Devotional Verses Founded on and Illustrative of select Texts of Scripture [by Bernard Barton] |
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THE FRAILTY OF MAN'S GOODNESS. |
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130
THE FRAILTY OF MAN'S GOODNESS.
“O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I
do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the
early dew it goeth away.”
—Hosea, vi. 4.
Such the transient influence now
Of too many a fervent vow;
Such in spirit and in span,
Goodness deem'd innate in man.
Of too many a fervent vow;
Such in spirit and in span,
Goodness deem'd innate in man.
Like a morning cloud it flies,
Like the early dew up-dries,
Brief as bright, and frail as brief,
Like the changing Cistus' leaf.
Like the early dew up-dries,
Brief as bright, and frail as brief,
Like the changing Cistus' leaf.
Clouds which bear the welcome shower
Wait not on man's fancied power;
Dews that nourish where they fall
Come not when he deigns to call.
Wait not on man's fancied power;
Dews that nourish where they fall
Come not when he deigns to call.
Blossoms time may not impair
Deathless Amaranths must bear;
And the goodness which shall live
God alone to man can give.
Deathless Amaranths must bear;
And the goodness which shall live
God alone to man can give.
131
Judah's God, and Ephraim's Lord,
Unto us thy grace accord;
Make Thy gracious goodness known,
Show how trustless is our own.
Unto us thy grace accord;
Make Thy gracious goodness known,
Show how trustless is our own.
Morning clouds, though bright their dyes,
Fade before our thirsty eyes;
Dews which early pass away
Leave our hearts to drought a prey.
Fade before our thirsty eyes;
Dews which early pass away
Leave our hearts to drought a prey.
Give us darker clouds, whose gloom
Bears rich blessings in its womb;
Heavier dews which fall at eve,
Whence Thy seed may life receive.
Bears rich blessings in its womb;
Heavier dews which fall at eve,
Whence Thy seed may life receive.
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