To him I'll cleave, and never part; 4 O that in Jesus' wounds, my soul And sing as changing seasons roll, 5 To what a test his love was put, 6 Let not my dear despised Lord, ག My joy, my crown, my boast be this, 7 Dead be my heart to all below, Why should I love the creature so ? 8 Still while upon this earth I stay, To all around I'll meekly say, 9 And when death's gloomy vale I walk, 1 To him I'll sing, of him I'll talk, CXXXVIII. BE Gravity and Decency. EHOLD the sons, the heirs of God, So dearly bought with Jesus' blood! Are they not born to heavenly joys, And shall they stoop to earthly toys? 2 Can laughter feed th' immortal mind? Were spirits of celestial kind Made for a jest, for sport and play, To wear out time, and waste the day? 3 Doth vain discourse, or empty mirth, Well suit the honours of their birth? Shall they be fond of gay attire, Which children love and fools admire? 4 What if we wear the richest vest, Peacocks and flies are better drest; This flesh with all its gaudy forms, Must drop to dust, and feed the worms. 5 Lord, raise our hearts and passions higher; Touch our vain souls with sacred fire; Then, with a heaven directed eye; We'll pass these glitt'ring trifles by.. 6 We'll look on all the toys below With such disdain as angels do; And wait the call that bids us rise To mansions promis'd in the skies. HOPE IN DARKNESS AND TRIALS. L. M. Chard tune. SELEC. CXXXIX. Hope in darkness. RIPPON'S GOD, my Sun, thy blissful rays Can warm, rejoice, and guide my heart! How dark, how mournful are my days, If thy enlivening beams depart! 2 Scarce through the shades, a glimpse of day Appears to these desiring eyes! But shall my drooping spirit say 3 O let me not despairing mourn, Though gloomy darkness spreads the sky; My glorious Sun will yet return And night with all its horrors fly. 4 O for the bright, the joyful day, When hope shall in fruition die! So tapers lose their feeble ray, Beneath the sun's refulgent eye. CXL. L. M. STEELE. Hope encouraged by a view of the divine perfections. 1 Sam. xxx, 6. 1 W Why heaves my heart the anxious sigh? WHY sinks my weak desponding mind? Can sov'reign goodness be unkind! 2 He holds all nature in his hand: That gracious hand on which we live, 3 "Tis he supports this dying frame, 4 Infinite wisdom! boundless power Unchanging faithfulness and love! Still kind to hear and strong to save. Speak to my heart the healing word, CXLI. C. M. NEWTON. O that I were as in months past! Job. xxix. 2. 1 WEET was the time when first I felt Applied to cleanse my soul from guilt, 2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd, And when the evening shades prevail'd; 3 In vain the tempter spread his wiles, 4 In prayer my soul drew near the Lord, And when I read his holy word, 5 Then to his saints I often spoke, & Now when the evening shade prevails, And when the morn the light reveals, 7 My prayers are now a chatt'ring noise, I read, the promise meets my eyes, * Now Satan threatens to prevail, 1 CXLII. L. M. P Hope in Darkness. N darkest hours and greatest grief, He turns to day my blackest night. And Sinai's thunders loudly roar, Then Jesus shows himself my bail, And justice cries I ask no more. 4 If Satan strive to cast me down, t Then speaks the Father, whose I am, CXLIII. L. M. P The same. ENEATH thy frowns O Lord I lie, BE Conceal'd thy face,--my conforts diet I see my sins, I see my trust, And own in all that thou art just. K |