"Yet, gracious God, amid these storms of nature, Thine eyes behold a sweet and sacred calm Reign through the realm of conscience. All within Lies peaceful, all composed. 'Tis wondrous grace Keeps off thy terrors from this humble bosom, Though stained with sins and follies, yet serene In penitential peace and cheerful hope, Sprinkled and guarded with atoning blood. Thy vital smiles amid this desolation, Like heavenly sunbeams hid behind the clouds, Break out in happy moments. With bright radiance Cleaving the gloom, the fair celestial light Softens and gilds the horrors of the storm, And richest cordial to the heart conveys. Oh! glorious solace of immense distress! A conscience and a God! This is my rock Of firm support, my shield of sure defence Against infernal arrows. Rise, my soul! Put on thy courage! Here's the living spring Of joys divinely sweet and ever new-- A peaceful conscience and a smiling Heaven! My God! permit a sinful worm to say, Thy Spirit knows I love thee. Worthless wretch! To dare to love a God! Yet grace requires, And grace accepts. Thou seest my laboring mind. Weak as my zeal is, yet my zeal is true; It bears the trying furnace. I am thine, By covenant secure. Incarnate Love Hath seized, and holds me in almighty arms. What can avail to shake me from my trust? Amidst the wreck of worlds and dying nature, I am the Lord's, and he forever mine!"[3] Hear ye, then, the loving words of Jesus. The invitation is unlimited; the grace is free for all. No sin is too great to be forgiven, no burden too heavy to be removed, no power in earth or hell able to keep you back from Christ. However dark your minds, however hard your hearts, however dead your spirits, hear and answer: "I will arise and go!" "Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidst me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come!" Lo! with outstretched arms he hastes to meet you, with tokens of welcome and the kiss of peace. "Ready for you the angels wait, To triumph in your blest estate; Tuning their harps, they long to praise The wonders of redeeming grace." All heaven, with expectant joy, awaits your coming. Come, and satisfy the soul that travailed for you in Olivet! Come, and gladden the heart that broke for you upon the cross! Come, and at the nail-pierced feet find your eternal rest! [1] Preached in Syracuse, N.Y., 1830; at Weston-super-Mare, Somersetshire, Eng., 1857.] [2] Pollok. [3] Isaac Watts in his last illness. III. MY BELOVED AND FRIEND.[1] This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!--Song of Sol. v. 16.