5 See the rich pastures of his grace,
Where, in full streams, salvation flows!
There he appoints our resting place,
And we may feed secure from foes.

6 There, 'midst the flock, the Shepherd dwells, The sheep around in safety lie;

The wolf, in vain, with malice swells,
For he protects them with his eye.*

7 Dear Lord, if I am one of thine,
From anxious thoughts I would be free;
To trust, and love, and praise, is mine,
The care of all belongs to thee.

XCV. The Garden.

1 A GARDEN Contemplation suits,
And may instruction yield,
Sweeter than all the flow'rs and fruits
With which the spot is fill'd.

2 Eden was Adam's dwelling-place,
While blest with innocence;
But sin o'erwhelm'd him with disgrace,
And drove the rebel thence.

3 Oft as the garden-walk we tread,
We should bemoan his fall;

The trespass of our legal head
In ruin plung'd us all.

4 The garden of Gethsemane
The second Adam saw,

Oppress'd with woe, to set tis free
From the avenging law.

5 How stupid we, who can forget, With gardens in our sight, His agonies and bloody sweat,

In that tremendous night!

6 His church as a fair garden stands,
Which walls of love enclose;

Each tree is planted by his hands,*
And by his blessing grows.

*

7 Believing hearts are gardens too,
For grace has sown its seeds,
Where once, by nature, nothing grew
But thorns and worthless weeds.

8 Such themes to those who Jesus love,
May constant joys afford,
And make a barren desert prove
The garden of the Lord.

XCVI. For a Garden-seat or Summer-house.

1 A SHELTER from the rain or wind.†

A shade from scorching heat,

A resting-place you here

may find,

To ease your weary feet.

2 Enter, but with a serious thought
Consider who is near!

This is a consecrated spot,
The Lord is present here!

3 A question of the utmost weight,
While reading, meets your eye;
May conscience witness to your state,
And give a true reply!

* Isa. lxi. 3.

† Isa. xxxii. 2.

4 Is Jesus to your heart reveal'd,
As full of truth and grace?

And is his name your hope and shield,
Your rest and hiding place?

5 If so, for all events prepar'd,
Whatever storms may rise,

He, whom you love, will safely guard,
And guide you to the skies.

6 No burning sun, or storm, or rain,
Will there your peace annoy;
No sin, temptation, grief, or pain,
Intrude to damp your joy.

7 But if his name you have not known,
Oh, seek him while you may !
Lest you should meet his awful frown,
In that approaching day.

8 When the avenging Judge you see,
With terrors on his brow,

Where can you hide, or whither flee,
If you reject him now?

XCVII. The Creatures in the Lord's Hands.

1 THE water stood like walls of brass,
To let the sons of Israel pass;*

And from the rock in rivers burst,†
At Moses' prayer, to quench their thirst.

2 The fire, restrain'd by God's commands,
Could only burn his people's bands,
Too faint, when he was with them there,
To singe their garments or their hair.‡

*Exod. xiv. 22.

+ Numb. xx. 11. ↑ Daniel, iii. 27.

3 At Daniel's feet the lions lay

Like harmless lambs, nor touch'd their prey;* And ravens, which on carrion fed,

Procur'd Elijah flesh and bread.

4 Thus creatures only can fulfil
Their great Creator's holy will ;

And when his servants need their aid,
His
purposes must be obey'd.

5 So if his blessing he refuse,

Their pow'r to help they quickly lose;
Sure as on creatures we depend,
Our hopes in disappointment end.

6 Then let us trust the Lord alone,
And creature-confidence disown;
Nor if they threaten need we fear,
They cannot hurt if he be near.

7 If instruments of pain they prove,
Still they are guided by his love;
As lancets by the surgeon's skill,
Which wound to cure, and not to kill.

XCVIII. On Dreaming.

1 WHEN slumber seals our weary eyes,
The busy fancy wakeful keeps ;

The scenes which then before us rise,
Prove something in us never sleeps.

2 As in another world we seem,
A new creation of our own,
All appears real, though a dream,
And all familiar, though unknown.

* Daniel, vi. 23.

3 Sometimes the mind beholds again
The past day's business in review,
Resumes the pleasure or the pain;
And sometimes all we meet is new.

4 What schemes we form, what pains we take!
We fight, we run, we fly, we fall;
But all is ended when we wake,
We scarcely then a trace recall.

5 But though our dreams are often wild,
Like clouds before the driving storm;
Yet some important may be styl'd,
Sent to admonish or inform.

6 What mighty agents have access,

What friends from heav'n, or foes from hell, Our minds to comfort or distress,

When we are sleeping, who can tell?!

7 One thing, at least, and 'tis enough,
We learn from this surprising fact;
Our dreams afford sufficient proof,
The soul, without the flesh, can act.

8 This life, which mortals so esteem,
That many choose it for their all,
They will confess, was but a dream,*
When 'waken'd by death's awful call.

XCIX. The World.

1 SEE, the world for youth prepares,
Harlot-like, her gaudy snares!
Pleasures round her seem to wait,
But 'tis all a painted cheat.

*Isaiah, xxix. 8.