembles, even He, Great a, he is, knows how to stoop to me ;

Lo there he lies that smiling " Heav'n Earth, and Sta, exist !

infant said,

and they obey'd.

!"

Ev'n he whose Being swells beyond the skies, Is born of woman, lives, and mourns, and dies; Eternal and Immortal, seems to cast

That glory from

his

Trivial and vain the

How

brows, and breathes his

works

that

do they shrink and vanish

man

at the

Sweet Solitude, and scene of This

rustic sight assuages all

That

crib contains the

And

Earth's a shade, that

Lord I

last.

has wrought,

my

thought repose

my woes whom I adore

;

pursue no more.

!

!

THE NATIVITY.

6

He I

is

my

firm support,

my

rock,

my

tow'r,

dwell secure beneath his sheltering pow'r,

And For

hold this

all I

love,

I see the

mean

my

retreat for ever dear,

soul's delight

Almighty swath'd

is

here.

in infant bands,

Tied helpless down, the Thunder-bearer's hands!

And

in this shed, that

\Vliicli Faith

Ye Ye

mystery discern, and Love, and they alone, can

learn.

tempests spare the slumbers of your Lord

zepheii,

Cuntess the

...ll

your whisper'd sweets afford

God

!

!

that guides the rolling year;

Heav'n, do him homage; and thou Earth, revere

!

Ye

Shepherds, Monarchs, Sages, hither bring Your hearts an offering, and adore your King 1

i.

o

Join

lie.

these hearts, and rich in Faith and

in his praise, th'

harmonious world above;

To Bethrhem haste, rejoice And praise him there for all Man, busy Man,

alas

!

in his

repose,

that he bestows

can

ill

By

glitt'ring

shews

ot

pomp and in io

mean

;

wealth beguil'd

blind to genuine excellence and grace,

Find; not her AuiliLV

1

afford

T' obey the summons, and attend the Loid Pel verted reason revels and runs wild,

And

!

Love;

a place.

;

THE NATIVITY.

Ye

unbelieving

!

learn a wiser part,

Distrust your erring sense, and search your heart

There, soon ye

Glow

shall perceive a

for that Infant

kindling flame

God from whom

it

camej

Resist not, quench not that divine desire,

Melt

your adamant

all

Not

in

heavenly

Yielding and

soft this heart shall

And

ev'ry heart, beneath thy

Glad

to

But

I

None

am

Of

if I

I

Himself alone

render thee, from thee

give

my

body

love,

vain attempt,

The more

I

to the flame,

owe the

Upon my meanness,

are thine.

all

still

the more.

poverty, and guilt,

-disdain shall be th'

And my

deformity,

its

my

state

and

;

unshaken base,

fairest grace;

For destitute of Good and

Must be

:

came;

expunge the mighty score

t'

pay, I

it

trophy of thy glory shall be built ;

;

and energy divine

heart and soul and spirit,

The

!

ever prove

poor, oblation I have none,

for a Saviour, but

My patience, Ah

!

Love

power should fall, submit, could mine contain them all.

Whate'er

And

fire

so will I requite thee, gentle

my

rich in

111,

description

still.

!

THE NATIVITY.

f

And

do

surh a humbling lot Nuy, but I cherish and enjoy the thought Vain pageantry and pomp of Earth, adieu 1 grieve at

?

!

I

have no wish, no

The more

The

I feel

my

in his

Love,

you

;

mis'ry, I adore

sacred Inmate of

Rich

for

memory

my soul the moie my noblest pride ;

I feel

Spring from the sense of having nought beside.

In

Thee

I find

wealth, comtort, virtue, might;

wand'rings prove thy wisdom infinite;

My

All that I have, 1 give thee

and then see

;

All contrarieties unite in thee

;

For thou hast join'd them, taking up our \voe, And pouring out thy bliss on worms below,

By

A

filling

with thy grace and love divine

gulph of evil is

And

the hills sink

indeed to bid the valleys

I

love thee, I the

soul so lifeless,

more reprove

and so slow

to love

;

on a deluge of thy mercy to^s'd, plunge inlo that sea, and tluve am lost.

Till, I

rise,

mau:hi;;g Karth and Skies

my

The more

A

'tis

weakness, thank thee, and deplore aching heart that throbs to thank thee more

I feel

An

mine.

in this he;:rt ol

This

;

!

GOD NEITHER KNOWN NOR LOVED

BY THE WORLD.

Vol. 2.

YE

Linnets,

Which

shall

let

C'antique 11,

us try, beneath this grove,

be loudest in our Maker's praise!

In quest of some forlorn retreat I rove,

For

all

the world

is

and wanders from

blind,

That God alone should prop the sinking Fills

them with rage

I traverse

To

Earth

against his empire

in vain

from pole

seek one simple heart,

They speak While

of Love, yet

in their,

bosoo

Their base desires well

set free

satisfied

ways.

soul,

now;

to pole,

from

little feel its i

his

'dul

all

below.

s\v.v,

lurks;

obey,

Leave the Creator's hand, and lean upon

his

works.

COD NEITHER KNOWN

19

'Tis therefore I can dwell with

man no more

Your

suits

fellowship,

Pure Love has

ye warblers

lost its price,

!

me

best

;

:

though priz'd of yore,

Profan'd by modern tongues, and slighted as a Jest.

My

God, who form'd you

Beholds his purpose well

Come,

let

for his praise alone,

fulfill'd in

you

;

us join the Choir before his throne,

Partaking in his praise with spirits just and true

Yes,

always love

I will

Tune

to the praise of

Preferring

Love

Lord of It"

I

my

should

my

ceaseless voice

human

men who

cavil at

choice.

my

it

!

that they

might

all

ever

fail

!

Can such a

fire

is

Its object heav'nly,

must ever blaze

Eternal Love, a

be thine

?

the zeal thy smile imparts,

Love, pure and holy,

When

j

thought,

not a thousand thousand hearts, soul

thou approve

How

and, as I ought,

Love

too vast for

In spite of erring

Why have

;

!

it

a deathless

God must needs

fire

decline?

;

:

inspire,

once he wins the heart, and

fits it

for his

praise.

NOR LOVED BY THE WORLD. 6elf-love dismissed

then

'tis

we

In her embrace, death, only death

Come

then,

one noble

live is

11

indeed

found

:

and succeed,

effort,

Cast off the chain of Self with which thy soul

Oh Ye

!

I

would cry

is

bound!

world might hear,

that all the

self-tormentors, love your

God alone

;

Let His unequall'd Excellence be dear, Dear to your inmost souls, and make him all your own!

They

hear

me

not

alas

!

how

fond

to

rove

In endless chase of Folly's specious lure !

'Tis here alone, beneath this shady grove, I taste the sweets of

Truth

here only

am

secure.

THE S

WALLO

\V.

k^.^-^^~^>^>

VoL

2. Cantique 54.

I AM fond of the Swallow Had I skill to improve it, a

How

I learn

from her

lesson of

Love

seldom on Earth do we see her alight

She dwells

she

in the skies,

is

flight,

:

!

ever above.

on the wing that she takes her repose, Suspended and pois'd in the regions of air,

It is

'

Tis not in

It is

She comes

And

our (idds

wing'd like

at

her sustenance grows,

in the Spring, all the

dreading the cold,

So, true to our Love,

And

tl

herself, 'tis ethereal fare.

still

we

Summer

she stays,

follows the sun

should covet his rays,

the place where be shines not, immediately *hui>.

THE SWALLOW.

be Love, and our nourishment pray 'r; we find upon Earth ;

Out

light should

It is

dangerous food that

The

fruit

In

of this world

is

beset with a snare,

itself it is hurtful, as vile in its birth.

*Tis rarely,

And

if ever,

only when

Were

A

13

it

she settles below,

building a nest for her

thought upon any thing

Let us leave

To bask Let us

That

young

;

not for her brood, she would never bestow

it

ev'iy

fly

ourselves

moment

filthy as

('tis

dung.

a mortal abode)

in infinite

Love;

the dark winter, and follow the road

leads to the day-spring appearing above

TRIUMPH OF HEAVENLY LOVE. DESIRED.

236.

Vol. 2. Cantique

AH reign, wherever Man is foundj My Spouse, beloved and divine !

!

am rich, and I abound, When ev'iy human heart is thine.

Then

I

A thousand sorrows To

Ah

!

think that

all

pierce

my

soul,

are not thine

be ador'd from pole to pole

Whore

is

thy zeal

All hearts are cold,

?

arise

;

be

own : ;

known

!

in ev'ry place,

Yet earthly good with warmth pursue; Dissolve them with a flash of grace,

Thaw

these of ice, and give u

new !

A

PIGURATIVE DESCRIPTION Of the

PROCEDURE OF DIVINE LOVE In bringing a Soul

to the point

of Self-renunciation and

absolute acquiescence.

Vol.1.

C'antique 110.

Twas my purpose, on a day, To embark and sail away As I climb'd the vessel's side, ,

Love was

"

;

sporting in the tide

Come," he

Launch

Many

said

;

" ascend

make

into the boundless waste.''

mariners were there,

Having each

his sep'rate care

;

haste,

THE SOUL BROUGHT T

16

They

that row'd us, held their eyes

Fixt upon the starry skies

;

Others steer'd, or turn'd the

To

sails

receive the shitting gales.

Love, with pow'r divine supplied,

Suddenly

my

moment

courage tried

j

was night Ship, and skies, were out of On the briny wave I lay ; In a

it

Floating rushes

Did

At

I

I

stay.

unexpected turn

Never to forsake "

my

?

it

more

?

" be

soul," I cried,

must be

lost, I

Next, he hasten 'd

still

will."

to

convey

Both

my frail supports away; Seiz'd my rushes bade the waves ;

Yawn Down

j

wish myself on shore,

No

If i

my

all

sight

with resentment burn

this

Did

;

into a thousand graves I

went, and sunk as

Ck'can closing o'er

my

:

leatl^

head.

SELF-RENUNCIATION. Still,

however,

And

I

was

life

safe

;

saw him turn and laugh : " Friend," he cried, "adieu lie low, !

While

the wintiy storms shall blow;

When

the spring has calm'd the main,

You

shall rise

Soon

I

Spread

and

float

again."

saw him, with dismay, plumes, and soar away;

his

Now I mark his rapid flight Now he leaves my aching sight ;

He

is

gone

whom

I

'Tis in vain to seek

How

I

*

him more.

trembl'd then, and

When my

fcai 'd

love had disappear'd

Wilt thou leave

" Whelm'd

;

adore,

me

!

I cried,

thus,"

beneath the rolling tide?"

Vain attempt to reach his ear Love was gone, and would not

!

Ah See

return,

!

me

and love

Frown with wrath, let

Only

C

me

still

subject to thy will

3

me

hear.

;

j

or smile with grace,

see thy lace

!

17

THE SOUL BROUGHT &C.

15 Evil

I

All

is

have none

good

if

to fear,

ihou

Yet he

leaves

me

Leaves

me

my

Have

in

I sinn'd

art near.

cruel fale

Oh

?

say wherein

Tell me, and forgive

King, and Lord,

Be

not angry

I

;

all

j

my sin whom I adore, !

no more

Shall I see thy face

Henceforth,

!

lost estate

?

I resign,

my

Will

to thine;

consent that ihou depart,

Though

Go All

thine absence breaks

then, and for ever too

my

heart

;

right that thou wilt do.

is

This was just what Love intended,

He was now

no more offended

became a

Soon

as I

Love

return'd to

Never

strife shall

me

;

child,

and smil'd

:

more betide

'Twixt the Bridegroom and his Bride.

A

CHILD OF GOD LONGING TO

SEE

HIM BELOVED.

^^v^r^sft Vol. 2.

THERE'S But

How

not an Eccho round

am

I

Cantique 144.

pure a

me,

glad should learn fire has

found me,

The Love with which

burn.

I

For none attends with pleasure To what I would icveal j

They

slight

And The

me

laugh at

out of measure, all

I feel.

rocks receive less proudly

The

When

story of I

my

flame

;

approach, they loudly

Reverberate his name.

A CHILD OF COP LONCIN6

SO

them of

I speak to

And

bid

They

And

me

;

look for gladne^,

better days at hand.

Far from I

sadness,

comforts at a stand

all

habitation,

heard a happy sound

;

Big with the consolation That I have ofu-n found;

"

I said,

My The

my

lot is

What

bliss

For, spite of

My

thc-e

brings

These sweet and it

all

juy."

secret tidi

is

to hear

my

!

chidings,

weakness and

my

le.it,

sooner I receive them,

Than

And J

" to-mo

rocks replied

To-morrow

No

sorrow,

giicf has no alloy ;"

I forget

happy love as

my

pain,

to believe

much

them,

again.

TO SEE HIM BELOVED. I fly to scenes romantic,

Where never men For

Impiety

For

j

is

sport.

and confusion,

riot

barter things above;

They

Condemning,

The joy

In

resort

an age so frantic,

in

as delusion,

of perfect Love.

sequester'd corner

this

None

hears what I express

j

Deliver'd from the scorner,

What

peace do

I possess

!

Beneath the boughs reclining,

Or

roving

I live,

And

No I

d'c-r

the Wild,

asundesigning, harmless as a child.

troubles here surprize

me,

innocently play,

While providence supplies me.

And

guards

me

all

the

clay

;

21

A CHILD OF GOD &C.

22

My

dear and kind Defender

Preserves

From men

Who

fill

me

of

safely here,

pomp and

splendour,

a child with fear.

C

23

]

ASPIRATIONS OF THE SOUL

AFTER GOD.

Vol. 2. Ccuitique 95.

My

Spouse

in

!

Sole object of

Who

my

is all

I live,.

desires.

canst easily double

pleasant

From I

all

know'st what a flame

And

How

whose presence

that I

I conceive, its fires j

meet

!

fear of adversity free,

find even sorrow

Because

'tis

made sweet

assign'd

me by

;

Thee.

Transported I see tbee display

Thy

riches

I have only

and glory divine;

my

Take what

I

life to

repay,

would gladly

resign.

ASMRATION'S &C. will

Thy

There

the treasure I seek,

is

For thou

art as faithful as strong;

me, obedient and meek,

let

Repose myself

My

spirit

Oh

and

finish

faculties fail

;

what love has begun

Destroy what

And dwell

is

sinful

and

!

frail,

in the soul thou hast

Dear theme of I cry,

the day long.

all

who

my is

wonder and

won

1

praise,

worthy as Thou and gaze ; left to me now.

!

I can only be silent

'Tis

Qh

all

that

glory, in

Too deep

On

is

which for the

I

am

lost,

plummet

of thought

an ocean of deity toss'd,

I

am

swallow'd,

Yet

lost

and absorb'd

I

sink into nought. as I

seem,

I chauiit to the praise of

And

my King

though ovt-rwlu'lm'd by the

Am happy whenever I

sing.

;

tlu im-.

!

GRATITUDE AND LOVE TO GOD.

Vol

ALL

2. Cantique 96.

much

are indebted

But

I far

From many

And

more than

to thee,

all,

a deadly snare set free,

rais'd

from many a

fall.

Overwhelm me, from above, Daily, with thy boundless Love.

What bonds

No

of Gratitude

I feel,

language can declare

Beneath 'Tis

th'

;

oppressive weight I

more than

I

can bear

:

When shall I that blessing prove, To return thee Love for Love r

D

reel,

GRATITUDE

&C.

Spirit of Charity, dispense

Thy Expel

grace to ev'ry heart;

ail

Drive

other Spirits thence, self

from every part;

Charity divine, draw nigh,

Break the chains

which we

in

lie

!

All selfish souls, whate'er they feign,

Have

still

a slavish lot;

boast of Liberty in vain,

They Of Love, and

feel

He whose bosom He, and he alone

it

not.

glows with Thee, is

free.

Oh blessedness, all bliss above, When My pure fires prevail !

Love only teaches what All other lessons

We learn

its

fail

is

Love

name, but not

Experience only makes

;

:

it

its

powY>,

ours.

27

C

]

HAPPY SOLITUDE UNHAPPY MEN,

Vol. 2. Cantique 89.

MY

heart

I smile,

is

easy, and

my burthen

though sad, when thou

The more my woes I taste thy goodness,

light;

art in

my

and

There, while a solemn

I love,

The

:

the more.

stillness reigns

around.

and Hope, within my soul abound while the world suppose me lost in care,

Faith, Love,

And

sight

in secret I deplore,

;

joys of angels, unperceiv'd, I shaie.

Thy creatures wrong thee, O thou sov'reign Good Thou art not lov'd, because not understood This grieves

me

most, that vain pursuits beguile

Ungrateful men, regardless of thy smile.

D

2

!

LIVirtG Frail beauty,

and

While Thee they

WATER.

false honor, are ador'd

scorn, and

;

with thy word

trifle

Pass, unconcern'd, a Savior's sorrows by

And

hunt their ruin with a zeal

;

to die.

LIVING WATER.

Vol. 4. Cantique 81.

THE fountain No drought

in its source,

of

summer

The farther it pursues its The nobler it appears.

ftar<

;

course,

But shallow cisterns yield

A

scanty, short supply

j

The morning sees them amply At ev'ning they are dry.

fill'd,

j

[

29

]

TRUTH AND DIVINE LOVE REJECTED ?Y THE WORLD.

Fo/2. C'antique 22.

O Love, of pure and heav'nly birth O simple Truth, scarce known on earth Whom men resist with stubborn will !

!

;

And more

perverse and daring

still,

Smother and quench, with reas'nings vain, While error and deception reign.

Whence comes it, that, your pow'r the same As His on high, from whence you came,

Ye

rarely find a list'ning ear,

Or

heart that

makes you welcome here

Because ye bring reproach and pain Where'er ye visit, in your train, D 3

?

TRUTH AND DIVINE LOVE,

30

The world

is

proud and cannot bear

The

scorn and calumny ye share

The

praise of

They

men

the place

fly

the

mark

Suits not the vain

Then,

let

j

it

the price be

poor,

I

j

mean, where ye are seen ;

Pure Lcve, with scandal

Though

&<

am

they

in the rear,

costs too dear.

what

it

may,

prepar'd to pay

;

Come

shame, come sorrow; spite of tears, Weakness, and heart-oppressing fears ;

One soul, at least, shall not repine, To give you room come, reign in mine ;

'

[

31

]

DIVINE JUSTICE AMIABLE.

Vol. 2.

THOU Or

And

Cantque 119.

hast no lightnings,

O thou

should

know;

I ihcit force if

thou strike

me

My soul approves The

Just

into dust,

the blow.

heart, that values less its ease,

Than

it

adores thy ways

;

In thine avenging anger, sees

A subject of Pleas'd, I could

its

praise.

lie

conceal'd and lost

In shades of central night

Not

to

But

;

avoid thy wrath, thou know'st, lest I

grieve thy sight.

!

DIVINE JUSTICE AMIABLE,

32

O

Smite me,

A"d The

Am

I

me, though

And dare I seek And meet thy Far from

And

!

:

!

my

sacred eyes

my

thou spar'st

thou art kind

I

find,

pow'rs.

me

gentle to endure

yet again

my

that smile

Imparts a pang,

Than woe

;

pain,

with thy Love.

have no punishment to fear !

;

thy wrath should move,

Thou sooth'stme

Ah

?

saddest hours,

all

And when

But

kill.

canst devise;

unction of ihy grace

Alas

it

thy throne again,

afflicting,

in

Pervading

I

provoke

not worthy, to sustain

The worst thou

Too

I

still

well-deserv'd, and righteous stroke,

Shall please

An

whom

thou

I will lovethee

far

itself

j

from thee,

more severe

would

be.

[

33

]

THE SOUL THAT LOVES GOD FINDS HIM

EVERY WHERE.

Vol. 2. Cnntiq-ie 108.

OH

thou by long experience tried,

Near

My

whom

Love

I pass

my

no grief can lon^ abide

how

!

full of

j

sweet content

years of banishment

!

All scenes alike engaging prove,

To

souls impress'd with sac:ed lovej

Where'er they dwell, they dwell in theej In heav'n, in earth, or on the sea.

To me

My I

remains nor place nor time;

country

is

in ev'ry clirne;

can be calm and free from care

On

any shove, since

God

is

there.

THE SOUL THAT LOVES COD &C.

34-

While place we seek, or place we shun,

The

none

soul finds happiness in

But with a

God

j

guide our way,

to

'Tis equal joy to go or stay.

Could

I

be cast where thou

art not,

That were indeed a dreadful But regions none remote

God

Secure of finding

lot

;

I call,

in all.

My

country, Lord, art thou alone

Nor The

other can I claim or

My

Law,

point where

I hold

my

all

Love

my ;

own

wishes meet

life's

;

only sweel

by nothing here below my journey, and I go

!

;

Appoint

Though

;

;

;

pierc'd by scorn, opprest

I feel thee

feel

good

No

frowns of

To

souls

on

men

fire

can hurtful prove with heav'nly Love ;

Though men and

No gloomy

by pride, nought beside.

devils both

condemn,

days arise from them.

THE TESTIMONY &C.

Ah

then

My

soul thou art

!

to his

embrace repair; no stranger there

There Love divine

And

35

;

be thy guard,

shall

peace and safety thy reward.

THE

TESTIMONY O F

DIVINE ADOPTION.

Vol. 2. Canlique 78.

How

happy are the new-born

Partakers of adopting grace

How

pure the

Hid from Within

And

bliss

race,

;

they share

the world and

all its

!

eyes,

their heart the blessing lies,

Conscience

feels

it

there.

THE TESTIMONY O*

36

The moment we

And

we

if

believe,

love with

all

'tis

ours

;

our pow'rs

The God from whom it came, if we serve with hearts sincere,

And 'Tis

still

discernible and clear,

An undisputed But ah

!

if foul

claim.

and wilful sin

Stain and dishonour us within,

Farewell the joy

Again

we knew ;

the slaves of Nature's sway,

In labYmths of our

Without

own we

stray,

a guide or clue.

who

The

chaste and pure,

The

gracious spirit they receive,

His work

And

fear to gricvr

distinctly trace

;

strong in undissembling love,

Boldly assert and clearly prove,

Their hearts

Oh

his dwelling place.

messenger of dear delight,

Whose

voice dispells the deepest night,

Sweet peace-proclaiming Dove

!

DIVINE ADOPTION. With thee

at

hand

to sooth

our pains,

No wish unsatisfied remains, No task, but that of Love.

'Tis

Love

The

centre where

To which his

all bliss

;

resides,

the soul once brought,

Reclining on the

From

what Sin divides

unites

first

great Cause,

abounding sweetness draws

Peace passing human thought.

Sorrow foregoes

And

life

its

nature there,

assumes a tranquil

Divested of

its

woes

air,

j

There, sov'reign goodness sooths the breast.

Till then, incapable of rest,

In sacred sure repose.

DIVINE LOVE ENDURES NO RIVAL.

JW.2. Cantique 155.

LOVE

is

"Whose

The

the

tvntie of

Love

whom

Lord

I obey.,

will transported I perform,

my

all in all to

rest,

my

stay,

me, myself a worm.

For uncreated charms

I

bum,

Oppress'd by slavish fear no more

For one,

in

whom

I

may

;

discern,

Ev'n when he frowns, a sweetness

I adore.

He little loves Him, who complains, And finds him rig'rous and severe; His heart

Though

is

sordid,

and he feigns,

loud in boasting of a soul sincere.

DIVINE LOVE &C. Love causes

grief,

but

move

'tis tc

And And

he has never tasted Love,

Who

shuns

Sweet

To

is

souls

Love

the cross, above

'Tis just, that

And

self

life

GOD

sweets,

and beguiles.

all

the thought,

murmurs make

it

clear.

Lord

is

not.

else is lov'd, the

love of

Thee

flows just as

that of ebbing self subsides

Our

;

ever meets,

should not be dear,

engrosses

groans and

Whatever

A*

all

enamour'd with thy smiles

strips of all its terrors,

Where

;

pang so graciously design'd.

The keenest woe

The

mind

stimulate the slumb'ring

st

59

much ;

hearts, their scantiness is such,

Bear not the conflict of two

rival tides.

Both cannot govern in one soul;

Then

let self-love

The Love

And

of

God

be dispossess'd

will not dwell fc

2

;

deserves the whole,

vith so despis'd

a guest.

40

[

J

SELF-DIFFIDENCE,

Vol. 2. Canlitjite 125.

SOURCE oflove, and light of me from myself away

Tear

day,

;

Ev'ry view and thought of mine,

Cast into the mould of thine;

Teach,

A

Or,

if it

More

Is

Oh

teach this faithless heart

consistent, constant pail

it

must

live to

rebellious, break

thus, that

I

;

grow it

now

!

requite

Grace and goodness

infinite ?

Ev'iy trace of ev'ty boon, Cancell' d> and cvas'd, so soon

!

SELF-DIFFIDENCE.

Can

I grieve thee,

Thee,

in

whom

whom

I

love;

and move

I live

41

?

my sorrow touch thee still, Save me from so great an ill If

!

Oh

!

th' oppressive,

irksome weight,

Felt in an uncertain state

Comfort, peace, and

Should Still I

I

prove

;

rest, adieu,

at last

untrue

chuse thee, follow

Ev'ry notice of thy will

!

still

;

But unstable, strangely weak, Still let slip

the good I seek.

Self-confiding wretch, I thought, I

c

uld serve thee as I ought,

Win

thee,

and deserve

to feel

All the Love thou canst reveal

Trusting

self,

Is to be deceiv'd indeed

Save

me

from

Lest

my

gold turn

E 3

1

a bruised reed,

this

:

harm and all to

loss,

dross

!

THE ACdT7IESCi.NCE &C.

42 Self

is

earthly

Makes Faitli

Feel

Faith alone

an unseen world our

own

;

how we roam, our way, and leave our home relinquish'cl,

!

Spurious gems our hopes entice,

While we scorn the

And

pearl of price

;

preferring servants' pay,

Cast the children's bread away.

The

ACQUIESCENCE Of

PURE LOVE. Vol. 2. Cuntiqnc 135.

LOVE! Come,

it

Plung'd

The

thy destin'd sacrifice

slay thy victim, in thy

death,

am

I

;

and prepare thy

depths of mercy,

which ev'ry soul

let

me

fires

j

die

that lives, desires

!

43

THE ACQUIESCENCE &C. i \vatch

my

The time Yet

all

my

With no

To me

My My

is

life

hours, and see

them

away

;

;

thoughts thy purposes obey,

reluctance, cheerful

'tis

fleet

long, that I have languish'd here

equal, whether

or death, appoint

soul perceives

no

and sincere.

Love ordain

me

pain or ease

real 111 in pain

In ease, or health, no real

Good

;

;

she sees.

One Good she covets, and that Good alone To chuse thy will, from selfish bias free

;

j

And And

to prefer a cottage ro a

grief to comfort, if

That we should bear the

Die

to the world,

Suffer

As

and

it

throne,

pleases Thee.

cross, is thy

live to self

command,

no more

;

unmov'd beneath the rudest hand,

pleas'd

when shipwreck'd,

as

when

safe

on shore.

44

f

]

REPOSE IN GOD.

Vol. 2. Cantiyue 17.

BLEST

!

who

far

from

This world's shadows

all

left

mankind, behind,

Hears from heav'n a gentle strain Whisp'ring Love, and loves again.

Blest

!

who

free

from self-esteem,

Dives into the Gre;it Supreme, All desire Uside discards,

Joys

Blest

inferior

!

who

none regards.

in thy

bosom seeki

Rest that nothing earthly breaks,

Dead

to self

Lost

in thee,

and worldly

thing-;,

thou King of Kings

!

GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

Ye

that

know my

4/>

secret fire,

Softly speak and soon retire;

Favor

my

divine repose,

Spare the sleep a

God

bestows.

GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

Vol. 2.

OH

lov'd

!

Cantique

but not enough

15.

though dearer

Than

self

None

duly loves thee, but who, nobly free

From

sensual objects, finds his

Glory of

and

God

Whom man

its

!

all

;

in thee.

thou stranger here below,

nor knows, nor feels a wish to

OurFailh and reason are both shock'd

Man

far

most lov'd enjoyments are

in the post of

honour

know

to find

Thee behind.

GLORY TO GOD ALONE.

46

Reason exclaims

" Asham'd,

And

t(

Let ev'ry creature fall, Lord of all j"

abas'd, before the

Faith, o'erwhelm'd with such a dazzling blare,

Feebly describes the beauty she surveys.

Yet man, dim-sighted man, and rash as Deaf to the dictates of his better mind,

blind.

In frantic competition dares the skies,

And Oh

claims precedence of the only wise.

lost in vanity

Nothing

is

till

once self-known

great, or good, but

God

!

alone,

When

thou shalt stand before his awful face,

Then,

at the last, thy pride shall

know His

Glorious, Almighty, FirBt, and without end

place.

!

When wilt thou melt the mountains, and descend ?

When wilt thou shoot abroad thy conqu'ring rays, And teach these atoms, tbou hast made, thy praise ?

Thy Glory is the sweetest heav'n I feel And if I seek it with too fierce a zeal,

;

Thy Love triumphant o'er a selfish will, Taught me the passion, and inspires it still.

LORY TO COD ALONE.

My

reason,

all

my

faculties, unite,

To make

thy Glory their supreme delight

Forbid

Fountain of

That

My

it,

my

I should rob thee,

soul

rest

!

happy

Be

that thy glory,

Confess

Him

Love what he Die daily

;

Then thou

and usurp thy praise

in thy

Nor hope, nor wish, to To take th' impression

;

brightest days,

low

!

es4ate,

be esteem'd or great

j

of a will divine,

and those riches

thine.

righteous in his just decrees, loves,

and

let his

pleasure please;

from the touch of sin recede hast crowrvd him,

;

and he reigns indeed.

48

L

]

SELF-LOVE AND TRUTH INCOMPATIBLE.

l

Vol. 2. Canli<juc 2l.

FROM That

The

thorny wilds, a monster came,

my

fill'd

Droop'd

When

at the sight,

and

" Whence " Distracted Far from

" The joy

"

The '

;

:

ear,

fear.

terror

world and

its

and

surpri.sr.

boasts, the pain

r

affairs, it

Surrender, without guile or

" To God, '

mine

looks, and streaming eyes

tht-

it

all this

to earth

fell

thus a sage address'd

Himself unconscious of a

t(

and shame

soul with fear

birds, forgetful of their mirth,

an undivided heart

shares, art, ;

savage form, so fear'd before,

Shall scare your trembling soul no

more;

SELF-LOVE AND TRUTH &C.

" For *'

loathsome as the sight

may

49

be,

'Tis but the Love-of-selfyou see.

" Fix all your love on God alone, " Chuse but His will, and hate your own t

No

" " And you, through all your happy " Shall bless his name, and his sing

Oh The

lovely solitude,

silence of this

Here Truth, Gives

The

all

calm

the fair

her beauty to

my

praise."

sweet,

retreat I

days,

!

pursue,

viewj

simple, unaciorn'd display,

Truth,

whom

Truth,

my

Accept

And

how

whom

Charms every pain and

O O

;

your path be found, The dreary waste shall bloom around, fear shall in

fear

treasure and delight,

this tribute to thy

this

away.

millions proudly slight,

name,

poor heart, from which

it

came

!

50

r

]

The

LOVE OF GOD, THE END OF LIFE. Cantique 165.

Vol. 2.

Si

NCR

So be

sorrow must be spent,

life in

I

it

am

And meekly

well content,

vrait

my

Seeking only growth

No In

bliss I seek,

but to

remove,

Love. fulfil

in death, thy lovely will

life,

No

last

in

succours in

my

Save what thou

woes

I

;

want,

art pleas'd to grant.

Our days arc number'd, let us spare Our anxious hearts a needless care :

*Tis thine, to

Ours, to give

Love

is

number out our days them to thy praise.

j

our only bus'ness here,

Love, simple, constant, and sincere;

O

blessed days, thy servants see

Spent,

O

Lord

!

in pleasing

!

Thee.

51

I

]

LOVE FAITHFUL IN THE ABSENCE OF THE BELOVED.

Vol. 4. Cantique 49.

IN vain ye woo

Ye

me

to

your harmless joys,

pleasant bow'is, remote from strife and noise;

Your

shades, the witnesses of

many

a

vow,

Breath'd forth in happier days, are irksome now;

Denied

once

that smile 'twas

my

heav'n to see,

Such scenes, such pleasures, are all past with me.

In vain he leaves me,

And

though

I have

I

I shall love

him

mourn, not murmur

no cause

an object

all

still

;

at his will;

divine

Might well grow weary of a soul like mine; Yet pity me, great God forlorn, alone, !

Heartless and hopeless, Lite and

F 2

Love

all

gone.

52

[

]

LOVE PURE AND FERVENT. C'antique 31.

Vol. 4.

JEALOUS, and with Love

God demands

o'erflowing,

a fervent heart

Grace and bounty,

still

;

bestowing,

Calls us to a grateful part.

Oh, then, with supreme affection , His paternal Will regard !

If

it

cost us

some

Ev'ry sigh has Perfect

dejection, it's

reward.

Love has pow'r

to soften

Cares that might our peace destroy, Nay, does more transforms them often,

Changing sorrow

into joy.

Sov'reign Love appoints the measure,

And And is

the

number of our

pleas'd

In the

trials

when we he

pains

;

find pleasure

ordiifns,

THE ENTIRE SURRENDER.

Vol. 4. Cantique 77.

PEACE

And

has unveil'd her smiling face,

woes thy

From

if

But seeks not to the

Renounce

Lord, with simple heart,

all

peace

path,

shall

F 3

'till

all

thou art

;

strength but strength divine

be forever thine

Behold the path which

My

;

who Truth prefer, them who seek not her. all

All that thou hast, and

And

;

thou refrain

earthly Love, else sought in vain

She dwells with

Yield

embrace

soul to her

Enjoy'd with case,

I

I

go home

:

have trod, to

God.

[

54

]

THE

PERFECT SACRIFICE.

Vol. 4. Cantique 74.

I place an off 'ring at thy shrine,

From

taint

and blemish

Simple and pure

Of all

in

its

clear,

design,

that I hold dear.

-

I yield thee

Thy

gifts

back thy gifts again, which most I prize ;

Desirous only to retain

The

notice of thine eyes.

But

if, by thine ador'd decree, That blessing be deny'd;

Resign'd, and unreluctant, sec

My ev'ry

wish subside.

THE PERFECT SACRIFICI.

Thy

will in

all

things I approve,

Exalted or cast

Thy

down

;

will in ev'ry state, I love,

And

even in thy frown.

GOD HIDES HIS PEOPLE.

Vol. 4. Cantique 42.

To

lay the soul that loves

Becomes

him low.

the Onlv-wise

;

To hide beneath a veil of woe The children of the skies.

Man,

tho' a

worm, would yet be great; would seem strong j

Though Assumes an independent feeble,

By

sacrilege

state,

and wrong.

$5

COD HIDES

56

HIS PEOPLE.

Strange the reverse, which, once abas'd,

The haughty

He

cfeature proves

feels his soul

Nor

!

a barren waste,

dares affirm, he loves.

Scorn'd by the thoughtless and the vain,

To God

he presses near

;

Superior to the world's disdain,

And happy Oh

welcome,

in it's sneer.

in his heart

he says,

Humility and shame Farewell the wish for human praise, The music of a name 1

!

But will not scandal mar the good

That

And By Ah,

I

can

might

else

God work

so despis'd a

vainly anxious

To Sweet

perform it,

if

worm

!

?

leave the

is

Lord

and dispose; the mandate of his word,

rule thee,

And

?

he would,

gracious

all

he does.

COD HIDES

He

HIS PEOPLE.

draws from human

littleness

His grandeur and renown

And

;

gen'rous hearts with joy confess

The triumph

Down

all his

own.

then with self-exalting thoughts,

Thy faith and hope employ To welcome all that he allots,

And

suffer

shame with

No longer, then, On his eternal Arid he

thou wilt encroach right

;

shall smile at thy

And make

joy.

approach,

thee his delight.

$7

[

58

]

THE

SECRETS OF DIVINE LOVE ARE TO BE KEPT.

Vol. 3. Canlitjue4S.

SUN

!

stay thy course, this

Suspend

moment stay-

th' o'erflowing tide of

Divulge not such a Love

as

day,

mine,

Ah hide the mystery divine.

Lest man, who deems my glory shame, !

Should learn the secret of

Oh

night

!

propitious to

my

my

flame.

views,

awning wide diffuse ; Conceal alike my joy and pain,

Thy

sable

Nor draw

thy curtain back again,

Though morning, by the tears Seems to participate my woes.

she shewn,

AfcE

Ye

stars

Express

!

whose

my

TO BE KEPT. faint

and feeble

fires

languishing desires,

Whose slender beams pervade As silent as my secret sighs, Those emanations of That darts her

fires

the skies

a soul,

beyond the Pole

;

Your

rays, that scarce assist the sight,

That

pierce, but not displace the night,

That shine indeed, but nothing sho\r

Of all

those various scenes below,

Bring no disturbance, rather prove Incentives of a sacred Love.

Thou Moon Bespeaks

Go,

tell

!

whose

the tidings of

To him who

my

flame

by name j whose presence cheers

calls the stars

Whose absence

Who

never-failing courra

a providential force,

kills,

blots, or brightens, all

While,

in the blue abyss

Thine orb performs

its

my years.

of space.

rapid race

j

j

TRB SECRETS OF DIVINE LOVE Still

whisper

in his list'ning cars

The language

of

my

sighs and tears

;

Tell him, I seek him, far below,

Lost

Ye

in a wilderness of

thought-composing,

Diffusing peace o'er

silent hours,

my

all

Friends of the pensive

woe.

!

pow'rs

who

In darkest shades, the flames

To you

I trust,

The Lore

and

safely

that wastes

my

;

conceal, I feel

;

may, strength away.

In sylvan scenes, and caverns rude, I taste the streets of solitude;

Retir'd indeed, but not alone, I share

Who From

them with a Spouse unknown,

me

hides all

her, from envious eyes,

intrusion and surprise.

Imbow'ring shades, and dens profound Where echo rolls the voice around :

Mounuins

A

!

whose elevated heads,

moist, and misty veil o'erspreads

\

f

ARE TO BE KEPT.

61

Disclose a solitaiy Bride

To him

Ye

rills

I love

!

that

Among the

to

none beside.

murm'ring

all

the way,

polish'd pebbles stray

;

Creep sUently along the ground, Lest, drawn by that harmonious sound,

Some

wand'rer,

whom

Should stumble on

my

I

would not meet,

lov'd retreat.

Enamel'd meads, and hillocks green,

And streams, that water all the scene Ye torrents, loud in distant ears Ye fountains, that receive my tears !

!

Ah

!

still

A charge, If 1

conceal, with caution due, I trust

when my

seem

It is

t'

pain and grief increase,

enjoy the sweetest peace,

because

I find so fair

The charming That

I

object of

my

care,

can sport, and pleasure,

Of torment,

G

with none but you.

make

suffer'd for his sake.

I

THE SECRETS OF PtVlNE LOVE

62

Ye meads and groves, unconscious things I Ye know not whence my pleasure springs, Ye know not, and ye cannot know, The

source from which

my

The

dear sole Cause of

all

He knows, Ye

deserts

I

forests

j

and understands them well.

where the wild beasts rove.

Scenes sacred to

Ye

sorrows flow

I feel,

!

in

my

hours of love

whose shades

;

I stray,

Benighted under burning day;

Ah

!

whisper not how

Nor while

Ye lambs

And

I live, nor

!

am

I,

I die.

sport beneath these shades.

bound along the mossy glades

Be taught a

And

who

blest

when

cease to bleat

The wolf may

Whom

:

salutary fear,

when

I

am

near

:

hear your harmless cry,

ye should dread, as much

as I.

How calm, amid these scenes, my How perfect is the peace I find 1

mind!

ARE TO BE KEPT.

Oh

hush, be

My

tongue,

still

my

my

ev'iy part,

pulse,

my

beating heart

That Love, aspiring to its cause, May suffer not a moment's pause.

Ye In

swift-finn'd nations, that abide

wide

seas, as fathomless as

And

;

unsuspicious of a snare,

Pursue

at large

Poor sportive

Your

your pleasures there

fools

!

how

soon does

heedless ignorance trepan

Away Where

!

:

man

!

dive deep into the brine,

never yet sunk

plummet

line

j

Trust me, the vast Leviathan Is merciful,

Avoid

And

My

compar'd with man

;

his arts, forsake the beach,

never play within his reach.

soul her

bondage

ill

endures

I pant for liberty like yours I long for that

;

;

immense Profound,

That knows no bottom, and no bound

;

!

THB SECRETS OF DIVINE LOVE

64 Lost

in

Infinity, to prove

Th' Incomprehensible of Love.

Ye birds that lessen as ye fly, And vanish in the distant sky To whom yon aiiy waste belongs, !

;

Resounding with your cheerful songs to escape from human sight;

Haste Fear

less,

the vulture, and the kite.

How blest,

and how secure

am

I,

When quitting earth, I sore on high When lost, like you I disappear, And float in a sublimer sphere

;

!

Whence I

am

falling,

within

human

view,

ensnar'd, and caught like you.

Omniscient God, whose notice deigns try the heart and search the reins ;

To

Compassionate the num'ruus woes, I dare not, ev'n to thee, disclose

Oh Oi"

save

me

;

from the cruel hands

men, who

fear not thy

commands

!

j

ARE TO BE KEPT. Love, all-subduing and divine,

Care

for a creature truly thine

Reign

No

in a heart, dispos'd to

sov'reign, but thyself alone

Cherish a Bride,

Nor

who

quit thee for a

j

own j

cannot rove,

meaner Love

!

The

VICISSITUDES EXPERIENCED IN A CHRISTIAN

Vol. 3.

Canttqu'e 69.

I suffer fruitless anguish

Each moment,

as

it

LIFE.

day by day,

passes,

marks

my

pa n

Scarce knowing whither, doubtfully I stray,

And

see no end of

G

2

all

that I sustain.

;

THE VICISSITUDES EXPERIENCED

Ol>

The more

I strive, the

more

am

I

withstood;

Anxiety increasing ev'ry hour,

My

spirit finds

And

no

rest,

performs no good,

nought remains of all

my

former pow'r.

My peace of heart fled, I know not where My happy hours, like shadows, pass'd away is

Their sweet remembrance doubles

all

my

;

;

care,

Night darker seems, succeeding such a day, joys, and impotent regret.

Dear faded

What

profit

is

there in incessant tears?

Oh Thou, whom,

once beheld,

Reveal thy Love, and banish

Alas

!

he

flies

nut

Woe

my

me

treats

we

all

me

ne'er forget,

my

fears

!

as his foe,

sorrows, hears not

when

I

plead

j

such as mine, despis'd, neglected woe,

Unless

it

shortens

life is

vain indeed.

Pierc'd with a thousand wounds, I yet survive;

My

pangs are keen, but no complaint transpires while in terrors of thy wrath I live,

And

Hell seems

to loose its less

tremendous

fires.

j

IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

Has Hell

a pain

would not gladly

I

67

bear,

So thy severe displeasure might subside

My

life

I

Is this the joy so promis'd

Th' unchanging

lovely thou, and I

Why

did I see

dang'rous glories

still

Untaught,

My

how

them? had

humbler wishes

I

in better days

shewn me, but

!

ignorant

this the love,

sworn

love, so

Ah How !

?

seem already There, exiinguish'd, and yet death denied.

Hopeless of ease,

to

rash to gaze.

I

still

remain'd

how

fair

thou

art,

had soon obtain'd,

K^r known

the torments of a doubting heait.

Depriv'd of

all,

Whence

yet feeling no desires,

then I cry, the pangs that I sustain

Dubious anduninform'd,

Ought she

SuffVmg Yet

As

leel

to cherish, or

I suffer

not

my

?

soul inquires,

shake

off her pain.

sincerely love,

no touch of that enliv'ning flame;

chance inclines me, unconcern'd

All times, and

all

events, to

me

I

move,

the same.

!

prove

THE VICISSITUDES EXPERIENCED

68

I search

my

heart,

But burns with

Such

A I

ask not if

is

there,

may

fall

;

the sad disquietude I share,

and

sea of doubts,

And I

is

and not a wish

zeal that hated sell

life,

self the source of all.

nor do

thine hand

I

wish to die ; i;h not

accomp

would not purchase, with

A free discharge from I groan in chains, yet

all

my

cure,

a single sigh,

that I endure.

want not a

release

;

Am sick, and know not the distemper'd part; Am just as void of purpose, as of peace ;

Have

My No

claim to

Once

I

had

my

soul

though sought with earnest

life,

within me, or without me, shows]

light,

Find

My

neither plan, nor fear, nor hope, nor heart.

faith

;

but now, in sell-despair

chief cordial, and

is

Sinks and

my

best repose.

a forgotten thing, she sinks, is lost,

without a wish to

rise

;

Feels an indiff'rence she abhors, and thinks

Her name

eras'd forever froir< the skies.

THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.

I.V

65

Language affords not my distress a name, Yet is it real, and no sickly dream j 'Tis Love inflicts it though to feel that flame, ;

know

Is all I

of happiness supreme.

When Love departs, a Chaos wide and vast And dark as Hell, is open'd in the soul When Love returns, the gloomy scene is past.

No tempests shake her, and no fears controul. ;

Then

Oh

tell

me, why these ages of delay?

Love, all-excellent, once more appear

Disperse ths shades, and snatch

From

No

A

me

abyss of night, these floods of fear!

this

Love

is

angry, will not

now endure

sigh of mine, or suffer a complaint

He

smites me,

Exhausts

j

into day.

;

wounds me, and withholds the cure;

my pow'rs,

and leaves

me

sick and faint.

He wounds, and hides the hand that gave the blow; He flies, he re-appears, and wounds again Was e% er heart that lov'd thee, treated so f

Yet

I

adore thee, though

?

it

seem

in vain.

THE VICISSITUDES EXPERIENCED

TO

And wilt Thou

thou leave me,

whom, when

and vouchsafe

didst distinguish,

lost to

and blind,

chuse,

Before thy laws were written in

my

While yet the world had

thoughts and views

Now I

No-v

me

blot

What Is

it

of thy laws,

my

soul to perish from thy sight

?

can have caus'd the change which I deplore

to

Permit

To

mind,

supreme delight; from thy register, and cause

thy gloty

A laithful

my

me ? when, enamour'd

leave

make

all

prove me,

me

if

my

heart b

true

?

then, while prostrate I adore,

draw, and place

its

picture in thy view.

'Tis thine without reserve, most simply thine

So giv'n

to thee, that it is

A willing captive of thy And

loves,

not

grace divine

and seeks thee,

Pain cannot move

it,

when

Its tend'rest feelings,

its

j

j

;

for thyself alone.

danger cannot scare

Pleasure, and wealth, in It loves thee, ev'n

my own

;

esteem are dust

least inclin'd to

and avows thee

;

spare

just.

!

?

IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. 'Tis

An It

all

thine

own

my

;

71

spirit is so too,

undivided off 'ring at thy shrine;

seeks thy glory with no double view,

Thy

glory, with

no seciet bent

Love, holy Love

To

and

!

Mine

is

From

all self-bias,

But

am

I

thou not severe, fixt ?

an everlasting ardor, clear

fear,

Not ev'n

And,

mine.

me, thus devoted, and tbus

slight

And

art

to

silent,

gen'rous and unmixt.

seeing what I see

with cause, that

my faith is

that I love,

I

am

self-deceiv'd

from suspicion

seems not

to

free,

be believ'd.

Live thou, and reign, forever, glorious Lord

My last,

least off'ring, I present thee

Renounce me, Slay me,

my

leave

me, and be

God, and

I

still

nowador'd

applaud the blow,

!

!

j

WATCHING UNTO GOD

IN THE

NIGHT- SEA SON.

Vol. 3. Cantique 71.

SLEEP

at last

Nor do

I regret his flight,

More

alert

And my Nature

has fled there eyes,

my

heart

spirits is

free

ri

.

and

light.

silent all around,

Not

a single witness near

God

as soon as sought

And

the flame of love burns clear.

Interruption,

all

;

of

my joys

;

me with a throng, me with their nois*.

Creatures press perplex

;

found

day long j

Checks the current

And

is

IK THE XICHT SEASON, Undkturb'd

On

rmt

the

Nothing

Love

muse

I

all

night,

Eternal Fair;

there obstructs delight,

renovated there.

is

Life, with

its

Proves a foe

perpetual

to

stir,

me

Love and

;

Fresh entanglements occur

Comes

the night, and sets

Never more, sweet

My

sleep,

enjoyments always

Leave

me

free.

suspend

new

my

to possess

me

;

Friend

;

Other eyes and hearts subdue.

Hush

the world, that

I

may wake

To

the taste of pure delights;

Oh

the pleasures

I

partake

the partner of

God,

my

nights

!

David, for the self-same cause,

Night prefer'd Hearts,

Wish

whom

to

busy day

;

heavenly beauty draw*,

the glaring sun away.

H

73

WATCHING UNTO COD

74

Sleep, Self-lovers,

Souls that love

you

know,

by night can view,

Fairer scenes,

Than

is for

celestial

the sun could ever shew.

ON THE SAME. Vol. 3.

SEASON

of

my

Continue 73.

purest pleasure,

Sealer of observing eyes in larger, freer

When, I can

commune

!

measure,

with the skies

;

While, beneath thy shade extended,

Weary man I,

my

forgets his

woes

;

daily trouble ended,

Find, in Watching,

my

Repose.

IN THE Silence

all

NIGHT SEASON.

75

around prevailing,

Nature hush'd

in

slumber sweet,

No rude noise mine ears assailing, Now my God and I can meet :

Universal nature slumbers,

And my

soul partakes the calm,

Breathes her ardor out in numbers, Plaintive song, or lofty psalm

Now my passion,

pure and holy,

Shines, and burns, without restraint

Which

the day's fatigue, and folly,

Cause

to languish,

dim and

Charming hours of relaxation

How

I

dread

th'

faint

:

I

ascending sun

!

Surely, idle conversation Is an evil,

Worldly

match'd by none.

prate,

and babble, hurt

Unintelligible prove

me

;

Neither teach me, nor divert

me

;

I have ears for none but Love.

H

2

;

;

WATCHING UNTO GO*

76

Me,

they rude esteem, and foolish,

Hearing

my

absurd replies

;

I have neither art's find polish,

Nor

the

Simple

By Have

knowledge of the wise.

souls,

and unpolluted,

conversing with the Great, a

To

mind and

ill

t\ste,

their dignity

and

suited

state

;

All their talking, reading, writing,

Are

but talents misapply'd

Infants prattle

I

$

delight in,

Nothing human chuse beside.

'Tis the secret fear of sinning,

Checks my tongue, or I should When I see the night beginning, I am glad of parting day: Love,

this gentle

Whispers

" Choice

soft,

admonition within

befits not

Acquiescence

say,

my

breast;

thy condition,

suits thee best,"

IN THE NIGHT SEASON.

77

Henceforth, the repose and pleasure

Night

And

affords

me,

I resign

;

thy will shall be the measure,

Wisdom Wishing,

is

infinite

!

of mine:

but Inclination

Quarrelling with thy decrees

Wayward

;

nature finds th' occasion,

'Tis her folly and disease.

Night, with

Now Nor

its

sublime enjoyments,

no longer will

the day, with

Irksome

as tbey

its

I

chuse;

employments,

seem, refuse

;

Lessons of a God's inspiring, Neither time nor place impedes

From our wishing and desiring, Our Unhappiness proceeds.

H

3

;

ON THE SAME.

Vol. 3.

NIGHT

My The

!

how

spirits

bliss

73.

I love thy silent shades,

they compose

of heav'n

In spite of

While

C antique

all

my

my

;

soul pervades,

woes.

sleep instils her

poppy dew*

In ev'ry slumb'rmg eye, I

watch, to meditate and muse,

In blest tranquility.

And when

I feel a

God immense

Familiarly impart,

With

ev'ry proof he can dispense,

His favor

to

my

heart.

79

IN THE NIGHT SEASON.

My

native

meanness

1 lament,

Though most divinely fill'd With all th' ineffable content, That Deity can

yield.

His purpose, and his course, he keeps; Treads all my reas'nings down ;

Commands me out oi Nature's And hides me in his own.

When Our

in the dust, its proper place.

we

pride of heart

'Tis then, a deluge

Bears

Thou,

deeps,

all

lay

;

his grace

our sins away.

whom

Whose

or'

I serve,

and whose

I

am,

influence from on high

Refines, and

stili

refines

And makes my

my

flame,

tellers fly.

How wretched is the creature's state, Who thwarts thy gracious pow'r ;

Crush'd under

sin's

enormous weight.

Increasing ev'ry hour

!

WATCHING UNTO ODD

80

The

night,

How Then

when

pass'd entiie with thee,

luminous and clear

!

sleep has no delighis for

me,

Lest Tkou shouldst disappear.

My

Saviour

In

!

occupy

me

still

this secure recess;

Let Reason slumber

My

joy

shall not

if

be

she will, less

:

Let Reason slumber out the night j Rut

My

if

Thou deign

to

make

soul lh' abode of truth

Ah, keep my

heart

and

awake

!

light,

81

I

1

THE

JOY OF THE CROSS.

Vol. 3. Canligue 97.

LONG

My

plung'd in sorrow, I resign

soul to that dear

hand of

Without reserve or

That hand

Or

shall

wipe

;

my

streaming eyes

into smiles of glad surprise,

Transform the

My

thine,

fear

falling tear,

sole possession

is

thy Love;

Jn earth beneath, or heav'n above, I

have no other store

;

And though with fervent suit I pray, Aud importune thee night and day, I ask thee nothing more.

j

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

82

My

rapid hours pursue the course

them by

Prescribed

And

I,

Without

a wish

Though

still

t'

thy

to suffer

me

all

if

Thy

praise, behold

my

sufF'rings

Let sorrow It costs

Who

my

never-tailing friend

And

still

me no

I stray,

way,

;

may augment

me

well content-

attend!

regret, that she,

follow'd Christ, should follow

And

Adieu

!

me

though, where'er she goes,

Thorns spring spontaneous at her I love her, and extract a sweet

From

;

womb,

still.

command, where'er

Sorrow attends

A

my doom

escape

a sufferer from the

And doom'd By

love's sweetest force

thy sov'reign Will,

all

my

bitter

feet,

woes.

ye vain delights of earth;

Insipid sports, and childish mirth, J taste

no sweets

in

you

;

;

j

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

Unknown

delights are in the Cross,

me

All joy beside, to

And

The Cross

How

!

Oh

There ev'ry all

;

ravishment and bliss-

grateful ev'n

Its bitterness,

In

dross

is

Jesus thought so too.

its

how

is

anguish

sweet

sense, and

all

j

!

the mind,

her faculties refm'd,

Tastes happiness complete.

Souls once enabl'd to disdain

Base sublunary joys, maintain Their dignity secure ;

The

fever of desire

And Love

has

Tis

pass'd,

genuine

no grace in sorrow

Consults her J

is

its

all

taste,

and pure.

Is delicate

Self-love

all

own

the bliss she

knows

;

:

Love employ

But nobler aims

true

In self-denial

her joy,

is

sees,

peculiar ease

In suff'ring her repose.

j

38

THE JOY OF THE CROSS.

84

Sorrow, and Love, go side by side

Nor

;

height, nor depth, can e'er divide

Their heav'n-appointed bands

Those dear Nor,

till

associates

the race of life

Disjoin their

is

;

arc one,

still

run,

wedded hands.

Jesus, avenger of our Fall,

Thou

faithful

The

Oh

tell

And

Life

me,

How much

Thy

Lover, above

Cross has ever born is

afflictions

sloth

all !

in thy voice

were thy choice,

and ease thy scorn

'

choice, and mine, shall be the same,

Inspirer of that holy flame,

Which must forever blaze To take the Cross, and follow thee, Where love and duty lead, shall be I

My

portion, and

my

praise.

[

85

]

JOY IN MARTYRDOM,

Vol. 3. Cantique 94.

SWEET

tenants of this grove!

Who

sing without design,

A song of artless love, In unison with mine

:

These echoing shades return Full

many

a note of ours,

That wise ones cannot

With

Oh

thou

These

!

learn,

their boasted pow'rs.

all

whose sacred charms

hearts so seldom love,

Although thy beauty warms

And

How To

blesses

slow are

all

above;

human

things,

chuse their happiest

All-glorious

Say,

why we I

lot

!

King of Kings, love thce not

:

SIMPLE TRUST*

86

This heart, that cannot

rest,

Shall thine forever prove

Though bleeding and Yet joyful

in thy love

>Tis happy, though

j

distress'd,

it

:

breaks

Beneath thy chastening hand ;

And

speechless, yet

What

it

speaks

thou canst understand.

SIMPLE TRUST. Yol. 3. Cantique 95.

STILL, I feel

it

still,

without ceasing,

increasing,

This fervor of holy desire j

And often exclaim, me die in the flame

Let

Of a Love

that can never expire

I

SIMPLE TKUST.

Had

I

What

words she

to explain,

must

sustain,

Who dies to the world and How joy and affright,

its

ways

Distress and delight,

Alternately chequer her days

j

Thou, sweetly severe would make thee appear, !

I

In

all

thou art pleas'd to award,

Not more

Than

My

in the sweet,

the bitter I meet,

tender and merciful Lord.

This Faith, its

Pursuing

in the

dark

mark,

Through many sharp

trials

of Love

Is the sorrowful waste,

That In the

J

is

to

way

9

be pass'd,

to the

Canaan above,

j

;

I

88

]

NECESSITY OF SELF-ABASEMENT.

Vol. 3.

SOURCE Thou See

race

my

Hast thou

In

of Love,

alone

my

my is

my

brighter Sun,

comfort art

almost run

left this

;

;

trembling heart

?

youth, thy charming eyes

Drew me froM Then

Cantique 92.

the

ways of men

;

drank unmingled joys ; Frown of thine, saw never then.

I

Spouse of Christ was then

And

devoted

all to

my name

thee,

Strangely jealous I became,

Jealous of this Self, in me.

;

THE NECESSITY &C. Thee

to love,

Was my While

Now

and none beside,

darling, sole

alternately

of grief, and

I

employ

;

died,

now

Through the dark and

of joy. silent night,

On thy radiant smiles I dwelt And to see the dawning light, Was the keenest pain I felt.

Thou my

And

;

gracious teacher wertj

thine eye, so close apply'd,

While

it

Seem'd

watch'd thy pupil's heart, look at none beside.

to

Conscious of no

evil drift,

This, I cried,

Love indeed

is

'Tis the Giver, not the Gift,

Whence

the joys I feel proceed.

But soon humbl'd, and

laid low,

Stript of all thou hast conferr'd,

Nothing I

left,

petceiv'd I

3

but sin and woe,

how

I

had

err'd.

89

THE NECESSITY &C.

90

Oh, the vain conceit of man,

Dreaming of

Though

a good his

all

Arrogating

Lord

the

is

He, the graces Thou

Makes

own,

he can,

good alone

!

hast wrought,

subservient to his pride

;

Ignorant, that one such thought beside.

P.: ses all his sin

Such

By

his folly

prov'd, at

last,

the loss of that repose

Self complacence cannot taste,

Only Love divine bestows.

'Tis by this reproof severe,

And

by

this

His delects

Man

is

Learn,

reproof alone,

at last

appear,

to himself made

all

Earth

!

known.

that leeble

Man,

Sprung from tl is tetrestial clod, Nothing is, and nothing can ; Life, and pow'r, are

all

in

God.

C

91

J

LOVE INCREASED BY SUFFERING.

Vol. 3. Cantique 98.

"

I love

the Lord,"

This heart delights

But

is still

the strain

to sing

j

your thoughts are vain, Perhaps .'tis no such thing.

I

reply

Before the power of Love divine.

Creation fades away; Till only

In

all

God

is

we

that

seen to shine survey.

In gulphs of awful night

The God

we

of our desires

find

;

'Tis there he stamps the yielding mind,

And

doubles

all its fires.

LOVE INCREASE* Flames of encircling Love

And 'Tis

it

pierce

Love

;

with sacred joy, yet press'd

fill'd

With sacred sorrow

Ah

invest,

sweeiiy through

!

Amidst

my

heart

is

too.

in the

right-

a thousand woes,

To thee, its ever new delight, And all its peace, it owes.

Fresh causes of distress occur,

Where'er

The

Are

Nor

I look, or

comforts,

and

solitude

;

love.

exile 1, nor prison fear;

Love makes 1 find a

my

courage great

in ev'ry state.

castle walls, nor

Exclude

There

I

;

Saviour ev'ry where,

His grace

Nor

move

I to all prefer,

his

can

sit,

And dwell

dungeons deep,

quick'ning beams

and

sing,

;

and weep,

on heuv'nly themes.

SY SUFFERING. There, sorrow, for his sake,

A joy

beyond compare

is

93 found

;

There, no presumptuous thoughts abound,

No

A

pride can enter there.

Saviour doubles

And

sweetens

His strength Consoles I fear

Nor

When

no

in

my

me

and

ill,

fee!

my joys, my pains,

all

all

defence employs, sustains.

resent no

wrong

;

a passion move,

malice whets her sland'rous tongue

Such patience

is

in

Love,

;

SCENES FAVOURABLE TO MEDITATION.

Vol. 4. Caniin'tt 83.

WILDS

horrid and dark with o'ershadowing trees,

Rocks

that ivy

and briars infold,

Scenes nature with dread and astonishment sees,

But I with

a pleasure untold.

Though awfully I

am charm'd

Your

am

of

my

Lover and Lord.

sick of thy splendor,

And Here

and shaggy, and rude,

shades are a temple where none will intrude,

The abode I

silent,

with the peace ye afford,

here

safely

Of the

I

am

hid from

O

fountain of day,

its

beams,

contemplate a brighter display

noblest and holiest of themes.

SCENES FAVOURABLE, &C.

Ye

forests that yield

Where

To you The

me my

sweetest repose,

stillness

and solitude reign,

I securely

and boldly disclose

dear anguish of which

Here sweetly

I

complain.

forgetting and wholly forgot

By the world and its turbulent throng, The birds and the streams lend me many That

aids meditation

Here wand'ring in scenes that are sacred Love wears me and wastes me away,

And

often the sun has spent

E'er yet

I

perceive

it is

much

to night,

of his light.

day.

While a mantle of darkness invelopes

My

a note

and song.

the sphere,

sorrows are sadly rehears'cl,

To me the dark hours are all tqually dear, And the last is as sweet as the first.

Here

I

and the beasts of the deserts agree.

Mankind

are the wolves that I fear,

They grudge

my me

natural right to be free,

But nobody questions

it

here.

95

SCENES FAVOURABLE

96

Though

found

little is

That appetite

My

spirit

is

dreary abode

\\iohes to find,

sooth'd by the presence of God,

And appetite Ye

in this

&.T

wholly resign' d.

desolate scenes to your solitude led,

My And

life I

scarce

in praises

know

employ,

the source of the tears that I shed,

Proceed they from sorrow or joy.

There

is

Love

reigns

seem

I

nothing

I feel out

to

my way in the in my bosom,

have

skill to discern,

dark, I

constantly burn,

Yet hardly distinguish the spark.

I live, yet I

seem

Such a riddle I

am I

to

myself

to

be dead,

not to be found,

is

nourish'd without knowing

have nothing and yet

Oh Love

!

who

in

Though dimly

I

hew

am

fed,

darkness art pleas'd to abide,

yet surely

I

see,

That these contrarieties only reside In the soul that

I

abound.

is

chosen of thee.

SCENES FAVOURABLE, &C,

Ah

send

me

not back to the race of

mankind

Perversely by folly beguil'd,

For where

The Here

A

in the

spirit

let

me

Little

Thoygh

crowds

though

one

left shall I find

fixt in a desert,

whom

lost to the

Shall be holy

K

have

I

and heart of a Child. be

free,

they despise,

world,

if in

union with thee,

and happy and wise.

ORIGINAL POEMS, J$y the Translator of the foregoing Pieces,

C

101

]

AN

EPISTLE TO A PROTESTANT LADY IN FRANCE,

Madam,

A

Stranger's purpose

Is to congratulate,

and not

m

these lays

to praise.

To give the creature her Creator's due, Were sin in me, and an offence to you.

From Man Praise

A

is

to

the

Man,

or ev'n to

medium

Coin by Craft

Woman

paid,

of a knavish trade,

for folly's use design'd,

Spurious, and only current with the blind.

The Leads

No

path of sorrow, and that path alone,

to the

Land where sorrow

is

unknown

Traveler ever reach'd that blest abode.,

Who

found not thorns and briars

K

3

in

;

AN EPISTLE TO A

102

The world may dance

along the flow'ry plain,

Cheer'd as they go, by many a sprightly strain, Where Nature has her mossy velvet spread,

With unshod

feet they yet securely tread,

Admonish'd, scorn the caution and the Bent upon pleasure, heedless of

its

friend,

end.

But he who knew what human hearts would prove,

How

slow to learn the dictates

-of his

Love,

That hard by nature and of stubborn will, life of ease would make them harder still,

A

to the sinners

he design'd

In

j.ity

To

rescue from the ruins of mankind,

Ca'I'd for a cloud to dauken

all

their years,

And said " go spend them in the vale of tears."

Oh balmy gales of soul-reviving air, Oh salutary streams that murmur there, Tht"-e flowing from the fount of Grace above,

Those

The

Iv.XMtli'd

flinty soil

from

lips

of everlasting

Love

!

indeed their feet annoys,

And su<l<len sorrow nips their springing joy*, An envious world will interpose its frown To mar

delights superior tj

And many

its

a pang, expt-rienc'd

Reminds them

own, still

within,

jf then hated Inmate, Sin,

PROTESTANT LADY

IN FRANCE.

10'

But ilis of every shape and ev'ry name Transform**] to Blessings miss their cruel aim,

And

ev'iy

moment's Calm

that sooths the breast,

Is giv'n in earnest of Eternal Rest.

Ah, be not

sad, although thy lot

be cast

Far from the flock, and in a distant waste

No

!

shepherd's tents within thy view appear

But the Chief Shepherd

Thy Flow

is

forever near,

tender sorrows and thy plaintive strain in a foreign land but not in vain,

from a source divine,

Thy

tears all issue

And

ev'ry drop bespeaks a Saviour thine

'T\vasthus

Aud

in

Gideon's fleece the dews were found,

drought on

all

the

tl

looping herbs around.

[

104

]

FRIENDSHIP.

WHAT

Virtue or what mental grace

But men unqualified and base Will boast it their possession

:

Profusion npes the noble part

Of

Liberality of heart,

And

dulness of Discretion.

If ev'ry polish'd

Gem

%ve find

Illuminating heart or mind,

Provoke

to Imitation;

No

wonder Friendship does the wrae, That Jewel of the purest flame,

Or

rather Constellation,

FRIENDSHIP.

No

knave but boldly

The

requisites that

A

pretend a Friend,

and a sound one,

real

Nor any

will

form

fool

But prove

he would deceive,

as ready to believe,

And dream

that

he had found one.

Candid and generous and

Boys care but

An

105

little

just

whom

they

trust,

error soon corrected

For who but learns

in riper years,

That man when smoothest he appears Is most to be suspected ?

But here again

a

danger

lies,

Lest having misapply'd our eye*

And

We

taken trash for treasure,

should unwarily conclude

Frifiidihip a false ideal

A

mere Utopiaji

Good,

pleasure,

FRIENDSHIP,

1Q6

An

acquisition rather rare,

Is yet

Nor

no subject of despair is it

;

wise complaining,

If either on forbidden ground,

Or where

We

No

it

was not

to be found,

sought without attaining.

Friendship will abide the test

That stands on sordid

Or mean Nor such

as

Interest,

self-love erected

may

;

awhile subsist

Between the Sot and Sensualist For vicious ends connected.

Who

seeks a Friend, should

T' exhibit

The

in full

come

bloom disclos'd

graces and the beauties

-

That form the character he seeks, For 'tis an Union that bespeaks.

Reciprocated duties.

dispos'd

FRIENDSHIP.

Mutual

attention

is

167

implied,

And equal truth on either side, And constantly supported ;

*Tis senseless arrogance

Another of

Our own

But It

sinister views,

as

much

distorted.

will sincerity suffice

indeed above

is

And

accuse

t*

all

?

price

must be made the

basis

;

But every virtue of the soul

Must constitute

the charming whole, All shining in their places.

A

fretful

Th

By

A

temper

closest

will divide

knot that

may

temper passionate and

May

be tied,

ceaseless sharp corrosion

;

fierce

suddenly your joys disperse

At one immense

explosion.

108

In vain the Talkative unite

In hopes of permanent deiight

The

secret just its

Forgetting

committed

important weight,

They drop through mere

And

desire to prate,

by themselves outwitted.

How bright

soe'er the prospect seems,

All thoughts of Friendship are but dreams If envy chance to creep in

;

An envious man, you sucreed, May prove a dnng'rou* foe indeed, if

But not

As Envy

a

Friend worth keeping".

pines at

Good

possess'd,

So Jealousy looks forth distress'd On Good that seems approaching,

And

if

success his steps attend,

Discerns a

And

rival in a

hates

him

Friend,

for encroaching*

FRIENDSHIP.

Hence Authors of Unless belied by

Are

tax

the wit a their

upon

And

A

it

lend displays

pluck each others

man renown'd

Will thrust a dagger say he

By way

to

make

finest at

balm

The trumpet Xspersion

To

is

I

in jest,

be sure

ear

to

hear

of contention

;

the babblers trade,

listen is to

And

ling,

breast,

for healing.

Whoever keeps an open tatlers, will

free

le-

yom

wounded you

of

praise, laurel.

for repartee

With Friendship's

For

fame,

own just

Will seldom scruple

And

name,

illustrious

common

sadly prone to quarrel,

To deem

A

109

tand

him

aid,

rush iuto dustntion.

110

FRIENDSHIP.

A

Friendship that in frequent

Oi

controversial rage emits

The

sparks cf disputation,

Like hand

in

hand Insurance

Most unavoidably

The

Some True

fits

plates,

creates

thought of conflagration.

fickle creatures boast a soul

as a needle to the pole,

Their humour yet so various

They manifest their whole life through The needle's deviations too, Their Love

The

On

is

so precaiious.

great and small but rarely

meet

terms of amity complete,

Plebeians must surrender

And It is

yield so

much

combining

fire

to noble folk,

with smoke*

OL.uuity with splendour.

Ill

FRIENDSHIP.

Some

are so placid and serene

Irish

(As

They

And

bogs are always green)

sleep secure from

are indeed a

Your

waking

;

that bears

Bog

unparticipaled cares

Unmov'd and without quaking,

Courtier and Patriot cannot

Their hetrogeneous

mi*

politics,

Without an effervescence

Like

that of salts with

Which dees

lemon

juice,

not yet like that produce

A friendly coalescence.

Religion should extinguish

And make But

On

KO

strife,

calm of human

life

;

friends that chance to differ

points

How

a

which God has

freely will they

combatants are

left at large,

meet and charge, stiffer

{

11

FRIENDSHIP.

'2

To

prove at

last

main

my

intent,

Needs no expence of argument,

No

cutting and contriving

Seeking

a real friend

we seem

T' adopt ihe Chymists golden dream,

With

still

less

Sometimes the

Some By

blemish

hope of thriving.

fault in

is all

trespass or omission

Sometime* occasion brings

Our

our own,

due time made known ;

to light

friend's defect long hid

And

fiom sight

even from suspicion.

Then judge

yourself,

and prove your man

As circumspectly as you can, And having made election, ;io

Such

negligence of yours,

as a fiiend but

ill

endures,

Enfeeble his affection.

FRIENDSHIP.

That Secrets

113

are a sacred trust,

That friends should be sincere and

just,

That Constancy befits them, Are observations on the case That savour much of common place,

And

But

An

all

'tis

the vorld admits them.

not timber, lead, and stone,

architect requires alone

To The

finish a fine building

palace were but ball complete,

If he could possibly forget

The

carving and the gilding.

The man

And

that hails you,

How very

To

or Jack,

he esteems your merit,

Is such a friend, that JJe

Tom

proves by thumps upon your back.

much

one had need,

his friend indeed.

pardon or

to bear

it,

FRIENDSHIP.

114

As Or

similarity of

mind,

something not

to

be defin'd,

Fiist fixes our attention

So manners decent and

The same we Must

Some "

Say

save

act

practis'd at it

;

polite, first

sight,

from declension.

upon this prudent plan, and hear all you can"

little

Safe policy but hateful

So barren sands imbibe But render neither

the show'r,

fruit noi flow'r,

Unpleasant and ungrateful.

The man

I trust, if

Shall find

me

shy to me,

as reserv'd as he,

Jsu subterfuge or pleading Shall

win

my

confidence again,

J will by no means entertain

A

Spy on

my

proceeding.

FRIENDSHIP.

These samples

for alas

!

115

at last

These are but samples and a Of evils yet unmention'd

taste

prove the task a task indeed,

May

In which

much

'tis

However

if

we succeed

well-intention'd.

Pursue the search, and you will find sense and knowledge of mankind

Good

To be at least expedient, And after summing all the

rest,

Religion ruling in the breast

A principal

ingredient.

The

noblest Friendship ever

The

Saviour's history

Though some have

And

shewn

makes known, turn'd and turn'd

whether being craz'd or blind,

Or seeking with Hase

not,

it

a bias'd

mind,

seems disccrn'd

it.

it,

116

FRIENDSHIP.

Oh

Friendship

!

if

my

soul forego

Thy dear delights while here below To mortify and grieve me,

May

I myself at last appear Unworthy, base, and insincere,

Or may my

friend deceive

me

I

j

[

11'

J

STANZAS Subjoined to a Bill of Mortality for the Parish of

ALL-SAINTS,

NORTHAMPTON,

Anno Domini Pallida

Mors

1787.

frqno puhat pede pauper urn fabernas,

HORACE,

Regunvjue lurres.

Pale Death, with equal foot sirikes wide the door

Of royal

Halls and hovels of the Poor.

WHILE

thirteen

The Nen's

moons saw smoothly rim

barge-laden wave,

All these, Life's rambling journey done,

Have found

Was Man, Than

their

(frail

home, the Grave.

always) made more

in foregoing

years

?

Did Famine or did Plague prevail, That so much death appears f

frail

STANZAS.

118

No.

These were vig'rous

as their sires,

Nor Plague nor Famine .came

j

This annual tiibute Death requires, And never waves his claim.

Like crowded

forest-trees

we

stand,

And some are mark'd to fall The axe will smite at God's command, And soon shall smite us all. ;

Green

as the Bay-tree, ever green

With

its

The Gay,

new foliage

on,

the Thoughtless,

I pass'd

I

have seen,

and they were gone,

Read, ye that run the solemn truth With which I charge my page ; !

A

Worm And at

No

is

in the

present Health can Health insuie

For yet an hour

No

Bud of Youth,

the Root of Age.

to

med'cine though

Can always baulk

come it

;

often cure,

the tomb.

STANZAS.

And Oh that humble as my Lot And scorn'd as is my strain, !

These I

truths,

may

So prays your Clerk with all And ere he quits the pe.n, Begs you

much

though known, too

forgot,

not teach in vain.

for

once

And answer

to

take his pait

Amen

all

his heart^

1

H88, Qnodadest,

Componqrc

tpqitits ;

mmcnfo Cfrlefu f.tuninis

HORACE',

Ritufenaitur,

Improve the

presc-nt

Is a mt-ie Feather

COULD

I,

from Heav'n

Hour,

for aM

c- -io :

on a Torrent's Tide.

inspir'd, as sure presagr

To whom the rising Yeai shall punv liis As I can number in my punctual Page, And Item down the Victims of the past

bit

;

;

STANZAS.

120

How On

each would trembling wait the mounitul Sheet,

which the Press might stamp him next

And, reading here his sentence, how With anxious meaning, Heav'n-ward Time,

then,

to die

turn his eye

Pray'r, nore seasonable than the Noise

Of Drunkards,

or the Music-drawing Bow.

Then, doubtless, many a

Of this World's Forc'd

Told

to a

Pause, would feel

that his setting

!

rest

on the Brink

Trifler

hazardous and headlong Shore,

Ah self-deceiv'd Who next is fated, The

Sun must

Could

I,

it

good

rise

to think.

no more.

prophetic, say,

and who next,

to fall,

might then seem privileg'd

But, naming nan?, the Voice

to play

now speaks

Observe the dappl'd Foresters, how

to

;

ALL.

light

They bound and airy o'er the sunny Glade One falls the Rest wide scatter'd with affright, Vanish

at

!

would seem more precious than the joyj

In which he sports away the Treasure n

And

;

replete

once into the darkest Shade.

STANZAS.

Had we

their

121

wisdom, should we often wain'd,

need repeated warnings, and at last, thousand awful admonitions scorn' d,

Still

A

Die

self-accus'd of hie run

Sad waste!

The

for

which no

waste?'

after-thrift atones

grave admits no cure for guilt or

Dew-drops may derk the But

all to

:

sin.

turf that hides the bones,

tears of godly grieif ne'er flow within.

Learn then ye

Of all

That, soon or

And

living

!

by the mouths be taught

these sepulchres, instructors true, late,

Death also

the next opening grave

M

is

your

lot,

may yawn

ibr you.

122

STANZAS.

1139.

Placi&iq;

ibi

demum morte

q

Vino, There calm,

'*

OH "

<*

at length,

he breath 'd

his soul

away.

man

most delightful hour by

Experienc'd here below,

The hour " His

that terminates

folly,

and

his \roe

his span, !

" Worlds should not bribe me back " Again life's dreary waste, " To see again Day o'erspread

to tread,

my

" With

all

the

gloomy

My Home henceforth '

"

Earth, Seas, and

AH

Past.

is in

the skies,

Sun adieu

Heav'n unfolded

I have I\Q sijjht for

to

my

y)u."

!

eyes,

STANZAS. So spoke Aspasio, firm

Of Faith's Then

possess'cl

supporting rod,

breath'd his soul into

The bosom

He

123

its rest,

of his God.

was a man, among the few,

Sincere on Virtue's side

And

all

To That

He

his strength

;

from Scripture drew,

hourly use apply 'd. rule he priz'd,

by what he

hated, hwp'd and lov'd

fear'd,

;

Nor ever frown'd, or sad appear'd, But when his heart had rov'd.

For he was

And

frail as

evil felt

But when he

And Such

thou or

within

ielt it,

heav'd a sigh,

loath'd the thoughts of Sin.

liv'd

Aspasio; and,

CalPd up from Earth

The gulph By

I,

;

to

at last,

Heav'n,

of Death triumphant pass'd,

g;les of blessing driven.

STANZAS.

124

His joys be mine, each Reader When my la^t hour arrives

cries,

!

shall be

They

yours,

Verse

my

Such only be your

replies,

lives.

1790.

Nr common'Mitcm

recta sperne.

BUCHAN AN Despise not

HE who

sits

my

from day

to

Heedless of his loudest

Where

the

Nightly

that

watchman lifts

Wakes

is

hung,

lay,

he has sung. in his

his voice

None, accustom'd

day,

lark

V'liLM-e the ptison'ci

Hardly knows

good counsel.

to the

round

on high, sound,

the sooner lor his cry.

STANZAS. So your Verse-man Death

Duly

hand

at

And

my

in

Yearly

1,

and Clerk,

song proclaim yourselves his mai k-

the foe's unerring aim.

at

time

my

Publishing to

I

all

come, aloud

Soon the grave must be your home,

And

your only

suit, a

But the monitory

strain,

Oft repeated

Seems

notice,

a truth,

Of

in

your ears, sound too much in vain,

to

Wins no Can

shroud.

by

all

wakes no

(ears.

confessed

such magnitude and weight,

Grow, by being

oft express'd,

Trivial as a parrot's p:

Pleasure's call attention wins,

Hear

it

often as

as ever

we may

seem our

Though committed

M

3

;

sins,

cv'ry day.

129 Death and Judgment, Heav'n and Hell

These

alone, so often heard,

No more move us than When some stranger Oh

then, ere the turf or

the hell is

interr'd.

tomb

Cover us from ev'ry eye, Spirit of instruction,

Make

come,

us team that

we must

die

;

STANZAS.

127

1792.

Felix

qu'i

poluit rerum cognoscere causast

Sitig; metus

omnes

et inexoralnle faium

Subjecit pedibus, strepitumq; Ackerontis avari !

Happy

the mortal,

who

To their first cause, cast And Death, and roaring

has trac'd effects tear beneath his feet

Hell's voracious fire*

THANKLESS for favors from on high, Man thinks he lades too soon ; Tho'

tis

his privilege to die

Would he improve

the boon.

But he not wise enough

H

is

Would

To

to scan

best concerns aright,

gladly stretch

ages,

if

life's little

he might.

span

!

STANZAS.

128

To ages in world of pain To ages where he goes, :i

GallM by

affliction's

And hopeless

heavy chain,

of repose.

Strange fondness of the

Enamour'd of

human

harm

its

Strange world, that costs

And

death a toe

Recoil from weary

The Her

tale

voice

And

is

woe

is

terrible, ol

evijs then

Conscience ;

though

soft

death ensues.

fo be longer spar'd

Man mourns With

?

Conscience

dread

?

best hour,

of guilt renews

Then anxious

AH

life's

covet longer

cause

Her

smart,

has the world her magic pow'r?

Why deem we And

much

so

it

has pow'r to charm.

still

Whence

heart,

!

his fleeting breath

seem

light,

;

compar'd

the approach of Death,

oft

STANZAS. 'Tis judgement shakes him

That prompts the wish

129 there's the fear

;

to stay

:

He has incurr'd a long arrear, And must despair to pay.

Pay

follow Christ, and

!

all is

paid

His death your peace insures ; Think on the Grave where he was

And

calm descend

;

laid.

to yours.

H93.

DC

sncris autein

h&c

sit

una

seiitentidy

nt conserventur.

CICERO DE LECIBUS. But

us

let

all

concur in

this sentiment, that

sacred be inviolate.

HE

lives

And

who

all

lives

to

God, alone;

are dead beside

For other source than God,

Whence

;

is

non

Hie can be supplied.

things

STANZAS.

130

To

live to

God,

His love

To make

to requite

is

as best

we may

his precepts

His promises our But

life,

;

our delight,

stay.

within a narrow ring

Of giddy Js falsely

joys compriz'd, nam'd, and no such thing,

But rather death disguis'd,

Can

life in

Who

them deserve the name,

only live, to prove

For whai poor

An

endless

toys, they can disclaim life

above

?

Who, much diseased, yet nothing Much menac'd, nothing dread;

feel

Have wounds, which only God can Yet never ask

Who

deem

Faith,

And

A

his

his aid

heal,

!

house an useless place;

want of common sense;

ardour in the Christian race, hypocrite's pretence

!

;

J31

stANZAS.

Who

trample Order

Which God

;

and

asserts his

t

;

ie

day

own,

Dishonour with unhallow'd play,

And

worship Chance alone

Jf scorn of God's

On word The

commands, impress'd

and deed, imply

better part of

With Life Such want Till

man

!

that

man/unbless'd

cannot die

and

it;

that

j

want uncur'd

resigns his breath,

Speaks him a Criminal, assur'd

Of everlasting Sad period

Yet

death.

to a pleasant

so will

God

course

!

repay

Sabbaths profan'd without remorse,

And Mercy

cast a\vay.

132

[

An

]

Epitaph O N

MR. In

Who

the

T. A.

HAMILTON,

Church Yard of Ncii-pn

died July 7, 1788, in the 32d year of his age. <&

PAUSE

here,

and think.

Demands one moment Consult Life's

Seems

it

to

A

monitory

silent clock, thy

say"

Rhyme

of thy fleeting time.

bounding vein

Hast thou the vigour of thy youth

?

an eye

That beams delight? a heart untaught to sigh ?

Yet fear. Youth, oftimes healthful, and at case, Anticipates a day

And many Exclaims,

it

never seesj

a tomb, like HAMILTON'S, aloud

"

;

Health, here, has long to reign ?"

Prepare thee for an early shroud."

trinted by J. H'akrfeid,

CJ?

2*

PJ 1799 G8A22 1802

Marie Guyon, Jeanne Motte) La de (Bouvier P ems

PLEASE

CARDS OR

DO NOT REMOVE

SL.PS

UNIVERSITY

FROM

THIS

OF TORONTO

POCKET

LIBRARY

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