Might I not with reason fear I should be a cast-away? Trials give new life to pray'r; (C. M.) Habitual Devotion. 1 WHILE thee I seek, protecting Pow'r, Be my vain wishes still’d: And may this consecrated hour With better hopes be fill'd. To thee my thoughts would soar: That mercy I adore. Thy ruling hand I see! Because conferr'd by thee. In ev'ry pain I bcar, Pealpen uw beste Thy love my thoughts shall fill; Resign’d, when storms of sorrow low'r, My soul shall meet thy will. The gath’ring storın shall see; HYMN 185. Walking with God.ous I SINCE I've known à Saviour's name, And sin's strong fetters broke, O S : Brigine pood I find his service my reward, lis flitos se Is light, for such a Lord. t. 13Arid Logos 2 To the desert or the cell, Let others blindly fly, In this evil world I dwell, Nor fear its enmity; To which I inwardly retire; And unconsum'd in fire. 3 O that all the world might know of living, Lord, to thee, And here thy goodness see; (L N.) Heaven seen by Faith. 1 AS, when the weary trav'ler gains The height of some commanding hill, His heart revives, if o'er the plains He sees his home, though distant still; 2 So, when the Christian pilgrim views By faith his mansion in the skies, The sight his fainting strength renews; And wings his speed to reach the prize. 3 The hope of heav'n his spirit cheers; No more he grieves for sorrows past; Nor any future conflict fears, So he may safe arrive at last. 4 O Lord, on thee our hopes we stay, To lead us on to thine abode; Assur'd thy love will far o'erpay The hardest labours of the road. HYMN 187. (IV, 4) " I would not live alway." Job vii. 16. 1 I WOULD not live alway: I ask not to stay Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way; The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here, Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer 2 I would not live alway, thus fetter'd by sin, Temptation without, and corruption within: And the cup of thanksgiving with penitent tears. 3 I would not live alway; no—welcome the tomb, Since Jesus hath lain there, I dread not its gloom There, sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise To hail him in triumph descending the skies. 4 Who, who would live alway, away from his God; Away from yon heaven, that blissful abode, And the noontide of glory eternally reigns : Their Saviour and brethren, transported to greet; While the anthems of rapture unceasingly roll, And the smile of the Lord is the feast of the soul! XI. DEATH. (CM) Job. xiv. 1, 2. 5, 6. 1 FEW are thy days, and full of wo, O man, of woman born! • To dust thou shalt return." In flow'rs that bloom and die, Or in the shadow's fleeting form That mocks the gazer's eye. Successive o'er thy head; That lays thee with the dead. The short allotted span, - HYMN 189. (C. M.) I HARK! from the tombs a mournful sound; Mine ears attend the cry; « Ye living men, come view the ground “ Where you must shortly lie. 2 “ Princes, this clay must be your bed, " In spite of all your tow'rs; i The tall, the wise, the rev'rend head “ Must lie as low as ours." And are we still secure ? And yet prepare no more? 4 Grant us the pow'r of quick’ning grace To raise our souls to thee, That we may view thy glorious face . To all eternity. HYMN 190. Job xiv. 11–14. 1 THE mighty flood that rolls Its torrents to the main, From that abyss again: Descending down to night, Back to the sphere of light: 3 And man, when in the grave, Can never quit its gloom, The slumber of the tomb. 4 O may I find, in death, A hiding-place with God, Secure from wo and sin; till call'd To share his bless'd abode! 5 Cheer'd by this hope, I wait, Through toil, and care, and grief, And death shall bring relief. HYMN 191. Quit, ( quit this mortal frame! And let me languish into life. Sister spirit, come away! Tell me, my soul, can this be death? 3 The world recedes, it disappears ! Heav'n opens on my eyes ! my ears With sounds seraphic ring ! o death, where is thy sting! XII. JUDGMENT. (C. M.) 1 WHEN, rising from the bed of death, O'erwhelm'd with guilt and fear, Oh! how shall I appear! And mercy may be sought, And trembles at the thought; In majesty severe, Oh! how shall I appear! Who does her sins lament, Shall endless wo prevent. Her pardon to procure, (S. M.) 1 AND will the Judge descend ? And must the dead arise ? And not a single soul escape His all-discerning eyes? Shall this dread sentence sound; Spread black despair around ? 3 “ Depart from me, accurs'd, " To everlasting flame, “For rebel angels first prepar'd, " Where mercy never came.” 4 How will my heart endure The terrors of that day : Astonish'd shrink away? The mansions of the dead, What joyful tidings spread! |
