6 But ah! my inmost spirit cries,
Still bind me to thy sway;
Else the next cloud that veils my skies
Drives all these thoughts away.
(281.) L. M.
Love the chief of graces.
1 HADI the tongues of Greeks and Jews, And nobler speech than angels use;
If love be absent, I am found,
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
2 Were I inspir'd to preach and tell
'All that is done in heav'n and hell,
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
3 Should I distribute all my store,
To feed the bowels of the poor;
Or give my body to the flame,
To gain a martyr's glorious name:
4 If love to God, and love to men
Be absent, all my hopes are vain;
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal
The work of love can e'er fulfil.
(213.)
Prayer for divine guidance.
LOGOD of Jacob, by whose hand
Thy people still are fed;
Who, through this weary pilgrimage,
Hast all our fathers led!
2 To thee our humble vows we raise,
To thee address our prayer;
And in thy kind and faithful breast
Deposit all our care.
S Through each perplexing path of life
Our wand'ring footsteps guide;
Give us by day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.
O! spread thy cov'ring wings around,
Till all our wand'rings cease;
And at our fathers' lov'd abode
Our souls arrive in peace!
5 To thee, as to our cov❜nant God,
We'll our whole selves resign,
And thankful own, that all we are,
And all we have, is thine.
438. The importance and influence of love.
[APPY the heart, where graces reign,
Where love inspires the breast:
Love is the brightest of the train,
And strengthens all the rest.
2 Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain,
And all in vain our fear:
Our stubborn sins will fight and reign,
If love be absent there.
3 'Tis love, that makes our cheerful feet
In swift obedience move.
The devils know, and tremble too;
But devils do not love.
This is the grace, that lives and sings,
When faith and hope shall cease.
'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet realms of bliss.
(292.) S. M.
Watchfulness.
1 YE servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait.
Observant of his heav'nly word,
And watchful at his gate.
Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame,
Gird up your loins, as in his sight,
For awful is his name.
Watch! 'tis your Lord's command, And while we speak, he's near. Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.
O happy servant he,
In such a posture found!
IIe shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honour crown'd.
440. Jacob's wrestling with God. Gen
LORD, I cannot let thee go,
Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,
Mine's an urgent, pressing case,
2 Dost thou ask me, who I am?
Ah! my Lord, thou know'st my name
Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with thee!
s Thou didst once a wretch behold,
In rebellion blindly bold;
Scoru thy grace-thy pow'r defy---
That poor rebel, Lord, was I.
Once a sinner near despair
Sought thy mercy-seat by pray❜r;
Mercy heard and set him free,
Lord, that merey came to me.
5 Many days have past since then,
Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now;
Who could hold me up but thou?
6 Thou hast help'd in ev'ry need→→→
This emboldens me to plead;
After so much mercy past,
Canst thou let me sink at last?
7 No-I must maintain my hold-
'Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesus' sake.
FATHER, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One in Three, and Three in One,
As by the celestial host,
Let thy will on earth be done:
Praise by all to thee be given,
Glorious Lord of earth and heaven.
2 If so poor a worm as I
May to thy great glory live,
All my actions sanctify,
All my words and thoughts receive.
Claim me, for thy service claim,
All I have, and all I am.
3 Take my soul and body's powers!
Take my mem'ry, mind, and will,
All my goods and all my hours,
All I know and all 1 feel:
All I think, or speak, or do;
Take my heart; but make it new!
4 Now, O God, thine own I am:
Now I give thee back thine own;
Freedom, friends, and health, and fame,
Consecrate to thee alone:
Thine I live, thrice happy 1;
Happier still if thine I die.
5 Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One in Three, and Three in One,
As by the celestial host,
Let thy will on earth be done:
Praise by all to thee be given,
Glorious Lord of earth and heaven.
302
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE FIGURATIVELY DESCRIBED
AS TAKING UP THE CROSS.
Not ashamed of Christ.
JESUS! ! and shall it ever be,
A mortal man asham'd of thee!
Ashamed of thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days!
2 Asham'd of Jesus! sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star;
He sheds the beams of light divine
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
3 Asham'd of Jesus! just as soon
Let midnight be asham❜d of noon:
'Tis midnight with my soul, till he,
Bright Morning Star! bid darkness flee.
4 Asham'd of Jesus! that dear friend
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No; when I blush-be this
my shame,
That I no more revere his name.
5 Asham'd of Jesus! yes, I may,
When I've no guilt to wash away,
No tear to wipe, no good to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
Till then-nor is my boasting vain-
Till then I boast a Saviour slain!
And O, may this my glory be,
That Christ is not asham'd of me!
World renounced.
me no more of earthly toys,
Of sinful mirth and carnal joys,
(The things I lov'd before:)
Let me but view my Saviour's face,
And feel his animating grace,
And I desire no more.
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