And mayst at pleasure now present
Thy Husband's full discharge.

Though new-contracted guilt beget

New fears of divine ire,

Yet fear thou not; though drown'd in debt,
Thy Husband is the payer.

God might in rigor thee indite

Of highest crimes and flaws;

But on thy head no curse can light ;
Thy Husband is the cause.

SECTION II.

CHRIST THE BELIEVER'S FRIEND, PROPHET, PRIEST, KING,

DEFENCE, GUIDE, GUARD, HELP, AND HEALER.

DEAR Soul, when all the human race

Lay welt'ring in their gore,

Vast numbers in that dismal case

Thy Husband passed o'er.

But pray, why did he thousands pass,
And set his heart on thee?

The deep, the searchless reason was,
Thy Husband's love is free.

The forms of favor, names of grace,
And offices of love,

He bears for thee, with open face,
Thy Husband's kindness prove.

'Gainst darkness black, and error blind,
Thou hast a sun and shield :*
And, to reveal the Father's mind,
Thy Husband's prophet seal'd.

He likewise to procure thy peace,
And save from sin's arrest,
Resign'd himself a sacrifice;
Thy Husband is thy priest.

And that he might thy will subject,
And sweetly captive bring,

Thy sins subdue, his throne erect,
Thy Husband is thy King.

Though num'rous and assaulting foes

Thy joyful peace may mar,

And thou a thousand battles lose,

Thy Husband wins the war.

* Psalm lxxxiv. 11.

Hell's forces, which thy mind appall,
His arm can soon dispatch;
How strong soe'er, yet for them all
Thy Husband's more than match.

Though secret lusts with hid contest,
By heavy groans reveal'd,

And devils rage; yet, do their best,
Thy Husband keeps the field.

When, in desertion's evening dark,
Thy steps are apt to slide,

His conduct seek, his counsel mark,
Thy Husband is thy guide.

In doubts, renouncing self-conceit,
His word and Spirit prize:
He never counsell'd wrong as yet,

Thy Husband is so wise.

When weak, thy refuge seest at hand,

Yet cannot run the length:

"T is present pow'r to understand

Thy Husband is thy strength.

When shaking storms annoy thy heart, His word commands a calm;

When bleeding wounds, to ease thy smart,

Thy Husband's blood is balm.

Trust creatures, nor to help thy thrall,

Nor to assuage thy grief:

Use means, but look beyond them all,
Thy Husband's thy relief.

If Heav'n prescribe a bitter drug,
Fret not with froward will:

This carriage may thy cure prorogue;
Thy Husband wants not skill.

He sees the sore, he knows the cure
Will most adapted be;

"T is then most reasonable, sure,
Thy Husband choose for thee.

Friendship is in his chastisements,
And favor in his frowns;
Thence judge not then in heavy plaints,
Thy Husband thee disowns.

The deeper his sharp lancet go,
In ripping up thy wound,
The more thy healing shall unto

Thy Husband's praise redound.

SECTION III.

CHRIST THE BELIEVER'S WONDERFUL PHYSICIAN, AND
WEALTHY FRIEND.

KIND Jesus empties whom he 'll fill,
Casts down whom he will raise;

He quickens whom he seems to kill;
Thy Husband thus gets praise.

When awful rods are in his hand,

There's mercy in his mind;

When clouds upon his brow do stand,
Thy Husband's heart is kind.

In various changes to and fro,
He'll ever constant prove;
Nor can his kindness come and

go, Thy Husband's name is Love.

His friends in most afflicted lot

His favor most have felt;

For when they're tried in furnace hot,
Thy Husband's bowels melt.

When he his bride or wounds or heals,

Heart-kindness does him move;