3 Should I distribute all my store,

To feed the bowels of the poor ;
Or give my body to the flame,

To gain a martyr's glorious name ;4 If love to God, and love to men,

Be absent, all my hopes are vain :
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal,
The works of love can e'er fulfil.

HYMN 354. C. M. [#]

Law of Love.
1 All nature feels attractive power,

A strong, embracing force ;
The drops that sparkle in the flower,

The planets in their course. 2 Thus, in the universe of mind,

Is felt the law of love;
The charity, both strong and kind,

For all that live and move. 3 In this fine sympathetic chain

All creatures bear a part ;
Their every pleasure, every pain,

Linked to the feeling heart. 4 More perfect bond, the Christian plan

Attaches soul to soul ;
Our neighbour is the suffering man,

Though at the farthest pole. 5 To earth below, from heaven above,

The faith in Christ professed, More clearly shows that God is love,

And whom he loves is blessed.

HYMN 355. C. M. [#]

Christ's Love to Enemies our Example. 1 GOD of our mercy and our praise,

Thy glory is our song;
We'll speak the honours of thy grace

With a rejoicing tongue. 2 When Christ, among

the sons of

men, In humble form was found, With cruel slanders, false and vain,

They compassed him around. 3 Their miseries his compassion moved,

Their peace he still pursued :
They rendered hatred for his love,

And evil for his good. 4 Their malice raged without a cause ;

Yet, with his dying breath,
He prayed for murderers on his cross,

And blessed his foes in death. 5 O may his conduct, all divine,

To us a model prove :
Like his, O God, our hearts incline,

Our enemies to love.

RELIGION AND ITS FRUITS.

HYMN 356. C. M. [#]

Religion.
1 RELIGION is the chief concern

Of mortals here below;
May I its great importance learn,

Its sovereign virtue know. 2 More needful this than glittering wealth,

Or aught the world bestows;
Nor reputation, food, or health,

Can give such sweet repose.
3 Religion should our thoughts engage,

Amidst our youthful bloom ; 'Twill fit us for declining age,

'Twill fit us for the tomb.
4 O may my heart, by grace renewed,

Be my Redeemer's throne ;
And be my stubborn will subdued,

His government to own.
5 Let lively hope my soul inspire ;

Let warm affections rise ;
And

HYMN 357. C. M. [#]

Inconstancy in Religion. 1 IMMORTAL Source of light and grace,

We hail thy sacred name :
Through every year's revolving round,

Thy goodness is the same.
2 On us, all worthless as we are,

It wondrous mercy pours;
Sure as the world's established course,

Abundant as the showers.
3 In flowing tears our guilt we niourn,

And loud implore thy grace
To bear our feeble footsteps on

In all thy righteous ways.
4 Armed with this energy divine,

Our steadfast souls shall move ; And with increasing transports press,

To reach thy courts above.

HYMN 358. C. M. [# or b ]

Experimental Religion. 1 O FOR a closer walk with God,

A calm and heavenly frame,
And light to shine upon the road,

That leads me to the Lamb ! 2 What peaceful hours I once enjoyed ! How sweet their memory

still! But they have left an aching void,

The world can never fill.

3 Return, O holy Dove, return,

Sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,

And drove thee from my breast. 4 The dearest idol I have known,

Whate'er that idol be,
Help me to tear it from thy throne,

And worship only thee. 5 So shall my walk be close with God,

Calm and serene my frame;
And purer light shall mark the road,

That leads me to the Lamb.

HYMN 359. S. M. [#]

Joys of Religion. 1 How blest is man, O God,

When first, with single eye,
He views the glory of thy grace,

The day-spring from on high. 2 Through storms which cloud the skies,

And brood o'er earthly things,
The Sun of righteousness breaks forth,

With healing in his wings.
3 Struck by that light, his heart,

A barren soil no more,
Sends shoots of righteousness abroad,

Where follies sprung before. 4 The soul, so dreary once,

Once misery's dark domain,
Feels happiness unknown before,

And owns a heavenly reign.