"Enoch walked with God." (Gen. 5:24.)
To walk with God, O fellowship divine !
Man's highest state on earth-lord, be it mine!
With Thee, may I a close communion hold;
To Thee, the deep recesses of my heart unfold:
Yes, tell Thee all-each weary care and grief
Into Thy bosom pour-till there I find relief.
O let me walk with Thee, thou Mighty One !
Lean on Thine arm, and trust Thy love alone;
With Thee hold converse sweet where'er I go;
Thy smile of love my highest bliss below!
With Thee transact life's business-doing all
With single aim for Thee-as Thou dost call:
My every comfort at Thy hand receive,
My every talent to thy glory give;
Thy counsel seek in every trying hour,
In all my weakness trust Thy mighty power.
Oh may this high companionship be mine.
And all my life by its reflection shine,
My great-my wise-my never-failing friend,
Whose love no change can know, no turn, no end!
My savior god ! who gavest Thy life for me,
Let nothing come between my heart and Thee!
From Thee no thought, no secret, would I keep,
But on Thy breast my tears of anguish weep.
My every wound to Thee I take to heal,
For Thou art touched with every pang I- feel.
O, Friend of friends! the faithfuls true and tried,
In Thee, and Thee alone, I now confide;
Earth's "broken cisterns"-ah! they all have proved
Unsatisfying-vain-however loved;
The false will fail-the fondest, they must go!
Oh thus it is with all we love below.
From things of earth then let my heart be free,
And find its happiness, my lord, in Thee;
Thy holy spirit for my Guide and Guest,
Whatever my lot, I must be safe and blest;
Washed in Thy blood, from all my guilt made clean,
In Thee, my Righteousness, alone I'm seen:
Thy home my home-Thy god and father mine!
Dead to the world-my life is hid with Thine:
Its highest honors fade before my view-
Its pleasures, I can trample on them too.
With Thee by faith I walk in crowds-alone,
Making to Thee my wants and wishes known:
Drawing from Thee my daily strength in prayer,
Finding Thine arm sustains me everywhere;
While, through the clouds of sin and woe, the light
Of coming Glory shines more sweetly bright;
And this my daily boast-my aim-my end-
That my Redeemer is my God-my friend!
C. H. I.