NOT FOR NOUGHT. Do and suffer nought in vain : If the salt of life is pain, Let e'en wrongs bring good to thee; Good to others, few or many; Good to all or good to any. If men curse thee, plant their lies Where, for truth, they best may grow; Let the railers make thee wise, Preaching peace, where'er thou go: God no useless plant hath planted, If the nation-feeding corn Thriveth under icéd snow; See the Rivers! how they run, Strong in gloom, and strong in light! Like the never-wearied sun, Through the day and through the night, Each along his path of duty, Turning coldness into beauty! EBENEZER ELLIOTT. 1781-1845. FAITH. YE who think the truth ye sow God in nature ye can trust, Is the God of mind less just? Read we not the mighty thought Now the harvest we behold; Workers on the barren soil, Now the faithful sower grieves ; If Great Wisdom have decreed Man may labor, yet the seed The fairest fruit may yet be born On the resurrection morn! FRITZ AND LEOLETT. A SIGHT OF HEAVEN IN SICKNESS. OFT have I sat in secret sighs Then groaned aloud with frighted eyes But I forbid my sorrows now, My cheerful soul now all the day Faith almost changes into sight While from afar she spies Her fair inheritance, in light Above created skies. Had but the prison walls been strong In darkness she had dwelt too long, But now the everlasting hills Through every chink appear, And something of the joy she feels The shines of heaven rush sweetly in O may these walls stand tottering still, If I must here in darkness dwell, Or rather let this flesh decay, Till, glad to see the enlargéd way, ISAAC WATTS.-1674-1748. FOR HELP IN TROUBLE. LOWLY and solemn be Thy children's cry to Thee, A hymn of suppliant breath, Alike are Thine! O Father! in that hour When earth all succoring power When spear, and shield, and crown, Tremblers beside the grave, Hear, hear our suppliant breath, THE LORD'S CHASTENING. "Whom the Lord loveth, He chastenetb WISH not, dear friends, my pain away, Wish me a wise and thankful heart, With God, in all my griefs, to stay, Nor from His loved correction start. |