HYMN 355. C. M. [#]

Christ's Love to Enemies our Example. 1 God of our mercy and our praise, Thy glory is our song;

We'll speak the honours of thy grace
With a rejoicing tongue.

2 When Christ, among

the sons of

In humble form was found,

men,

With cruel slanders, false and vain,
They compassed him around.

3 Their miseries his compassion moved,
Their peace he still pursued:
They rendered hatred for his love,
And evil for his good.

4 Their malice raged without a cause; Yet, with his dying breath,

He prayed for murderers on his cross,
And blessed his foes in death.

5 O may his conduct, all divine,
To us a model prove:

Like his, O God, our hearts incline,
Our enemies to love.

RELIGION AND ITS FRUITS.

HYMN 356. C. M. [#]

Religion.

1 RELIGION is the chief concern
Of mortals here below;

May I its great importance learn,
Its sovereign virtue know.

2 More needful this than glittering wealth,
Or aught the world bestows;
Nor reputation, food, or health,
Can give such sweet repose.

3 Religion should our thoughts engage,
Amidst our youthful bloom;
"Twill fit us for declining age,
"Twill fit us for the tomb.

4 O may my heart, by grace renewed,
Be my Redeemer's throne;
And be my stubborn will subdued,
His government to own.

5 Let lively hope my soul inspire;
Let warm affections rise;

And may I wait with strong desire
To mount above the skies.

HYMN 357. C. M. [#]

Inconstancy in Religion.

1 IMMORTAL Source of light and grace,
We hail thy sacred name:
Through every year's revolving round,
Thy goodness is the same.

2 On us, all worthless as we are,
It wondrous mercy pours;

Sure as the world's established course, · Abundant as the showers.

.

3 In flowing tears our guilt we mourn,
And loud implore thy grace
To bear our feeble footsteps on
In all thy righteous ways.

4. Armed with this energy divine,
Our steadfast souls shall move;
And with increasing transports press,
To reach thy courts above.

HYMN 358. C. M. [# or b]
Experimental Religion.

1 O FOR a closer walk with God,
A calm and heavenly frame,
And light to shine upon the road,
That leads me to the Lamb!

2 What peaceful hours I once enjoyed! How sweet their memory still!

But they have left an aching void,
The world can never fill.

3 Return, O holy Dove, return,

Sweet messenger

of rest;

I hate the sins that made thee mourn, And drove thee from my breast.

4 The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

5 So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame;
And purer light shall mark the road,
That leads me to the Lamb.

HYMN 359. S. M. [#]

Joys of Religion.

1 How blest is man, O God,
When first, with single eye,
He views the glory of thy grace,.
The day-spring from on high.

2 Through storms which cloud the skies,
And brood o'er earthly things,
The Sun of righteousness breaks forth,
With healing in his wings.

3 Struck by that light, his heart,
A barren soil no more,
Sends shoots of righteousness abroad,
Where follies sprung before.

4 The soul, so dreary once,

Once misery's dark domain,
Feels happiness unknown before,
And owns a heavenly reign.

HYMN 360. L. M.

L. M.

[#]

A Conversation becoming the Gospel.
1 WHEN Jesus, our great Master, came
To teach us in his Father's name,
In every act, in every thought,
He lived the precepts which he taught.
2 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.

3 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honours of our Maker, God,
When his salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.
4 Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;

While justice, temperance, truth, and love, Our inward piety approve.

5 What though we drink of sorrow's cupReligion bears our spirits up;

Hope waits the coming of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.

HYMN 361. S. M. [# or b]

Misimprovement of religious Privileges.

1 LONG have we heard the sound
Of thy salvation, Lord;

Yet still how weak our faith is found,
And knowledge of thy word.