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Yet no dark vault shall claim the deathless mind,
No chains of hell the struggling soul shall bind,
That like a captive naked and afraid,
Perceives its fetters burst, its ransom paid,
Its crimes eras'd, its many sins forgiven,
And short the way to an accepting Heaven."
This voice, everlasting Friend, is thine!
I cannot fear, or murmur, or repine;
I rise securely, and securely sleep,
For near my bed thy watchful spirits keep,
And on my waking eye thine eye is bent,
And to my feeble steps thine aid is lent,
And on my ear thy voice of promise sighs,
And in my heart thy planted hopes arise.
What shall I dread tho' joy be drown'd in tears,
And life be dark with frowns, and death with fears?
If thou wilt only deign my steps to guide,
My heart to cheer, and o'er my thoughts preside;
Then with firm step each thorny path I'll tread,
To trials bow my unrepining head,
Bare my meek breast to each appointed dart,
With calmness feel the last convulsive start,
For thou wilt bear my sinking spirit up,
God of my life, and fountain of my hope.
