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Of want, disease, and helpless wretchedness
Plead in the ears of that compassionate love,
Which freely flows, unlook'd for, unimplor'd,
Of its own fulness, upon all who need.
Out of the depths I call. If Thou should'st be
Extreme to mark transgression, who shall stand?
But there is mercy and forgiveness found

With Thee, that men may fear Thee. Let the light

Of thy serene and blessed countenance shine
Into the darkness of my soul! vouchsafe
Some glimpses of Thy glory and Thy grace,
Thy goodness and Thy beauty-that my soul,
Even here below, amid this vale of tears,

May praise Thee! and be strengthen'd and refresh'd

With foretastes of the glory, joy, and peace, Which are at Thy right hand for evermore, Which Thou hast purchas'd, and prepar'd, to strive

With earnest zeal for that inheritance,

Unfading, incorruptible and pure,

Reserv'd in heaven for them who by Thy pow'r

Are kept, through faith, unto salvation. There

We shall behold Thee as Thou art, and be,
By still beholding Thee, at once transform'd
Into Thy perfect image! There no more,
Encumber'd with corrupt and sinful flesh,
Thus faint and feebly shall we stammer forth
Thy praise, and all the vigour of our souls
Be spent and wasted in continual strife
Against our own corruptions; but go forth
In all the freshness of immortal strength,

To love the glorious Lord, who hath redeem'd us.
For, rais'd in incorruption, honour, might,
The soul shall have, of spiritual frame,

A body, fit to be the instrument

Of its pure actings in that perfect state;

And every act of love and adoration

Shall be an act of power! Faith shall be lost

In sight, and hope in full fruition.

All,

With one consent, with all our inward powers,
Shall serve Thee; each one's joy and blessedness
So many times redoubled as we know

That there are myriads of immortal souls,
The spirits of just men now perfected,
As blest as we,-unfolding to receive,

From the overflowing fulness of Thy love,

Communications of intense delight!

And our whole life and being shall be no more
Than one eternal sacrifice of praise,

Adoring thankfulness, and fervent love,
Flaming in grateful incense up to Thee!

[Those who are acquainted with the works of Howe, will readily perceive to whom the writer of the above has been indebted for his best ideas, especially in the latter part. Had he studied compression more, his lines would certainly have gained, in a poetical point of view; but he was not disposed to be at all careful about poetical reputation. In some states of feeling, he found, that he wrote verse more fluently than prose; and (at such times) he put down his thoughts in that form for after-polish and correction he had neither time nor inclination. The foregoing lines however, (such as they are) have sometimes proved a refreshment to myself, when tempted and depressed; and this induces me to insert them here, in the hope that they may sometimes prove so to one or other of my brethren.]

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THOUGHTS IN AFFLICTION.

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded, one towards another, according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."

"Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen." Rom. xv. 5, 6, 13, 33.

"The God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

"To Him be glory and dominion for ever and Amen." 1 Pet. v. 10, 11.

ever.

THE END.

L. B. SEELEY AND SONS, THAMES DITTON, SURRY.

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