VII. DISCIPLINE. 'Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth.'-(HEB. xii. 6.) CCCLXXXVII. When Christ, with all His graces crown'd, 'Tis a young Heaven on earthly ground, A blooming paradise of joy In this wild desert springs, And every sense I straight employ But ah! how soon my joys decay! And snatch the heavenly scene away When shall the time, dear Jesus, when That I shall leave those clouds of sin Up to the fields above the skies Isaac Watts. 1709. CCCLXXXVIII. O for a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame ! Where is the blessedness I knew What peaceful hours I once enjoyed ! Return, O holy Dove! return, I hate the sins that made Thee mourn, The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be, Help me to tear it from Thy throne, So shall my walk be close with God, That leads me to the Lamb! William Cowper. 1779. CCCLXXXIX. The spring-tide hour Brings leaf and flower With songs of life and love; And many a lay In many a leafy grove. Their choicest gifts to bring; But this poor heart Dews fall apace, Fruits, flowers, appear, But this poor heart Bears not its part, Its winter has no spring. Lord, let Thy love, Fresh from above, Soft as the south wind blow; Call forth its bloom, Wake its perfume, And bid its spices flow! And when Thy voice Makes earth rejoice, Lord! make this heart To bear its part, And join the praise of spring! John S. B. Monsell. 1850. CCCXC. PSALM LXIII. Early, my God, without delay, So pilgrims on the scorching sand Long for a cooling stream at hand, I've seen Thy glory and Thy power Not life itself, with all her joys, Thus till my last expiring day Thus will I lift my hands to pray, Isaac Watts 1719. CCCXCI. God moves in a mysterious way He plants his footsteps in the sea, E E Deep in unfathomable mines He treasures up His bright designs, Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, His purposes will ripen fast, The bud may have a bitter taste, Blind unbelief is sure to err, God is His own interpreter, William Cowper. 1779. CCCXCII. The world can neither give nor take, Nor can they comprehend The peace of God, which Christ has bought, The burning bush was not consumed The Three, when Jesus made the Fourth, |