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98.

Luke xii. 31.

1 Now let a true ambition rise,
and ardour fire the breast,

To rise to worlds above the skies,
and number with the bless'd.

2 Away each grovelling anxious care,
beneath a Christian's aim;
We seek to gain immortal joys,
in our Redeemer's name.

3 Ye hearts with youthful vigour warm,
the glorious prize pursue;
Nor fear the want of earthly good,
while heaven is kept in view.

99.

Luke xii. 32.

1 YE little flock! whom Jesus feeds,

dismiss your doubts and fears; Look to the Shepherd of your souls, and wipe away your tears.

2 Though fiercest foes should prowl around, his staff is your defence;

He'll guide you through the desert land, and call forth waters thence.

3 And see the land your Father gives
of safety and of rest!

The feeblest whom his Son conducts,
shall triumph with the blest.

100.

Luke xii. 33.

1 THESE mortal joys, how soon they fade, how swift they pass away!

The dying flower reclines its head,
the beauty of a day.

2 And soon are all the treasures lost,
men fondly call their own:

They scarce can the possession boast,
when straight they find them gone.

3 But there are joys which cannot die,
and joys for ever sure;

Treasures beyond the changing sky,
from every change secure.

4 The mite my willing hands can give,
at Jesus' feet I lay;

Grace shall the humble gift receive,
and grace at large repay.

101.

Luke xii. 35-38.

1 YE servants of the Lord,

Each in his office wait;

Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.

2 Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;

Gird up your loins, as in his sight,
For awful is his name.

3 Watch," is your Lord's command, And while we speak, he's near;

Mark the first signal of his hand,
And ready all appear.

4 O happy servant he,

Prepar'd and faithful found; He shall his Lord with rapture see, And be with honour crown'd.

102.

Luke xiv. 12-22.

1 THE King of heaven, his table spreads, its joys may all receive; The weary, wandering, and lost, may hither come and live.

2 Behold! he sends his servants forth, to call them to his board;

And paradise with all its joys,

could not such bliss afford.

3 Ye faint and poor, who long have stray'd in sin's dark mazes, come;

Come from the hedges and highways, ye find a home.

here shall

All things are ready, come away,

nor weak excuses frame; Accept the offer mercy gives,

and bless the Master's name.
I

103.

Luke xv. 3-8.

1 WHEN some kind shepherd, from his flock, has lost a wand'ring sheep; He anxious roves o'er dale and rock, and climbs the mountain's steep.

2 Triumphant joy dilates his heart, when he the lost has found; His joys a cheerful tone impart, to all his friends around.

3 Thus, heaven and saints on earth rejoice,
when men from sin return;

Follow their heavenly Shepherd's voice,
their sad rebellion mourn.

4 Their cheerful strains, the saints below,
in songs of praise employ;

Beyond the skies the tidings go,
and heaven is fill'd with joy.

104.

LUKE XV. 11, to the end.

1 WHILE I, the prodigal exclaim'd,

starve in a foreign land;

The meanest in my father's house,

is fed with bounteous hand.

2 I'll go, and in contrition deep,

fall down before his face;

Father! I've sinn'd 'gainst heaven and thee, nor can deserve thy grace.

3 While yet afar, the father sees and ran and kiss'd his son:

The son, in humblest grief, bewail'd the follies he had done.

4 But bring the fairest robe to him, the joyful father said;

To him each mark of love be shown, and every honour paid:

5 A day of feasting I ordain,

my house with joy abound; My son was dead, and lives again, was lost, and now is found.

6 Thus, as a father, God forgives, and joy abounds in heaven; Thus, let us joy when sinful men repent, and are forgiven.

7 O sinners! turn, while yet ye may,
and to your father come:

Why perish in a foreign land,
who have a father's home!

105.

LUKE xix. 10.

1 WEAK, guilty, lost in sin's dark maze,

no star to cheer the gloom; We saw increasing horrors rise, our end, the sinner's doom.

2 But see! unworthy though we were, our God a Saviour sends;

When all around was hopeless night,

the Son of God descends.

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