God is essential love, And all the saints above, Each in his measure: Love flames in every breast, Love leaves no place for strife; Each is to other dear, What joy must there needs be, Where all God's glory see; Feeling God's vital love, Which still is burning: And flaming God-ward move, Self makes contention here, Love makes all common there, There's no propriety, Mine is my brother's. Perfect community Makes one's another's. Go out then, lingʼring soul, They hiss and sting us. Will not Christ, dost thou think, Think not that Heav'n wants store, To the vast Heavens: at most, All those blest myriads be, Gladly my soul go forth; This world of trouble? Prefer eternal bliss, Before this bubble. Wish not still for delay. And live in longer war, A life of trial? Souls live when flesh lies dead: Thy sin is pardoned, When Christ doth death disarm, Why art thou fearful? And souls that fear no harm, Cherish not causeless doubt, From Heav'n by letter? His Son, his Spirit, and Word, Have done it better. Hath mercy made life sweet? What if foes should make haste? Thou wilt the sooner taste What all blest souls enjoy, With Christ for ever; Where those that thee annoy, Shall hurt thee never. Fear not the world of light, For want of seeing. Vain, sinful world, farewell! Where life, light, love, and joy, God's praises there employ Christ, who knows all his sheep, Will all in safety keep; He will not lose his blood, I know my God is just, All's sure and seen to him, Lord Jesus, take my spirit: For thou hast bought it. Amen. HYMN TO PROVIDENCE. [ADDISON.] How are thy servants blest, O Lord! Eternal wisdom is their guide, In foreign realms, and lands remote, Through burning climes I pass'd unhurt, Thy mercy sweeten'd every soil, Think, O my soul, devoutly think Confusion dwelt in every face, And fear in every heart; When waves on waves, and gulfs on gulfs, Yet then, from all my griefs, O Lord, Yet though in dreadful whirls we hung I knew thou wert not slow to hear, The storm was laid, the winds retir'd, The sea, that roar'd at thy command, In midst of dangers, fears, and death, And praise thee for thy mercies past, And humbly hope for more. |