THE INVITATION.

Oh! come with us!- the

mazy round

Of pleasure hath been tried,

And all her promised joy been found

To pain and guilt allied;

The varied stores of human lore

Have lost their power to please; And there's a void ne'er felt before, A sigh for peace and ease.

Have I not read thy secret thought,
And scanned thy hidden pain?
Then let the voice, in mercy brought,
Not plead with thee in vain ;
With us with us cast in thy lot,
Join with us heart and hand,
Despised we are, forsaken not,
A firm and fearless band.

xii

THE INVITATION.

No earthly joys we promise thee,

No false and fading flowers,

Pain, sickness, sorrow, poverty
May all alike be ours,

And deeper woe than worldlings know,
Conviction's thrilling dart,

The strife with sin, and hellish foe,
And hidden plague of heart.

Yet move we on-as mourning still
But joying in our Lord,
Submissive to His Holy Will,

And resting on his word.

The way is rough-to heaven it leads,

And quickly will be trod ;

The night is dark-but what succeeds?

The glory of our God.

And even now-a kindling light

Streams o'er our narrow way;

Our hearts are fixed, our hopes are bright,
The Lord's our shield and stay;
A voice thou canst not hear is nigh,
And tells us not to fear;

The light of heaven is on our eye,

Its music on our ear.

Then come with us-why lingerest thou?

This earth will pass away;

Her fairest form and loftiest brow,

Must mingle in decay;

Look up to heaven, and unto Him,
Whose life-blood flowed for thee,
And read, in the empurpled stream,
"Come to me."

His summons,