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12.

MAT. vi. 19-22.

WITH grateful hearts, we own the share

Of earthly blessings God hath given; Yet on our thoughts we still would bear, That our great treasure is in heaven.

2 Why should possessions of a day,

Our hearts and thoughts so captive take? Treasures which soon must pass away, Or we ourselves must soon forsake!

3 Poor are the joys mere wealth can give,
And fleeting oft, or clad in gloom;

And can such joys the heart relieve,
Or light the prospect of the tomb?

4 Those treasures seek, which never fade,

Those joys which reach and bless the soul; Joys which to ev'ry comfort add,

and in the hour of death console.

5 Then is our full possession nigh,

Then shall we all our treasure know; We rise to joys as heaven high, Unfading and unmix'd with woe.

73.

MAT. vi. 25-33.

1 Do gathering clouds around you lour,

Obscure each scene, and threaten woe; Or have you felt the thunder's power, And seen your pleasing hopes laid low?

2 O! lift your thoughts this world above, And let your troubled hearts be still; Behold in God a Father's love,

A love, his humblest creatures feel.

3 The helpless birds which skim the air,
Receive their food in season due;
They are your heavenly Father's care,
And shall he then not care for you?

4 Behold the lilies how they grow!
No useful toil affords them aid;
Yet kings in all their royal show,

Were ne'er like one of them array'd.

5 Shall he who clothes with grace the flowers,
Which bloom to-day, to-morrow die;
Not think of you when danger lours,
Your wants with greater care supply?

6 Seek first his kingdom's grace to share,

And tread the path which leads to heaven:
Let this be still your greatest care,
And lesser blessings shall be given.

7 The fury of the storm shall cease,

And rest with dawning light shall come;
While, rising bright the lands of peace,
You see with joy your promis'd home.

74.

MAT. vii. 13.

1 TWO different roads before us lie,
in which must mortals go;
They terminate in future lands
of highest bliss or woe.

2 Narrow the way which leads to life,
and constant care requires:

And those who keep its onward course,
must conquer vain desires.

3 But broad the way which ends in death,
and easy seems and plain;
Flowers seem to rise on ev'ry side,
and pleasures still to reign.

4 Yet thorns are mingled with the flowers,
and poison'd is its air;

Ills rise on ills at ev'ry step,
and end in dark despair.

5 The path of life becomes more plain
and pleasing, as we go;

New prospects rise of coming bliss,
and health and vigour grow.

6 Our Master grants his gracious aid,
hope cheers us on our road;

Till, with enraptur'd hearts, we see
the city of our God.

7 O! may we choose this heavenly path,
though numbers should be few;
And shun that path of sin and woe,
which multitudes pursue.

75.

MAT. vii. 16-27.

1 OBSERVE the trees; the fruits they bring, Are like the root from which they spring;

So, by a holy life are known

Those friends whom Jesus deigns to own.

2 Full many, too, may blossom fair,
Which only leaves or poison bear;
But soon, the false appearance found,
Their master roots them from his ground.

3 Not every one who calls me Lord,
The Saviour said, with solemn word,
My kingdom's pure delights shall feel;
But he who doth my Father's will.

4 O! many in my day will claim
Some boasted title to my name;
Whom ne'er I knew, and ne'er will own,
Whose sins have left them all undone.

5 Like him who, on the tow'ring rock,
Builds safe his house from ev'ry shock
Of wind and rain, and swelling tides,
Is he whose life my doctrine guides.

6 But he who hears, yet lives in guilt,
Is he whose house on sand is built:
The wind, rain, floods, in evil day,
Sweep his weak edifice away.

7 Change thou each corrupt heart, O Lord!
And teach us to observe thy word:

1

Thy servants may we wholly be;
Thy servants own'd at last by Thee!

My

76.

MAT. ix. 2.

Y Saviour! let me hear thy voice pronounce the words of peace: A contrite rebel sues for grace,

a captive seeks release.

.

2 Then cheerful, where thy hand shall lead, the darkest path I'll tread;

Cheerful I'll quit these mortal shores,
and mingle with the dead.

3 When dreadful guilt is done away,
no other fears we know;

And he who grace dispenses now,
shall future crowns bestow.

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77.

MAT. xi. 25, 26.

FATHER! Lord of heaven and earth, Sov'reign, yet wise are all thy ways; Let trembling still chastise our mirth, With trembling ever let us praise.

2 The great, the wealthy, and the wise,
Alas! in all their pomp forlorn;
Behold no ray in mercy's skies,
No ray of glory's dawning morn.

3 While on the poor that helpless sigh,
The babe in sorrow's shade that pines,
Bright radiance beams from all the sky,
And God the Sun of glory shines.

4 Even so it seemed good to Thee!
And good and righteous are thy ways;
Hush'd let each impious murmur be,
Let ev'ry thought be humble praise.