Page:The Christian Year 1887.djvu/114

 Who then from pining and despair The sickening heart can stay?

There is a stay—and we are strong; Our Master is at hand, To cheer our solitary song, And guide us to the strand.

In His own time; but yet a while Our bark at sea must ride; Cast after cast, by force or guile All waters must be tried:

By blameless guile or gentle force, As when He deigned to teach (The lode-star of our Christian course) Upon this sacred beach.

Should e'er thy wonder-working grace Triumph by our weak arm, Let not our sinful fancy trace Aught human in the charm:

To our own nets ne'er bow we down, Lest on the eternal shore The angels, while oar draught they own, Reject us evermore:

Or, if for our unworthiness Toil, prayer, and watching fail, In disappointment Thou canst bless, So love at heart prevail.


 * David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.  2 Samuel xii. 13.

When bitter thoughts, of conscience born, With sinners wake at morn, When from our restless couch we start, With fevered lips and withered heart, Where is the spell to charm those mists away, And make new morning in that darksome day?