Page:Olney Hymns - 1840.djvu/273

BOOK II. Like bees his children feed and thrive, And bring home honey to the hive.

5 There, spider- like, the wicked come, And seem to taste the sweet perfume; But the vile venom of their hearts To poison all their food converts.

6 From the same truths believers prize They weave vain refuges of lies ; And from the promise license draw To trifle with the holy law.

7 Lord, shall thy word of life and love The means of death to numbers prove? Unless thy grace our hearts renew We sink to hell with heaven in view.

1 THE subtle spider often weaves His unsuspected snares Among the balmy flowers and leaves, To which the bee repairs.

2 When in his web he sees one hang, With a malicious joy He darts upon it with his fang, To poison and destroy.

3 How welcome then some pitying friend, To save the threaten d bee, The spider s treach rous web to rend, And set the captive free !

4 My soul has been in such a case : When first I knew the Lord, I hasted to the means of grace, Where sweets I knew were stored.

5 Little I thought of danger near, That soon my j oys would ebb ; But ah ! I met a spider there, Who caught me in his web.