That ocean, air, the land, the fire, And from earth's pleasures wean ;— And thou, fair sea!-for be thy form, Or heaved and frothed abroad by storm, One hour upon this lonely shore, What is life's course, by day and night, But an unstable sea, Now wrestling in malicious might, Now frothed in sportive glee?- I heed nor blame-it has its hour- O give me grace, my gracious King, Where rolling thunders cease to roar, CXIX. FAITH fails: Then in the dust Lie failing rest and light and trust: So doth the troubled soul itself distress, And choke the fountain in the wilderness. I care not what your peace assails: The deep root is, faith fails. Faith fails: When in the breast The Lord's sweet presence doth not rest: For who believes, clouds cannot make afraid; He knows the sun doth shine behind the shade; He rides at anchor through the gales. Do you not so? Faith fails. Faith fails: Its foes alarm, And persecutions' threats disarm. False friends can scarcely wish it a good day, Before it taketh fright, and shrinks away. When God doth guard, what foe prevails? Why then the fear? Faith fails. Faith fails: Else cares would die, And we should on God's care rely. Man for the coming day doth grieve and fret, And all past days doth sinfully forget. For every beast God's care avails; Why not for us? Faith fails. Faith fails: Then cometh fear, If sickness comes, if death is near. It must be this-faith fails. Living and working actively, With hope and joy, that death may not surprise; The Christian's life to death may yield;- CXX. WHO seeks in weakness an excuse, The strait and narrow way, He hath not found, hath never trod; What prayer and conflict mean, In what the world calls weakness, lurks Full mightily it helps the works Of our great foe, the devil. Awake, my soul, awake, With Him, the Almighty, who can save. One look from Christ thy Lord That binds thee now, a wretched slave! Know, the first step in Christian love True faith will leave the world no more Thy Saviour's Spirit first The heavy bonds must burst, Wherein death bound thee in thy need : Then the freed spirit knows, What strength He gives to those Who, with their Lord, are risen indeed. And what thy Spirit, Lord, began, Thy strength and justice let us know; Of all the jewels faith can show. Strong Son of God, break down Thy foes, So shall we conquer our's; Strong in the might from Thee that flows, We mourn not lack of powers; |