Page:Olney Hymns - 1840.djvu/198

194 5 You are safe who know his love; He will all his truth perform ; To your souls a refuge prove From the rage of every storm : But we tremble for the youth ! Teach them, Lord, thy saving truth; Join them to thy faithful few, Be to them a refuge too.

1 OFT in vain the voice of truth Solemnly and loudly warns ; Thoughtless, inexperienced youth, Though it hears, the warning scorns : Youth in fancy s glass surveys Life prolong d to distant years, While the vast imagined space Fill d with sweets and joys appears.

2 Awful disappointment soon Overclouds the prospect gay ; Some their sun goes down at noon, Torn by death s strong hand away : Where are then their pleasing schemes Where the joys they hoped to find ? Gone for ever, like their dreams, Leaving not a trace behind.

3 Others, who are spared awhile, Live to weep o er fancy s cheat; Find distress and pain and toil, Bitter things instead of sweet : Sin has spread a curse around, Poison d all things here below ; On this base polluted ground Peace and joy can never grow

4 Grace alone can cure ^our ills, Sweeten life with all its cares, Regulate our stubborn wills, Save us from surrounding snares :