XX. CONTENTMENT. E thou content; be ftill before His face, at whose right hand doth reign Fulness of joy for evermore, Without whom all thy toil is vain. He is thy living fpring, thy fun, whofe rays Be thou content. In Him is comfort, light, and grace, The forest pang, the worst disgrace, If He is there, shall harm thee not. He can lift off thy cross, and loose thy bands, And calm thy fears, nay, death is in His hands. Be thou content. Or art thou friendless and alone, Haft none in whom thou canft confide? God careth for thee, lonely one, Comfort and help He will provide. He fees thy forrows and thy hidden grief, Thy heart's unfpoken pain He knows, D What to none else thou dar'ft disclose, And answereth willingly the poor man's cry. We know for us a reft remains, When God will give us fweet release From earth and all our mortal chains, And turn our fufferings into peace. Sooner or later death will furely come, To end our forrows and to take us home : Be thou content. Home to the chofen ones, who here The everlasting is their joy and stay, The Eternal Word Himself to them doth say, Be thou content. PAUL GERHART, 1670. XXI. CHRIST. ELL for him who all things lofing, Well for him who nothing knoweth Well for him who all forfaking But the path of peace is taking Oh that we our hearts might sever Fixing them on Him for ever, In whom all our fulness lies! Oh that we might Him difcover, Whom with longing love we've fought,. Joining us to Him for ever, For without Him all is nought! Thou abyfs of love and goodness, 17th Cent. XXII. ETERNITY. TERNITY, Eternity! How long art thou, Eternity! ! Ponder, O man, Eternity! Eternity Eternity! How long art thou, Eternity! A little bird with fretting beak Might wear to nought the loftiest peak, Eternity Eternity! How long art thou, Eternity! They who lived poor and naked rest With God, for ever rich and blest, Eternity Eternity! How long art thou, Eternity! O Man, that oft thou think on me, To them who love their God, rich gain! WULFFER, 1648. |