Immagini della pagina
PDF
ePub

Then will we trust our gracious God, And rest upon his name. 3 Blest is the man, O God,

That stays himself on thee!Who waits for thy salvation, Lord, Shall thy salvation see.

249

L. M.

The Gospel exemplified in the Conduct. SO let our lips and lives express The holy gospel we profess; So let our works and virtues shine, To prove the doctrine all divine. 2 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad The honors of our Saviour God: When his salvation reigns within, And grace subdues the power of sin. 3 Our flesh and sense must be denied, Passion and envy, lust and pride; While justice, temperance, truth, and love, Our inward piety approve.

4 Religion bears our spirits up,

While we expect that blessed hope-
The bright appearance of the Lord-
And faith stands leaning on his word.

250

S. M.

Death to Sin by the Cross of Christ.

SHALL we go on to sin,
Because thy grace abounds,
Or crucify the Lord again,
And open all his wounds?

2 Forbid it, mighty God!
Nor let it e'er be said,

That we, whose sins are crucified,
Should raise them from the dead.

3 We will be slaves no more,

Since Christ has made us free,
Has nailed our tyrants to his cross,
And bought our liberty.

251

L. M.

Living to Christ.

MY gracious Lord, I own thy right To every service I can pay, And call it my supreme delight, To hear thy dictates and obey. 2 What is my being, but for theeIts sure support-its noblest end? "Tis my delight thy face to see,

And serve the cause of such a friend. 3 I would not breathe for worldly joy, Or to increase my worldly good; Nor future days nor powers employ To spread a sounding name abroad. 4 "Tis to my Saviour I would live;

To him, who for my ransom died;
Nor could all worldly honor give

Such bliss as crowns me at his side.
5 His work my hoary age shall bless,
When youthful vigor is no more;
And my last hour of life confess
His saving love-his glorious power.

252

t

S. M.

The vigilant Servant.

YE servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait;

With joy obey his heavenly word,
And watch before 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!-'tis your Lord's command;
And while we speak, he's near:
Mark the first signal of his hand,
And ready all appear.

4 Oh happy servant he,
In such a posture found!

He shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honor crowned.

253

C. M.

God the Author of Mercies and Afflictions.
O THOU, whose mercy guides my way!
Though now it seem severe,
Forbid my unbelief to say

There is no mercy here!

2 Oh! may I, Lord, desire the pain
That comes in kindness down,
Far more than sweetest earthly gain,
Succeeded by a frown.

8 Then, though thou bend my spirit low,
Love only shall I see;

[ocr errors]

The gracious hand, that strikes the blow,
Was wounded once for me.

[blocks in formation]

SINCE all the varying scenes of time
God's watchful eye surveys,

Oh, who so wise to choose our lot,
Ör to appoint our ways!

2 Good, when he gives-supremely good, Nor less when he denies;

Ev'n crosses, from his sovereign hand,
Are blessings in disguise.

3 Why should we doubt a Father's love,
So constant and so kind?
To his unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.

4 In thy fair book of life divine,
My God, inscribe my name;
There let it fill some humble place
Beneath my Lord the Lamb!

255

C. M.

Faith prevailing in Trouble.

WHEN languor and disease invade
This trembling house of clay,
"Tis sweet to look beyond my pain,
And long to fly away :-

2 Sweet to look inward, and attend
The whispers of his love;
Sweet to look upward, to the place
Where Jesus pleads above-

3 Sweet to look back, and see my name
In life's fair book set down;
Sweet to look forward, and behold
Eternal joys my own:-

4 Sweet on his faithfulness to rest,
Whose love can never end;
Sweet on the covenant of his grace
For all things to depend:-

5 Sweet, in the confidence of faith,
To trust his firm decrees;

Sweet to lie passive in his hands,
And know no will but his.

If such the sweetness of the stream,
What must the fountain be,

Where saints and angels draw their bliss,
O Lord, direct from thee!

[blocks in formation]

FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise :-

2 'Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to thee.

3 Oh let the hope that thou art mine,
My life and death attend—

Thy presence through my journey shine, And crown my journey's end.'

257

S. M.

Casting our Cares on God.

HOW gentle God's commands!

How kind his precepts are!
Come, cast your burdens on the Lord,
And trust his constant care.

2 His bounty will provide;

His saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears creation up,
Shall guard his children well.

3 Why should this anxious load
Press down your weary mind?

« IndietroContinua »