THE JOY OF THE CHRISTIAN.
There is a joy my spirit feels,A holy calm that o’er me steals,A lighting up within the soulOf glowing flames that upward roll;A springing of th’ immortal mindAway from earth, to joys refined.Not all the joys of wedded blissOne moment can compare with this;Though kindling eyes with rapture sweet,In beaming glances often meet,And burning lips with ardor tellHow love and joy together dwell.Not all the thrilling happinessA mother’s heart alone can bless,When, all her pain and anguish done,Her eye beholds her first born son,And sees the father standing by,With smiles of love, and kindling eye,And prints the first maternal kissOn lips unconscious of the bliss,And, full of gladness unexpress’d,Close clasps him to her swelling breast,Where springs a fountain rich and free—The food of helpless infancy!These are not lasting. I can say,How joys like these may pass away;And leave, where all was love and light,An aching heart—a gloomy night—A memory of pleasures gone—A sorrow to be left alone.But often in the darkest nightSprings up a pure and brilliant light;And even in the coldest day,There comes a warm reviving ray;The light to faith’s quick vision given—The beaming ray that shines from Heaven.O, when the soul is dark and drear,Full well I know that sun can cheer;In those full beams with deep delightI chase away the gloomy night,And bask in those unclouded rays,The glorious sun’s meridian blaze.I nestle in my Savior’s breast,O, ’tis a place of glorious rest!He holds me near his bleeding side,O, ever may I thus abide!His lovely countenance I see,With smiles of love he looks on me.O, give me joys that will not die—The joys that point above the sky!The only change that comes to them,Is when they glow with brighter beam;Like early morn’s delightful ray,That brightens into perfect day!
There is a joy my spirit feels,A holy calm that o’er me steals,A lighting up within the soulOf glowing flames that upward roll;A springing of th’ immortal mindAway from earth, to joys refined.Not all the joys of wedded blissOne moment can compare with this;Though kindling eyes with rapture sweet,In beaming glances often meet,And burning lips with ardor tellHow love and joy together dwell.Not all the thrilling happinessA mother’s heart alone can bless,When, all her pain and anguish done,Her eye beholds her first born son,And sees the father standing by,With smiles of love, and kindling eye,And prints the first maternal kissOn lips unconscious of the bliss,And, full of gladness unexpress’d,Close clasps him to her swelling breast,Where springs a fountain rich and free—The food of helpless infancy!These are not lasting. I can say,How joys like these may pass away;And leave, where all was love and light,An aching heart—a gloomy night—A memory of pleasures gone—A sorrow to be left alone.But often in the darkest nightSprings up a pure and brilliant light;And even in the coldest day,There comes a warm reviving ray;The light to faith’s quick vision given—The beaming ray that shines from Heaven.O, when the soul is dark and drear,Full well I know that sun can cheer;In those full beams with deep delightI chase away the gloomy night,And bask in those unclouded rays,The glorious sun’s meridian blaze.I nestle in my Savior’s breast,O, ’tis a place of glorious rest!He holds me near his bleeding side,O, ever may I thus abide!His lovely countenance I see,With smiles of love he looks on me.O, give me joys that will not die—The joys that point above the sky!The only change that comes to them,Is when they glow with brighter beam;Like early morn’s delightful ray,That brightens into perfect day!
There is a joy my spirit feels,A holy calm that o’er me steals,A lighting up within the soulOf glowing flames that upward roll;A springing of th’ immortal mindAway from earth, to joys refined.
There is a joy my spirit feels,
A holy calm that o’er me steals,
A lighting up within the soul
Of glowing flames that upward roll;
A springing of th’ immortal mind
Away from earth, to joys refined.
Not all the joys of wedded blissOne moment can compare with this;Though kindling eyes with rapture sweet,In beaming glances often meet,And burning lips with ardor tellHow love and joy together dwell.
Not all the joys of wedded bliss
One moment can compare with this;
Though kindling eyes with rapture sweet,
In beaming glances often meet,
And burning lips with ardor tell
How love and joy together dwell.
Not all the thrilling happinessA mother’s heart alone can bless,When, all her pain and anguish done,Her eye beholds her first born son,And sees the father standing by,With smiles of love, and kindling eye,
Not all the thrilling happiness
A mother’s heart alone can bless,
When, all her pain and anguish done,
Her eye beholds her first born son,
And sees the father standing by,
With smiles of love, and kindling eye,
And prints the first maternal kissOn lips unconscious of the bliss,And, full of gladness unexpress’d,Close clasps him to her swelling breast,Where springs a fountain rich and free—The food of helpless infancy!
And prints the first maternal kiss
On lips unconscious of the bliss,
And, full of gladness unexpress’d,
Close clasps him to her swelling breast,
Where springs a fountain rich and free—
The food of helpless infancy!
These are not lasting. I can say,How joys like these may pass away;And leave, where all was love and light,An aching heart—a gloomy night—A memory of pleasures gone—A sorrow to be left alone.
These are not lasting. I can say,
How joys like these may pass away;
And leave, where all was love and light,
An aching heart—a gloomy night—
A memory of pleasures gone—
A sorrow to be left alone.
But often in the darkest nightSprings up a pure and brilliant light;And even in the coldest day,There comes a warm reviving ray;The light to faith’s quick vision given—The beaming ray that shines from Heaven.
But often in the darkest night
Springs up a pure and brilliant light;
And even in the coldest day,
There comes a warm reviving ray;
The light to faith’s quick vision given—
The beaming ray that shines from Heaven.
O, when the soul is dark and drear,Full well I know that sun can cheer;In those full beams with deep delightI chase away the gloomy night,And bask in those unclouded rays,The glorious sun’s meridian blaze.
O, when the soul is dark and drear,
Full well I know that sun can cheer;
In those full beams with deep delight
I chase away the gloomy night,
And bask in those unclouded rays,
The glorious sun’s meridian blaze.
I nestle in my Savior’s breast,O, ’tis a place of glorious rest!He holds me near his bleeding side,O, ever may I thus abide!His lovely countenance I see,With smiles of love he looks on me.
I nestle in my Savior’s breast,
O, ’tis a place of glorious rest!
He holds me near his bleeding side,
O, ever may I thus abide!
His lovely countenance I see,
With smiles of love he looks on me.
O, give me joys that will not die—The joys that point above the sky!The only change that comes to them,Is when they glow with brighter beam;Like early morn’s delightful ray,That brightens into perfect day!
O, give me joys that will not die—
The joys that point above the sky!
The only change that comes to them,
Is when they glow with brighter beam;
Like early morn’s delightful ray,
That brightens into perfect day!
January 13, 1840.