98. Luke xii. 31. 1 Now let a true ambition rise, To rise to worlds above the skies, 2 Away each grovelling anxious care, 3 Ye hearts with youthful vigour warm, 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 The feeblest whom his Son conducts, 100. Luke xii. 33. 1 THESE mortal joys, how soon they fade, how swift they pass away! The dying flower reclines its head, 2 And soon are all the treasures lost, They scarce can the possession boast, 3 But there are joys which cannot die, Treasures beyond the changing sky, 4 The mite my willing hands can give, Grace shall the humble gift receive, 101. Luke xii. 35-38. 1 YE servants of the Lord, Each in his office wait; Observant of his heavenly word, 2 Let all your lamps be bright, Gird up your loins, as in his sight, 3 Watch," is your Lord's command, And while we speak, he's near; Mark the first signal of his hand, 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. 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, Follow their heavenly Shepherd's voice, 4 Their cheerful strains, the saints below, Beyond the skies the tidings go, 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, Why perish in a foreign land, 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. |