The nobler beauties of the just
Shall never moulder in the dust,
Or know a sad decay;
Their honours time and death defy,
And round the throne of GOD on high
Beam everlasting day.
163. c. M.
Advantages of Early Religion.
HAPPY is he whose early years
Receive instruction well;
Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road which leads to hell.
Youth, when devoted to the LORD,
Is pleasing in his eyes;
A flower when offer'd in the bud,
Is no vain sacrifice.
'Tis easier work, if we begin
To fear the LORD betimes; While sinners who grow old in sin Are harden'd by their crimes.
It saves us from a thousand snares
To mind religion young;
With joy it crowns succeeding years,
And makes our virtues strong.
To thee Almighty God! to thee
Would we our hearts resign:
"Twill please us to look back and see
That our whole lives were thine.
Oh may the work of prayer and praise
Employ our daily breath;
Thus we're prepar'd for future days,
Or fit for early death.
A Conversation becoming the Gospel.
WHEN Jesus, our great Master, came
To teach us in his Father's name,
In every act, in every thought,
He liv'd the precepts which he taught.
So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtue shine,
Το prove the doctrine all divine.
Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honour of Almighty God;
When his salvation reigns within,
And faith subdues the power of sin.
Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth, and love,
Our inward piety approve.
What though we drink of sorrow's cup,
Religion bears our spirits up;
Hope waits the coming of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.
The Character and Happiness of Christians.
BLESS'D are the poor of patient mind,
To all their Maker's will resign'd;
Their calm submission GOD will own,
And raise them to a heavenly throne.
Bless'd are the men, who mourn for sin,
And a new course of life begin;
For them divine compassion flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.
Bless'd are the meek, who stand afar
From rage and passion, noise and war;
Life's purest joys are their reward,
And God will be their constant guard.
Bless'd are the men, who seek his face,
Hunger and thirst for righteousness;
They shall be well supplied and fed
With living streams and living bread.
Bless'd are the men, whose bosoms move And melt with sympathy and love;
The merciful shall ever find
That GOD is merciful and kind.
Bless'd are the pure, whose hearts are clean
From the defiling power of sin;
With endless pleasure they shall see
A GOD of spotless purity.
Bless'd are the men of peaceful life,
Who quench the kindling flame of strife;
They shall be call'd the heirs of bliss,
The sons of GOD, the GOD of peace.
Bless'd are the sufferers, who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake;
Their hearts may triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.
166. c. M.
The Christian Race.
AWAKE, my soul! stretch every nerve,
And press with vigour on;
A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.
'Tis God's all-animating voice,
Which calls thee from on high;
"Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thy aspiring eye ;-
That prize, with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,
When victors' wreaths, and monarchs' gems,
Shall blend in common dust.
May we, with sacred ardour fir'd,
The glorious prize pursue;
And meet with joy the high command
To bid this scene adieu.
STAND up, my soul! shake off thy fears,
And gird the gospel-armour on ;
March to the gates of endless joy,
Where thy great Captain Saviour's gone.
Sin and the world resist thy course;
But these, my soul! are vanquish'd foes;
For Jesus nail'd them to the cross,
And sang the triumph when he rose.
Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heavenly gate;
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glitt'ring robes for conquerors wait.
There shall I wear a victor's crown,
And triumph in the Almighty's grace,
When all the just, in chorus join'd,
Unite to celebrate his praise.
WHY should we waste in trifling cares
The lives divine compassion spares,
While, in the various range of thought,
The one thing needful is forgot?
Shall GOD invite us from above,
Shall Jesus urge his dying love,
Shall waken'd conscience give us pain,
And all these pleas unite in vain?
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