ONE DEAD

John William Inchbold

S IT deep sleep, or is it rather death?

Rest anyhow it is, and sweet is rest:No more the doubtful blessing of the breath; Our God hath said that silence is the best, And thou art silent as the pale round moon, And near thee is our birth's great mystery:Alas, we knew not thou wouldst go so soon! We cannot tell where sky is lost in sea, But only find life's bark to come and go,

By wondrous Nature's hidden force impelled, Then melts the wake in sea, and none shall know For certain which the course the vessel held ;The lessening ship by us no more is seen, And sea and sky are just as they have been.

Afflictions Sanctified by the Word

AFFLICTIONS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD

William Cowper

H, HOW I love Thy holy Word,
Thy gracious covenant, O Lord!
It guides me in the peaceful way;
I think upon it all the day.

What are the mines of shining wealth,
The strength of youth, the bloom of health,
What are all joys compared with those
Thine everlasting Word bestows.

Long unafflicted, undismayed,
In pleasure's path secure I strayed;
Thou madest me feel thy chastening rod,
And straight I turned unto my God.

What though it pierced my fainting heart,
I blessed Thine hand that caused the smart.

It taught my tears awhile to flow,

But saved me from eternal woe.

Oh! hadst Thou left me unchastised,
Thy precepts I had still despised;

And still the snare in secret laid
Had my unwary feet betrayed.

I love Thee, therefore, O my God, And breathe toward Thy dear abode; Where in Thy presence fully blest, Thy chosen saints for ever rest.

The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on!

Keep Thou my feet! I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;

I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on!

I loved the garish day; and spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.

So long Thy power has blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone;

And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.