Yet, though terrors, night and gloom Wait obedient on thy word,
Though no cheering smiles illume, Still we trust a faithful God; Still we anchor on the Rock, JESUS, our immortal stay; E'en the weakest of his flock, He will never cast away.
SWEET orb of night, I saw thee rise In cloudless lustre o'er the plain, I saw thee climb the azure skies, With radiant splendours in thy train. I marked thy mildly pensive beam At midnight's still and hallowed hour, I watched the fitful, lonely gleam That played on yonder ivied tower.
Sweet orb of night, full oft I love, When every care and toil is o'er, To wander 'mid the silent grove, And there the Source of Light adore: O then, how false all else appears, While wrapt in awe thy course I view, And see thee mount the starry spheres, And tread the fields of heavenly blue.
Sweet orb of night, when I no more Shall trace thy lovely, mournful ray, When freed from earth, my soul shall soar To scenes of blest ethereal day,- Should one loved friend bestow a tear When all is wrapt in solemn gloom, O guide the maiden to my bier, And shed thy radiance o'er the tomb.
HAST thou not treasured the amount, All-wise Creator, of my days?
In thy dread councils are not few
The years appointed man?
Soon I shall lay this weary frame
To rest upon its native bed;
This form, the worm's unconscious prey,
Will slumber peacefully.
Pleasure, ambition,-ah, how frail, Deceiving, will ye then appear; Inscribed with luring falsehood all,
All, O my God, but thee.
Why then should folly's passing dream The mind's best energies control?
Why should the world's vain pageantry Allure the soul from heaven?
Why should I sigh when sorrow's cloud, Gathering, obscures life's little day? When disappointment withers hope, Why should I weep?
Teach me, my Maker, earth to prize As unsubstantial, insincere;
Draw me from time, and bid me soar To immortality.
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