A hermit (or if ‘chance you hold That title now too trite and old), A man, once young, who lived retir… As hermit could have well desired, His hours of study closed at last,

It flatters and deceives thy view, This mirror of ill-polish’d ore; For, were it just, and told thee t… Thou wouldst consult it never more…

This is the feast of heavenly wine… And God invites to sup; The juices of the living Vine Were press’d to fill the cup. Oh! bless the Saviour, ye that ea…

‘I could be well content, allowed… Of past experience, and the wisdom… From worn-out follies, now acknowl… To recommence life’s trial, in the… Of fewer errors, on a second proof…

Ye sons of earth prepare the ploug… Break up your fallow ground; The sower is gone forth to sow, And scatter blessings round. The seed that finds a stony soil

Jesus! where’er Thy people meet, There they behold Thy mercy seat; Where’er they seek Thee, Thou art… And every place is hallow’d ground… For Thou, within no walls confine…

Source of love, and light of day, Tear me from myself away; Every view and thought of mine Cast into the mould of thine; Teach, O teach this faithless hea…

My mother! if thou love me, name n… My noble birth! Sounding at every… My noble birth, thou kill’st me.… As to their only refuge, all from… Nature withholds all good besides;…

SCENE I.—CHORUS OF ANGEL… Now let us garlands weave Of all the fairest flowers, Now at this early dawn, For new-made man, and his companio…

Since life in sorrow must be spent… So be it—I am well content, And meekly wait my last remove, Seeking only growth in love. No bliss I seek, but to fulfil

CHORUS OF ANGELS, Singing… To Heaven’s bright lyre let Iris… Adapt the spheres for chords, for… Let new-born gales discriminate th… Nor let old Time to measure times…

O love, of pure and heavenly birth… O simple truth, scarce known on ea… Whom men resist with stubborn will… And, more perverse and daring stil… Smother and quench, with reasoning…

Oh that those lips had language!… With me but roughly since I heard… Those lips are thine– thy own swee… The same that oft in childhood sol… Voice only fails, else, how distin…

Hear what God the Lord hath spoke… ‘O my people, faint and few, Comfortless, afflicted, broken, Fair abodes I build for you. Thorns of heartfelt tribulation

The new-born child of gospel grace… Like some fair tree when summer’s… Beneath Emmanuel’s shining face Lifts up his blooming branch on hi… No fears he feels, he sees no foes…