Imatges de pàgina
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Heav'n is the home of ev'ry saint
To heav'n their souls ascend,
To meet their mighty Saviour God,
Their Father and their Friend.

Reflections for a Sabbath Evening.

"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies."---Ps. cxix.

The day of rest is nearly gone;
But how have I those duties done,
That mark this sacred day?
Did I commence with solemn pray'r?
Did I refrain from worldly care,
And run my heav'nly way?

For what is given this day of rest?
That men should be divinely blest,

With milk and honey fed;

May taste the sweets of heav'nly peace,
In truth improve, in love increase,

And eat celestial bread.

Then, O my soul, thy God obey!

Keep holy ev'ry sabbath day,

And worship him in love!

Then wilt thou rightly keep the rest,
With ev'ry solid good be bless'd,

And rise to heav'n above.

Christmas Eve.

"Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the

desart a high way for your God."---Isa. c. 40.

A herald voice the lonely desert cheers,
Prepare the way! Jehovah God appears!
The Saviour comes, by prophets long fortold:
The deaf shall hear him, and the blind behold.

Lo! from the stem of Jesse springs a rod,
His name Immanuel, the mighty God,
The everlasting Father, Prince of Peace!
Whose sacred government shall still increase.

Justice and judgment shall his throne defend,
And peace with white-rob'd innocence descend;
The Lord of Hosts shall o'er his foes prevail,
And crime shall cease, and falsehood's empire fail.

As the good shepherd's care his flock directs,
By day o'er sees them, and by night protects;
So shall mankind his guardian care engage,
The promis'd father of an endless age.

See a long train fair Salem's courts adorn! See future sons and daughters yet unborn, In crowding ranks, on every side arise, Receiving life, preparing for the skies.

Christmas Day.

"Behold your God."---Isa. xl. 9.

'Tis time, my soul, and more than time,
To turn from sin away;
Then bid to ev'ry ling'ring crime

A last adieu to-day.

To-day the Lord of earth and skies

Thy flesh and nature bore;
Rise, then! with holy ardour rise;
Resolve to sin no more.

Glory to Jesu's sacred name,

Who all my sorrows bore!
For this great end the Saviour came,
That I should sin no more.

Yes, God who reigns in worlds of bliss,

Where angels him adore,

Was born and glorified in this,

That I should sin no more.

Thee, holy Saviour, dearest name!
We love, embrace, adore;

And while thy honours we proclaim,
Would go and sin no more.

New Year's Eve.

"We spend our years as a tale that is told."---Ps. xc.

Time by moments steals away,

First the hour, and then the day:
Small the daily loss appears;

Yet it soon amounts to years.
Thus another year is flown,
Now it is no more our own,
If it brought us promis'd good,
Than the years before the flood.

But (may none of us forget)
It has left us much in debt;
Favours from the Lord receiv'd,
Sins that have his spirit griev'd,
Mark'd by an unerring hand,
In his book recorded stand.
Who can tell the vast amount,
Placed to each of our account?

But, poor careless sinner, say,
What can you to justice pay?

Tremble, lest, when life is past,
Into prison you be cast!

Will you still increase the score?
Still be careless as before?
O forbid it, gracious Lord,
Touch our spirits by thy word!

Spared to see another year,
Let thy blessing meet us here;
Come, thy dying work revive,
Bid thy drooping garden thrive:
Sun of Righteousness, arise!

Warm our hearts and bless our eyes,

Let our prayer thy pity move,

Make this year a year of love. NEWTON.

New Year's Day.

"Thy years, O God, are throughout all generations." "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands." "They shall perish, but thou shalt endure; nay all of them shall wax old like a garment: as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed. But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.--- Ps. cii.

O Lord, to thee our grateful song we bring, From whom our earliest, latest comforts spring,

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