Watering (y) their pillows with the bitter tear
That wails His absence, they in secret (≈) heave
The earnest breathings of their deep desire.
'Tis but, to strengthen faith by (a) lowliness-
"Tis but to sweeten rest by weariness,
That thus He treats one gracious suppliant,
And who (b) but such an one can truly cry,
Thou, whom my spirit loveth? Pluck we (c) figs
From nature's thistle ?- -or the fruits of love (d)
From the harsh stock of carnal enmity?
Or holy thirsting for a present God
But from His Spirit ?-from that Spirit good
Who, truly sought, in very truth is found, (e)
Though in our mourning blindness, for a while,
"I sought, but found not," be our doleful

cry

!

(f) Lo, we go forward, and He is not there;
And backward, but His light is still withheld:
Where He doth work-on either hand we look—
Yet still unmanifest His present love :

And wherefore this ?-but that the fire-proved (g) gold
May show more brightly the refiner's (h) skill;
And the long-harass'd taste a richer draught
Of His refreshing, than (less weary made)
They might have tasted.

Rise, then, arise,

And to the stronghold turn, ye (hh) prisoners!
And holding fast your early confidence, (i)
Progress on duty's path !—Though (k) twilight still,
Kindle no spark of flame (1) unauthorized,

But "stay upon your God; "-He knows your path;
And though the night of heaviness (m) be long,
The morning comes, the morning of full joy,
When in celestial daylight, viewing clear (n)
All that was used to work eternal good, (0)
You in your songs of gladness shall confess,
He hath done all things well; yea, praise His name
For conflict, pain, (p) affliction, and distress,
With voice more rapturous than ever told
The safe completion of a smooth-run course.

But this is future !-For the present seems
Grievous, not joyous, the chastising rod;
And Hope's sweet tones are scarcely audible
Through the dark howlings of temptation's storm.
Yet to the wearied she suggests a path, (q)
(Might they but reach it, and when reach'd pursue!)
Where desolation should no longer rule ;—(r)

"Hast thou not heard," she whispers,-" hast thou not?Of one, like thee, whose tears were as his meat, (s)

By day, by night? while ever in his ear
Sounded reproachfully, Where now thy God?'
He, o'er his bygone joys mused piously,
Recalling with a melancholy care

The songs that blessed the Sabbath's joyful day.
When with the multitude he gladly went
Within the hallow'd courts-nor less the hour
Of secret blessedness, as on the hill
Of Mizar, (t) or in Jordan's lowly vale,
The ever-living God was felt around;
And these contrasting with now dashing waves
And overwhelming billows, (u) learn'd at last.
Those words, (v) believer, suited now for thee:
Why thus disquieted?-why thus cast down?
Thou yet shalt tune the harp of gratitude,

Thou yet shalt praise (w) thy Helper and thy Friend :
Trust still in God !-God, thine exceeding joy."

Thus the life-soother! and though feebly heard,
Those words consoling, (x) though unseen the form,
The presence unacknowledged, of (y) sweet Hope,-
Remotely and at intervals return

The heart-reviving cordials, (2) till at length
They influence to effort languid Faith,

Faint, yet pursuing; (a) stunn'd, but not destroy'd;

(t) Ps. xlii. 6.

(w) Ps. xliii. 4.

(a) Judges viii. 4.

(u) Ps. xlii. 7.

(v) Ps. xli. 11. (x) Ps. lxxvii. 7, 8, 9. (y) Job xv. 11.

(2) Ps. cxxx. 7; cxlvii. 11; Lam. iii. 26, 31-33.

(b) 2 Cor. iv. 8.

VER. 2.-"I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek Him whom my soul loveth: I sought Him, but I found Him not."

"I will rise now," and through fair (c) Zion's streets,
Where Wisdom calleth to the sons of men (cc)
In the chief place of concourse, where her words
Distil as dew upon the tender herb, (d)
My soul's belov'd Redeemer will I seek—
Where often (e) He hath blest me, I will go,
And yet again His blessing may descend
(f) As in the months of yore.-United praise
May thrill the lyre-strings, silent long to joy;
And icy coldness melt beneath the beams
Reflected through the temple from her Sun; (g)
There pleasant words (h) drop as the honey-comb;
(Health to the bones and sweetness to the soul),
And though with slender rod (i) and trembling hand
I touch my portion of the offer'd feast,
My eyes may be enlighten'd!

Ah! how oft

Such longings (k) have been more than satisfied!
Wearied with toiling o'er a pathless deep,
Where place of rest is none, on flagging wing
The home-returning swallow (1) hath been borne,

(c) Ps. lxxxvii. 2, 3.
(d) Deut. xxxii. 2.
(g) Ps.lxxx.3; lxxxiv. 11.

1 Sam. xiv. 27.

(cc) Prov. i. 20, 23; viii. 1-4.
(e) Ps. xlviii. 9.
(h) Prov. xvi. 24.
(k) Ps. lxxxiv. 1, 2.

(f) Job xxix. 2;

Jonah ii. 4. (2) Ps. lxxxiv. 3, 4.

Unto her nest delightfully serene,

The yearning, drooping, fainting soul hath found
Her long-craved refuge and her safe repose. (m)
Within thy Sanctuary, Lord of Hosts!
Within thy sacred courts, thou Saviour, King!
Full many a rescued one has learn'd to cry,
This is no other than the golden gate (n)
Of Heaven itself,-the threshold of that bliss (0)
Whose consummation is Infinity!

But sovereign mercy limits not her way (p)
To one accomplishment.-Those very walls
That ring so gladly to the choral hymn,
Are giving back their echo to the moan,
"I sought, but found not! Not for me, alas!
The bright encouragement, nor yet for me
Inclusion in the offer'd amnesty! (q)

O Thou, my soul's dear portion! dark and sad,
Where shines upon the happy thy true light! (r)
In vain I seek one fertilizing ray!

The genial heav'ns (to me unyielding brass (s)
And rugged iron) their rich boon deny.-

The word falls powerless, (t) though thy servants speak,

Or if not powerless, (for Sinai's threats

Are wounding arrows, and a piercing sword,) (u) 'Tis but the killing letter. (v) Ah, where now The life-bestowing Spirit? Saviour, where?

(m) Ps. xxxiv. 4—10.
(p) 1 Cor. xii. 5, 6.
(s) Deut. xxviii. 23.
(u) Rom. vii. 13, 14.

(n) Gen. xxviii. 17.
(q) Job xiii. 26, 27.
(t) 1 Cor. iv. 20; 1
(") 2 Cor. iii. 6.

(0) 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. (r) 2 Cor. iv. 6. Thess. i. 5.