Part 2 (1/2)

Here, behold the seat of mercy: Here, from doubt and fear release: Here a Refuge for the guilty: Here are joy and health and peace: Here a Covert near the G.o.dhead, Where the vile may make their nest;[3]

Justice smiling fond approval, Honoured Law declares them blest.

[3]”_Nyth_,” a current figure in Welsh poetry.

XII.

HEAVENLY ADORATION.

Angelic throngs unnumbered, As dawn's bright drops of dew, Present their crowns before HIM With praises ever new: But saints and angels blending Their songs above the sun, Can ne'er express the glories Of G.o.d with man made one.

THE SOUL.

XIII.

SELF-CONVERSE.

Heedless soul of mine, bethink thee Ere thine hours on earth are past,-- Ere thou fly to spirit-regions, If thou real treasure hast.

Where will be thine endless dwelling?

Where thine everlasting home?

What thy portion, joy or mourning, In the world beyond the tomb?

When these eyes shall lose their l.u.s.tre,-- Fading with the failing breath, And roll, lightless, in the conflict, With inexorable Death; How wilt thou survive the anguish-- How sustain all earthly loss, If thou know not the Redeemer, If thou cling not to his cross?

XIV.

SELF-REPROACH.

O the weakness, O the folly, That my heart did e'er entwine Round a joy, or hope, or promise, Vain, unstable World, of thine!

Thou with all thy proffered treasure Shalt ere long from me remove:-- Turn, fond heart, with holy rapture, Unto G.o.d thy trust and love.

Are there none of my companions, Will from life attend me forth, Or will fondly watch beside me In the cold and silent earth?

All thy boasting this, O Friends.h.i.+p!

Shedding tears and heaving sighs, When my need of thee is greatest, When thy doting votary dies?

XV.

APPEAL.

Unhappy soul, what sayest thou To one with power and love All thy transgressions to forgive, Thy misery to remove?

Wilt follow Him, poor guilty soul?

He giveth life and He doth kill: Arise, arise, and in Him trust; Say, guilty soul, ”I will!”