Leave no unguarded place,

No weakness of the soul :
Take every virtue, every grace,

And fortify the whole :
Indissolubly join'd,

To battle all proceed;
But arm yourselves with all the mind
Which was in Christ

your

Head.

LXXXIV.

Oh for a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame;
A light, to shine upon the road

Which leads me to the Lamb !

Where is the blessedness I knew

When first I saw the Lord ?
Where is the soul-refreshing view

Of Jesus and his Word ?

What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd !
How sweet their

memory still!
But now I find an aching void,

The world can never fill.

Return, O Holy Dove, retrdn,

Sweet messenger of rest!
I hate the sins which made Thee mourn,

And drove Thee from my breast.

The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,

And worship only Thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,

Calm and serene my frame;
So

purer light shall mark the road
Which leads me to the Lamb.

LXXXV.

Oh, could I find some peaceful bower,
Where Sin has neither place nor power!
This traitor vile I fain would shun.
But cannot from his presence run.

I flee,
He stands between my God and me:
Where'er I rove, where'er I rest,
I find him working in my breast.

When I attempt to soar above,
To view the height of Jesu's love,
This monster seems to mount the skies,
And veil Christ's glories from mine eyes.

Lord, free me from this deadly foe,
Which keeps my faith and hope so low :
I long to dwell in that blest home,
Where not one sinful thought can come.

LXXXVI.

THEE will I love, my Strength, my Tower !

Thee will I love, my Joy, my Crown! Thee will I love, with all my power,

In all thy works, and Thee alone! Thee will I love, till the pure

fire Fill my

whole soul with chaste desire.

Ah! why did I so late Thee know,

Thee, lovelier than the sons of men ? Ah! why did I no sooner go

To Thee, the only ease in pain? Asham'd, I sigh and inly mourn, That I so late to Thee did turn.

In darkness willingly I stray'd:

I sought Thee, yet from Thee I rov'd: Far wide my wand'ring thoughts were spread :

Thy creatures more than Thee I lov’d: And now if more at length I see, 'Tis through thy light, and comes from Thee.

I thank Thee, Uncreated Sun,

That thy bright beams on me have shin'd: I thank Thee, who hast overthrown

My foes, and heald my wounded mind:
I thank Thee, whose enliv'ning voice
Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.

Give to mine eyes refreshing tears :

Give to my heart chaste hallow'd fires :
Give to my soul, with filial fears,

The love, which all heaven's host inspires
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.

Thee will I love, my Joy, my Crown!

Thee will I love, my Lord, my God! Thee will I love, beneath thy frown

Or smile—thy sceptre or thy rod : What though my flesh and heart decay, Thee shall I love in endless day!

LXXXVII.

Thou hidden Love of God, whose height,

Whose depth unfathom’d, no man knows,
I see from far thy beauteous light,

Inly I sigh for thy repose:
My heart is pain’d, nor can it be
At rest, till it find rest in Thee.

Is there a thing beneath the sun

Which strives with Thee my heart to share ? Ah! tear it thence; and reign alone,

The Lord of every motion there ! Then shall my heart from earth be free, When it hath found

repose

in Thee.

Oh hide this Self from me, that I
No
more,

but Christ in me may live! My vile affections crucify,

Nor let one darling lust survive!
Still let my heart to Thee aspire,
And nought on earth but Thee desire.

O Love, thy sov'reign aid impart,

To save me from low-thoughted care:
Chase this self-will through all my heart,

Through all its latent mazes there;
That I may never, never move
From the blest footsteps of thy love.