TO MY BELOVED FRIEND MR. JAMES WOODYATT.

Woodyatt, this Christmas I devote

Some portion of my time to tell

In humble verse what God hath wrought

For us who're snatched as brands from hell.

The best of all my coaxing powers

To lure the Muse I'll freely spend,

Nor heed a whit the fleeting hours

Until my pleasing task shall end.

For I have found a friend in thee,

Such as I strove in vain to find

For twenty years; and this may be

A wonder to thy generous mind.

But so it is; and I would prize

The gift my God has kindly sent,

Nor quell the feelings which arise

Within my breast, till life be spent.

So, while my unlearned lyre I take,

Most gracious Muse, thy aid impart!

Thou canst not at such time forsake

Thy humble friend in this his Art.

No paltry theme shall form my lay

To such a friend at such a time.

Then let my thoughts in rich array

Come forth in gently flowing rhyme.

Nor wealth nor earthly pleasures make

The sum and substance of my song;

Such themes let grovelling rhymsters take,

Who write to please a worldly throng.

For him and me a better way

Remains, and I will freely sing

Of pleasures with most lustrous ray,—

Of those which from religion spring.

And well indeed may'st thou, dear friend,

Rejoice with me that God hath brought

Such sinful creatures to attend

Unto His voice who pardon brought.

I more than twice ten years have been

Within the Way to Endless Life.

Thou in the last few months hast seen

That Way with richest blessings rife.

And now, when seated round our fires,

Or when we take our walks abroad,

We seem as one in strong desires

To speak the praises of our God.

Big thoughts our kindred bosoms swell,

Deep gratitude our ardor fires,

Until we long for words to tell

The fervency that Love acquires;

And ponder as so well we may

Upon our present happy state

Compared with that in which we lay —

Objects of wrath at hell's dread gate.

We ask each other, Why is this?

Why are we favored thus of God?

Why are we made joint heirs of Bliss,

Destined to dwell in His abode?

Quickly the answer comes to hand:

Simply because of God's pure Grace.

And does not Love like God's demand

That we all seasons should embrace —

To speak to others of Christ's worth,

That they with us may fully share

The glories of our heavenly birth,

The riches He can freely spare?

Then let us, brother, with our might,

Work for Him while‘ tis called To-day;

Looking above for strength, for light,

Press forward in this thrice-blest way.

Let us dig deep into that mine

Of hidden wealth stored in the Word,

And with strong faith all else resign

Just clinging solely to the Lord.

O, should our lives for years be spared,

May not one word or thought or deed

Unworthy God, be by us shared,

Who are from Satan's bondage freed.