Retirement and Meditation

Kind Solitude, I love thy friendly shade;
Reflection hither bring her needful aid.
'Tis here I trace past thoughts and errors o'er,
And learn to know my weakness, and deplore.
Ah! would the serious, sad compunction last.
And teach to mend the future by the past.
'Tis here I see how empty, light, and vain,
Is gay amusement with her idle train.
And busy care, which fills the restless heart,
With real, though with unavailing smart,
Is no less vain; for sail her toils renew,
And still some farther task remains to do.
Time nor for trifling, nor for business stays;
He shakes his glass, and counts the shortening days.
And see the ebbing sands, how fast they run!
How soon the little remnant will be done!
Shall vanity employ my precious hours?
Or earth's low cares engross my active powers?
For nobler ends my time and powers are given,
Nor cares nor pleasures fit the soul for heaven.
And can I hope to reach that blissful place?
Yet sleep supine, or linger in the race.
Alas, my heedless heart, how apt to stray,
When earthly trifles tempt my thoughts away!
All my celestial hopes on God depend;
His smile my life, his favour is my end.
How little do I know, or love his name!
And yet to spirits of immortal frame,
Knowledge is food, and love the vital flame.

What is the business and the joy above,
But this, to know, to worship, and to love?
For this, my pow'rs were giv'n; this great employ
Should be my ardent wish my constant joy.
How shall I know him? all his works declare
Their Maker's name; heav'n, earth, and sea, and air,
Confess the great, the wise, the pow'ful God;
And nature joins to spread his praise abroad.
But yet at awful distance I adore,
For he is holy: his tremendous pow'r,
His dreadful justice — oh, how fierce thy blaze!
And prostrate sinners tremble, while they praise.
How shall I know and love him? In his word
Appears the gracious, kind, forgiving Lord!
O let me trace the heavenly transcript o'er,
And learn to know and serve, and love him more.
'Tis here, his brightest, sweetest glories shine,
In Jesus' face, how lovely! how divine!
Here mercy smiles, and with resistless charms
Invites the sinner to the Saviour's arms.
Here wonders rise, and all my thoughts transcend,
Justice appeas'd, almighty power my friend;
Forgiveness, peace, and free access to God,
And life, and glory through a Saviour's blood!
Lord, when these blissful wonders I explore,
I long to know, and love, and praise thee more.
In these blest moments fain my thoughts would rise,
Lose this dull earth, nor rest below the skies;
Those happy seats of knowledge, love, and joy,
Where every pleasing power finds sweet employ;
Where praise and love, in everlasting songs,
Rise ardent from ten thousand thousand tongues.
For Jesus and salvation, charming theme,
Inspires the strain, and feeds th' immortal flame.
O how my panting spirit longs to join
The sacred choir in extasies divine!
But ah! this load of clay retards my flight:
When shall I reach those mansions of delight?
Short is the transport, soon my fears arise,
And snatch the lovely prospect from my eyes.
Should I be banish'd from that blest abode,
And never, never see my Saviour God,
(My saviour God! for O my trembling heart
From those reviving accents cannot part:)
Banish'd from thee, my hope, my life, my light,
To death, despair, and everlasting night —
The thought is horror! — No, my heart shall stay
Here at thy feet, and wait thy healing ray,
To chase the dismal gloom; one smile of thine.
One sweet forgiving smile, is bliss divine.
O let me hear thy soul-reviving voice,
To heal my sorrows, and renew my joys:
Reveal, confirm my int'rest in thy love,
And guilt, and fear, and darkness shall remove,
So fly the mournful shades of gloomy night,
When radiant morn displays her cheering light.
Jesus, let thy almighty love inspire
My heart, my voice, and tune the sacred lyre,
Let thy unbounded grace be all my theme,
And songs of joy resound thy lovely name;
Till I forsake this dark abode of clay,
And death unfolds the gates of endless day.
Then shall I learn the blissful strains above,
And all my soul be harmony and love.