“If There Be Therefore Any Consolation In Christ.”

Consolation in Christ? O! Savior divine, How well canst thou comfort this heart of mine! I’ve tried thee, and proved thee, and well I know That rivers of comfort from thee do flow.

Not like the dark waters whose waves are strong, Are those rivers that gently glide along; My frail little bark safely guided will be, Till it reaches eternity’s boundless sea.

No huge rolling billows can me overwhelm, The God of the ocean is at the helm; Though the waves may rise, and around me chafe, When Jesus is with me, all is safe!

O, Savior! there is consolation in thee, And when I am troubled, ’tis there I flee; I hide in thy bosom, and there lean my head, When the bosoms I loved are cold and dead.

And why do I ever forsake thy breast, And seek upon earth for a place of rest? Why cannot I learn there is safety alone, Where for safety and comfort so often I’ve flown?

How foolish, forgetful, and faithless am I, To fasten my love upon things that must die! And when they are taken, how well ’tis for me, That there is consolation, dear Savior, in thee!

APRIL 21, 1841.

ALL JOY.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trial of your faith worketh patience.”

JAMES i. 2, 3.

O! Father divine! may I count it all joy To resign thee my husband and beautiful boy; Though now I am weeping and breaking my heart, Thou canst dry every tear and cure every smart.

Thou art teaching me patience by trying my faith, This “fight of affliction” springs not from thy wrath; It grieved thee, my Father, to punish me so, But ’twas tenderest mercy that guided each blow.

May I bear, holy Father! this sorrow and pain, And never, O! never, despond or complain; Though all of my loved ones should sicken and die, I will not, I dare not, thy goodness deny.

I have seen a sweet child, with a frown on his brow, Ere his will had been taught to his father’s to bow; I have seen him subdued, and the frown leave his face, And the smile of affection beam bright in its place;

And he loved his kind father, who guided the rod; Then sure I must love thee, my Father! my God! Thou hast taken my treasures, and stricken me sore, Yet more do I love thee than ever before.

Heart broken and sorrowing, Father, to thee, On the wings of affection this moment I’ll flee; If thou wilt be mine, I will “count it all joy” To resign thee my husband and beautiful boy!

MAY 2, 1841.

THE MOURNER’S RESOLVE.

Hence, all ye sombre signs of grief! Ye must not dwell with me; Though to indulge would give relief, I must not selfish be.

I charge thee, O! thou quiv’ring lip! To settle to a smile; And let thy cheerful fellowship My lonely heart beguile.

I’ll strive with all my heart, to bless Each sufferer I see; The widow and the fatherless Shall learn to pray for me.

I’ll ne’er forget how loved ones watch For every smile or tear; Nor how their eager faces catch The look my features wear.

They shall not hear my grief express’d, They shall not see me weep; But every sorrow in my breast Shall there lie, buried deep.

This is my task, and I will still Bear on my broken heart; If God will give me strength awhile, I’ll nobly do my part.

MAY 27, 1841.

WHEREFORE GLORIFY YE THE LORD IN THE FIRES.--Is. xxiv. 15.

Help me, Lord, to glorify thee, In the fires to sing thy praise, With my heart to justify thee All these dark and doleful days. Should I bask in beams of glory All the days I sojourn here, Would I then believe the story, That this world is dark and drear?

Would I ever turn to Heaven, With an ardent sweet desire, If to me ’twere never given Thus to pass through sorrow’s fire? Not from paths of fragrant roses Will the rebel call on God, Not till Jesus interposes, Planting thorns along my road.

Burning fires can ne’er alarm me, When my Savior’s voice I hear, Barbed arrows cannot harm me, With the balm of Gilead near. Sorrow’s flames will purify me, Barbed arrows harmless fall, If I praise and glorify thee In the fires, my Life! my All!

JUNE 8, 1841.