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4 God is the treasure of my soul,
the source of lasting joy;

A joy which want shall not impair,
Nor death itself destroy.

61.

ZEPH. iii. 12.

1 PRAISE to the Sov’reign of the sky,
who, from his lofty throne,

Looks down on all that humble are,
and calls such souls his own.

2 On his resign'd and pious poor,
he makes his love to shine;
And fills their cottages of clay,
with lustre all divine.

3 Among the meanest of thy flock,
still let my dwelling be;
Rather than under gilded roofs,
if absent Lord from thee.

4 Poor and afflicted though we be,
in thy strong name we trust;
And bless the hand of sov'reign love,

which lifts us from the dust.

62.

ZECH. i. 5.

1 How swift the torrent rolls,

which bears us to the sea;

The tide which bears our thoughtless souls,

to vast eternity.

2 Our fathers, where are they,

with all they call'd their own?

Their joys and griefs, and hopes and cares, and wealth and honour gone!

3 But joy or grief succeeds,

beyond our mortal thought; While the poor remnant of their dust, lies in the grave forgot.

4 There, where the fathers lie, must all the children dwell; Nor other heritage possess, but such a gloomy cell.

5 God of our fathers, hear,
thou everlasting friend!

To thee, as on life's utmost verge,
we now our souls commend.

6 Of all the pious dead

may we the footsteps trace;
Till, with them in the land of light,
we dwell before thy face.

63.

MAL. iii. 16, 17.

1 THE Lord on mortal men looks down

from his celestial throne;

And when the wicked swarm around,
he well discerns his own.

2 He sees the faithful friends, who mourn
the vices of the times;

And join their efforts to oppose
the wide prevailing crimes.

3 Met in his name, he deigns to lend to them a gracious ear;

And while his angels sing around, delights their voice to hear.

4 The chronicles of heaven shall keep their words, in transcript fair; And in the book of Zion's king, their names recorded are.

PART. II.

TRANSLATIONS AND PARAPHRASES.

64.

LUKE ii. 8-15.

1 WHILE humble shepherds watch'd their flocks
in Bethle'm's plains by night,
An angel sent from heaven appear'd,
and fill'd the plains with light.

2 Fear not, he said, (for sudden dread
had seiz'd their troubled mind;)
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind.

3 To

you, in David's town, this day, is born, of David's line,

The Saviour, who is Christ the Lord; and this shall be the sign:

4 The heavenly babe you there shall find, to human view display'd,

All meanly wrapp'd in swaddling-bands, and in a manger laid.

5 Thus spake the seraph; and forthwith appear'd a shining throng

Of angels, praising God; and thus address'd their joyful song;

6 All glory be to God on high, and to the earth be peace;

Good will is shown by heaven to men, and never more shall cease.

65.

LUKE ii. 25-33.

1 SIMEON into the sacred courts,
a heavenly impulse drew;
He saw the virgin hold her son,
and straight the Lord he knew.

2 With holy joy upon his face,
the good old father smil❜d;
And thus he spake, while in his arms
he clasp'd the promis'd child.

3 Now, Lord! according to thy word,
let me in peace depart;
Mine eyes have thy salvation seen,
and gladness fills my heart.

4 At length, my arms embrace my Lord, now let their vigour cease;

At last, my eyes my Saviour see,
now let them close in peace.

5 This great salvation long prepar'd,
and now disclos'd to view;

Hath prov'd thy love was constant still, and promises were true.

6 That Sun I now behold, whose light
shall heathen darkness chase;

And rays of brightest glory pour,
around thy chosen race.

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