The world and worldly things beloved,

My anxious thoughts employed;
While time unhallowed, unimproved,

Presents a fearful void.

Yet, Holy Father, wild despair

Chase from this labouring breast;
Thy grace it is which prompts the prayer;
That graće can do the rest.

My life’s vast remnant all be Thine;

And when Thy sure decree
Bids me this fleeting breath resign-

0, speed my soul to Thee !

CXXXV.

Sum up at night what thou hast done by day ;.
And in the morning what thou hast to do.
Dress and undress thy soul; mark the decay
And growth of it; if with thy watch, that too

Be down, then wind up both; since we shall be
More surely judged, make thy accounts agree.

CXXXVI.

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent, which is death to hide,

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He, returning, chide;
“Doth God exact day-labour, light denied ?”

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies :- “ God doth not need

Either man's work, or his own gifts; who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve Him best; His state Is kingly; thousands at His bidding speed,

And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve, who only stand and wait.”

VIII.

THE SHORTNESS OF TIME. CXXXVII.

When I survey the bright

Celestial sphere,
So rich with jewels hung, that night
Doth like an Ethiop bride appear

My soul her wings doth spread

And heaven ward flies,
The Almighty's mysteries to read
In the large volumes of the skies.

For the bright firmament

Shootes forth no flame
So silent; but is eloquent
In speaking the Creator's Name.

No unregarded star

Contracts its light
Into so small a character,
Removed far from our human sight. ,

But if we stedfast looke,

We shall discerne In it, as in some holy booke, How man may heavenly knowledge learne: