Prayer For Patience.

Lord, who hast sufferd all for me,     My peace and pardon to procure,     The lighter cross I bear for thee,     Help me with patience to endure.     The storm of loud repining hush,     I would in humble silence mourn;     Why should the unburnt though burning bush,     Be angry as the crackling thorn?     Man should not faint at thy rebuke,     Like Joshua falling on his face,[1]     When the curst thing that Achan took     Brought Israel into just disgrace.     Perhaps some golden wedge suppressd,     Some secret sin offends my God;     Perhaps that Babylonish vest,     Self-righteousness, provokes the rod.     Ah! were I buffeted all day,     Mockd, crownd with thorns, and spit upon;     I yet should have no right to say,     My great distress is mine alone.     Let me not angrily declare     No pain was ever sharp like mine;     Nor murmur at the cross I bear,     But rather weep, remembering thine.