Love's Last Labour Not Lost :: :: University of Virginia Library

Daniel, George (1789-1864)

SAMUEL JOHNSON.

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The following verse has been extracted from prose text.

“By the God of Mercy's pleasure
I am still a Pilgrim here
(Loving-kindness without measure!)
To behold the new-born year.

With the balmy breath of morning
Comes a voice that seems to say,
Heaven vouchsafes another warning,
See thou cast it not away.

Happy thou that dost not slumber
(They had too their warnings here)
With the unconverted number
Gone with the departed year!

O! if ever sin enthrall'd thee,
Let it not enthral again;
O! if ever wisdom call'd thee,
Let her no more call in vain.

Keep thy passions in subjection,
Banish every thought impure,
Yield thyself to God's direction,
Hold thy faith unshaken, sure.

Should He in the furnace try thee,
Pray for patience, strength to bear;
Knowing He is ever nigh thee,
Prompt to hear and answer pray'r.

Are the lines in pleasant places?
Has His bounty hope outran?
Let shine forth thy Christian graces
In benevolence to man.

Ever to that holy mountain
Where thy Prophet, Priest, and King
Freely open'd mercy's fountain
Let thy faith her offering bring.

She can bring no other token
That thou would'st the past retrieve,
But a contrite heart, and broken,
Which thy Saviour will receive.

For the promise of salvation,
For compassion so divine,
Let thy soul, in adoration,
All the world for Him resign.”