Fly from my thoughts, all human things, My soul disdains that little snare The tangles of Amira's hair: Thine arms, my God, are sweeter bands, nor can my heart remove. GRACE SHINING, AND NATURE FAINTING. SOL. SONG, I. 3; II. 5; VI. 5. TELL me, fairest of thy kind, May relieve such cares as mine: Say, thou dear Sovereign of my breast, Why should I appear like one O my Great Redeemer, say, Ne'er had I known his dearest name, Ne'er had I felt this inward flame, Had not his heart-strings first began the tender sound: Nor can I bear the thought, that he Should leave the sky, Should bleed and die, Should love a wretch so vile as me, Without returns of passion for his dying wound. His eyes are glory mixed with grace; In his delightful awful face Sit majesty and gentleness. And feel his warmer smiles. Where shall I rest this drooping head? I love, I love the sun, and yet I want the shade. My sinking spirits feebly strive To endure the ecstasy; Beneath these rays I cannot live, And yet without them die. None knows the pleasure and the pain That all my inward powers sustain But such as feel a Saviour's love, and love the God again. Oh why should beauty, heavenly bright, And torture with the sweet excess of light? Turn, turn away thine eyes, Ascend the azure hills, and shine Amongst the happy tenants of the skies, O turn thy lovely glories from me, The joys are too intense, the glories overcome me. Dear Lord, forgive my rash complaint, And love me still Against my froward will : Unveil thy beauties though I faint. My heart shall all be love, my Jesus all delight. LOVE TO CHRIST, PRESENT OR ABSENT Of all the joys we mortals know, Sweet are my thoughts, and soft my cares, In all my hopes, and all my fears, While I am held in his embrace, He speaks, and straight immortal joys If he withdraw a moment's space, While of his absence I complain, When round his courts by day I rove, Jesus, my God; yet rather come; THE ABSENCE OF CHRIST. COME, lead me to some lofty shade 'Tis no mean beauty of the ground I faint beneath a nobler wound, |