THE VISITATION OF THE SICK. A weary path I've travell'd

Mid darkness, storm, and strife, 533 WE would see Jesus; for the

Still bearing many a burden, Contending for my life; But now the morn is breaking, My toil will soon be o'er, Im kneeling at the threshold, My hand is at the door. Methinks I hear the voices

shadows lengthen[ life; Across this little landscape of our We would see Jesus, our weak faith to strengthen strife. For the last weariness, the final

Of the blessèd, as they stand, Sweet singing in the sunshine Of the unclouded land; Oh, would that I were with them, Amid the shining throng, Uniting in their worship,

Rejoicing in their song!

The friends that started with me Have enter'd long ago; Ah! one by one they left me To struggle with the foe; Their pilgrimage was shorter, Their triumph sooner won; How lovingly they'll hail me, When my work too is done. With them the blessed angels That know no grief or sin,

I see them at the portals, Prepared to let me in; O Lord, I wait Thy pleasure, Thy time and way are best, But I'm wasted, worn, and weary: My Father, bid me rest. Amen.

532 Он Paradise, oh Paradise,

Who doth not crave for rest? Who would not seek the happy land, The mansions of the blest; Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture, through and through, In God's most holy sight?

Oh Paradise, oh Paradise,

The world is growing old; Who would not be at rest and free Where love is never cold? Where loyal hearts,& c. Oh Paradise, oh Paradise, I want to sin no more, I want to be where Jesus is Upon Thy spotless shore; Where loyal hearts,& c.

Oh Paradise, oh Paradise, I shall not wait for long; E'en now the loving ear may catch Faint fragments of thy song; Where loyal hearts,& c.

We would see Jesus; for life's hand

hath rested[ heart and brow; With its dark touch upon both And though our souls have many a billow breasted, [ now. Others are rising in the distance We would see Jesus, the great rock foundation Ereign grace, Whereon our feet were set by sove­Nor life, nor death, with all their agitation, [ face.

Can thence remove us if we see His We would see Jesus: other lights are paling, [ joiced to see; Which for long years we have re­The blessings of our pilgrimage are failing, Igo to Thee. We would not mourn them, for we

Lord Jesu, King of Paradise, Oh keep me in Thy love, And guide me to that happy land Of perfect rest above; Where loyal hearts, and true, Stand ever in the light, All rapture, through and through, In God's most holy sight. Amen.

128

We would see Jesus; yet the spirit lingers [ so long, Round the dear objects it has loved And earth from earth can scarce un­clasp its fingers;[ love less strong. Our love to Thee makes not this We would see Jesus: sense is all too blinding, [ far away:

And heaven appears too dim, too We would see Thee, Thyself our hearts reminding [ debt to pay What Thou hast suffer'd our great

We would see Jesus: this is all we're needing; [ with the sight; Strength, joy, and willingness come We would see Jesus, dying, risen, pleading;

Then welcome day, and farewell mortal night. Amen.

534 I KNOW not what may befall

me; God tenderly shades my eyes: And so each step in my onward path He makes new scenes arise; And every joy He sends me comes As a sweet and strange surprise. I see not a step before me,

Yet I journey without a fear: The past is still in God's keeping; The future His mercy will clear: And what looks dark in the distance May brighten as I draw near. For perhaps the dreaded future Has less bitter than I think: The Lord may sweeten the waters Before I stoop to drink;

Or, if Marah must still be Marah, He will stand beside the brink.