Occasional verse, moral and sacred Published for the instruction and amusement of the Candidly Serious and Religious [by Edward Perronet] |
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THE FRIENDLESS SEARCH. |
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 | Occasional verse, moral and sacred |  |
THE FRIENDLESS SEARCH.
I
O could I find some bosom friend,To whom I might reveal
My bosom secrets, and depend
Their friendship would conceal!
II
One whose kind counsel and adviceI safely could believe;
And who, in turn, however wise,
My counsel would receive.
76
III
Instead of this, tho' far or near,As banish'd and unknown,
No one would drop the friendly tear,
Or sigh the alternate groan.
IV
Back I should come, as forth I went,Uneasy and dismay'd;
With cause sufficient to repent
My folly thus betray'd.
V
Few wou'd so much as hear my plaints,Much less my plaints retrieve;
And, tho' I should make known my wants,
My endless tale believe.
VI
“Go hence,” they'd say—“don't trouble us;“We've troubles of our own:
“Besides, you make too great a fuss,
“So prithee, man, begone.”
VII
This would be all that I should get,And yet what can I do?
There ne'er was partridge in a net,
That wou'd not gladly go.
VIII
Thus reason'd I, like Reasoning's fool,And murmur'd without end;
Till Wisdom blest me with a rule,
To find and chuse a friend.
77
IX
“What, have you never heard,” says she,(And awful knit her brow)
“Of such a place as Calvary,
“And what is doing now?
X
“You cannot sure, so ignorant be,“Whatever else you are;
“And therefore, for the future, see
“You make this thing your care.”
XI
Thus Wisdom spake, while I remain'dA spectre cast in stone;
As conscious what her words maintain'd,
Eternal Truth would own.
XII
Why then, I cried, my treach'rous heart,Hast thou deceiv'd me thus?
How could'st thou know, and not impart
The secret of the Cross?
XIII
What love or pain, what joy or grief,Like His was ever found?
And His rich blood in full relief,
A balsam for each wound.
XIV
And what His love, His friendship is,And what this is, His pow'r;
Unchang'd as that eternal bliss,
Where gods eternal soar.
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XV
His friendship then my soul shall seek,Amidst the frowns of men;
Nor shall the smile of mortal cheek
Allure my heart again.
XVI
My heart, betroth'd to Him alone,For Him alone shall beat;
And when oppression bids me groan,
I'll groan as at His feet.
XVII
In sore temptation's passive hour,When hosts of fiends draw nigh,
And threaten greedy to devour
The souls that cannot fly;
XVIII
I then will look to Zion's hill,And let the Saviour know,
How great the danger that I feel,
How fierce the threat'ning foe.
XIX
In all my troubles, short or long,I will on Him depend,
Who only is my strength and song,
My Saviour, and my friend.
XX
He will in time translate my soul,And fix my last abode,
Where endless years as endless roll,
The eternity of god!
| Occasional verse, moral and sacred | |