Bound on a voyage of awful length,
And dangers little known,
A stranger to superior strength,
Man vainly trusts his own.

But oars alone can ne'er prevail,
To reach the distant coast;

The breath of heaven must swell the sail,
Or all the toil is lost.

"I HID MY FACE FROM THEE FOR A MOMENT."

WHEN darkness long has veiled my mind,

And smiling day once more appears,

Then, my Redeemer, then I find,

The folly of my doubts and fears.

Straight I upbraid my wandering heart,
And blush that I should ever be
Thus prone to act so base a part,
Or harbour one hard thought of Thee.

Oh! let me then at length be taught
What I am still so slow to learn,
That God is love, and changes not,
Nor knows the shadow of a turn.

Sweet truth, and easy to repeat,
But when my faith is sharply tried,

I find myself a learner yet,

Unskilful, weak, and apt to slide.

But, O my Lord, one look from Thee,
Subdues the disobedient will,

Drives doubt and discontent away,
And thy rebellious worm is still.

Thou art as ready to forgive,

As I am ready to repine;

Thou, therefore, all the praise receive; Be shame, and self-abhorrence mine.

GOD of my life, to Thee I call,

Afflicted at Thy feet I fall;

When the great waterfloods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail!

Friend of the friendless and the faint! Where should I lodge my deep complaint? Where but with Thee, whose open door Invites the helpless and the poor?

Did ever mourner plead with Thee,
And Thou refuse that mourner's plea ?
Does not that word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain ?

That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer ;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God,
Supports me under every load.

Fair is the lot that's cast for me,
I have an Advocate with Thee;
They whom the world caresses most,
Have no such privilege to boast.

Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And he is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.