"Behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her." --- Hosea 2:14.
Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages." --- Canticles 7:11.
O Lord, this world is nothing to me but a wilderness, a place of tribulation, where, being tossed to and fro, I enjoy no rest; but when I lift up my heart, and look for peace in thee I am supported and comforted. Grant that I may thus be strengthened for the time to come, whenever I am at a loss what course to take.
Let me always firmly believe thee to be a present help in trouble, who art able and willing to bear me up under all outward distresses, till I shall safely arrive at the rest of the people of God.
Lord, what a wretched land is this,
That yields us no supply;
No cheering fruits, no wholesome trees,
Nor streams of living joy!
BuT prickling thorns through all the ground
And mortal poisons grow:
And all the rivers that are found
With dangerous waters flow.
Yet the dear path to thine abode
Lies through this horrid land;
Lord, we would keep thy heavenly road,
And run at thy command.
Our souls would tread the desert through
With indiverted feet;
And faith and flaming zeal subdue
The terrors that we meet.