For riot and confusion,

They barter things above;
Condemning, as delusion,
The joy of perfect Love.

In this sequester'd corner

None hears what I express; Deliver'd from the scorner,

No troubles here surprise me,
I innocently play,

While providence supplies me,
And guards me all the day;
My dear and kind defender
Preserves me safely here,
From men of pomp and splendour,
Who fill a child with fear.

ASPIRATIONS OF THE SOUL AFTER GOD.

Vol. 2. Cantique 95.

MY Spouse! in whose presence I live,

Sole object of all my desires,
Who know'st what a flame I conceive,
And canst easily double its fires;
How pleasant is all that I meet!
From fear of adversity free,

I find even sorrow made sweet;
Because 'tis assign'd me by Thee.

Transported I see thee display
Thy riches and glory divine;
I have only my life to repay,
Take what I would gladly resign.
Thy will is the treasure I seek,

For thou art as faithful as strong;
There let me, obedient and meek,
Repose myself all the day long.

My spirit and faculties fail;

Oh finish what Love has begun!
Destroy what is sinful and frail,

And dwell in the soul thou hast won!
Dear theme of my wonder and praise,
I cry, who is worthy as Thou!

I can only be silent and gaze;
"Tis all that is left to me now.

Oh glory, in which I am lost,

Too deep for the plummet of thought! On an ocean of deity toss'd,

I am swallow'd, I sink into nought. Yet lost and absorb'd as I seem,

I chant to the praise of my King; And though overwhelm'd by the theme, Am happy whenever I sing.

ALL are indebted much to thee,

But I far more than all,

From many a deadly snare set free,
And rais'd from many a fall.
Overwhelm me, from above,
Daily, with thy boundless Love.

Whatbonds of Gratitude I feel,
No language can declare

Beneath th' oppressive weight I reel,
'Tis more than I can bear:
When shall I that blessing prove,
To return thee Love for Love?

Spirit of Charity, dispense
Thy grace to ev'ry heart;
Expel all other Spirits thence,"

Drive self from every part :
Charity divine, draw nigh,

Break the chains in which we lie!

All selfish souls, whate'er they feign,

Have still a slavish lot;

They boast of Liberty in vain,
Of Love, and feel it not.

He whose bosom glows with Thee,
He, and he alone, is free.

Oh blessedness, all bliss above,
When thy pure fires prevail!
Love only teaches what is Love;

All other lessons fail:

We learn its name, but not its pow'rs, Experience only makes it ours.

MY heart is easy, and my burden light;

I smile, though sad, when thou art in my sight:
The more my woes in secret I deplore,

I taste thy goodness, and I love, the more.

There, while a solemn stillness reigns around, Faith, Love, and Hope, within my soul abound; And while the world suppose me lost in care, The joys of angels, unperceiv'd, I share,

Thy creatures wrong thee, O thou sov'reign Good!
Thou art not lov'd, because not understood;
This grieves me most, that vain pursuits beguile
Ungrateful men, regardless of thy smile.

Frail beauty, and false honor, are ador❜d;
While Thee they scorn, and trifle with thy word;
Pass, unconcern'd, a Saviour's sorrows by;
And hunt their ruin, with a zeal to die.