University of Virginia Library

1148.

[Thou wilt not crush the poor and weak]

A bruised reed shall He not break, &c. —xlii. 3.

Thou wilt not crush the poor and weak,
Thy tender heart can never bear
A reed already bruised to break,
To plunge the fearful in despair,
Or aggravate a sinner's load,
Or quench his faintest spark of good.
Rather Thy loving Spirit Divine
Shall raise the smoke into a flame,
Support this trembling soul of mine,
Till strong I out of weakness am,
And as a spreading cedar rise,
Meet for the garden of the skies.

415

Bear with me then, most patient Lord,
(This smoking flax, this bruised reed,)
Accomplishing Thy faithful word,
The heavenly light, the hidden seed
Bring forth, throughout my life to shine,
And prove Thy righteousness Divine.