185. The Spirit witnessing our Adoption. (Rom. viii. 15.)
OH happy they, God's chosen race,
Adopted children of his grace;
How pure the bliss they share!
A bliss unseen by worldly eyes;
Within their heart the treasure lies;
They know and feel it there.
The sons of God, who fear to grieve
The gracious Spirit they receive,
Adore his quick'ning grace;
And, strong in undissembled love,
By deeds of holy virtue prove
Their hearts his dwelling place.
O Messenger of rich delight,
Whose beam dispels the darkest night,
And makes our sorrows cease;
Thy comfort soothes our mortal pains;
Thy grace our feeble strength sustains;
Ŏ bless us with thy peace!
186. The Spirit of Truth. (1 Kings xvii. 24.)
MANCHESTER. C. M.
THE Spirit breathes upon the Word,
And brings the truth to sight:
Precepts and promises afford
A sanctifying light.
A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun;
It gives a light to ev'ry age;-
It gives, but borrows none.
The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
Its truths upon the nations rise;—
They rise, but never set.
My God! let endless thanks be thine,
For such a bright display;
Which makes a world of darkness shinę
With beams of heav'nly day.
187. The Blessedness of God's Children. (Rom. viii. 16, 17.)
ABBA, Father, while we sing,
Hear the thankful praise we bring;
Taught to cast our care on thee,
Daily mercies, Lord, we see:
Yet enrich us with thy grace;
Give us with thy sons a place.
By the Holy Spirit led;
Nourish'd with celestial bread;
Strengthen'd through their mortal strife;
Kept to everlasting life;
Peace and hope to them are given;
Time and glory, earth and heaven.
What though trials wait us here;
Christ endur'd what we must bear ;
If his grace our strength sustain,
Welcome sorrow, shame, and pain;
Peace shall flow from ev'ry loss;
Endless glory from the Cross.
Profession evidenced by Holiness.
(Matt. vii. 20, 21.)
ROCKINGHAM, L. M.
BLEST is the man, for ever blest,
Whose guilt is pardon'd by his God;
Whose sins with sorrow are confest,
And cancell'd by the Saviour's blood.
No merit of his own he pleads,
And not on works, but grace relies;
Yet ever strives by righteous deeds
To prove his title to the skies.
From guile his heart and lips are free;
His humble joy, his holy fear,
With deep repentance well agree,
And join to shew his faith sincere.
Fearless Profession of Religion.
(1 Kings xviii. 21-24.)
WESTMINSTER NEW. C. M.
I'M not asham'd to own the Lord,
Or to defend his cause;
Maintain the honor of his word,
The glory of his laws.
Jesus, my God, I love thy name,
And on that name rely;
Thou wilt not put my soul to shame,
Nor leave my hope to die.
Firm as thy throne thy promise stands;
Eternal as thy power;
I rest secure within thy hands,
Till the decisive hour.
Then wilt thou own my humble name
Before thy Father's face;
And in the New Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place.
Dependence upon God's Help.
(1 Kings xix. 4.)
O HELP us Lord! in all our need
Thy heav'nly succour give;
Help us in thought, in word, in deed,
Through ev'ry hour we live.
Thy strength and comfort, Lord, impart,
When gloomy doubt prevails;
When fear and sorrow wound the heart,
And trembling nature fails.
Help us with humble faith to pray;
With holy joy to praise;
And, walking in thy perfect way,
To serve thee all our days.
In all temptations, Lord, be nigh,
To whom for help we flee;
And oh support us when we die;
Then take our souls to thee!
191. Pleading for Help. (1 Cor. x. 13.)
MOUNT CALVARY. C. M.
O THOU, from whom all goodness flows,
I lift my heart to thee;
In all my conflicts, pain, and woes,
Good Lord, remember me!
When on my fearful, burden'd heart,
My sins press heavily;
Thy pardon grant, thy peace impart :
Good Lord, remember me!
If strong temptations crowd my way,
And ills I cannot flee;
Let strength be equal to my day:
Good Lord, remember me!
When in the solemn hour of death
I bow to thy decree;
Be this the prayer of my last breath,--
Good Lord, remember me!
192. Zealous Exertions in God's Service. (Luke xvi. 8.)
AWAKE, my soul, stretch ev'ry nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heav'nly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.
'Tis God's all animating voice
That cheers thee from on high;
"Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye.
A cloud of witnesses around
Thy glorious course survey:
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.
Then wake, my soul, stretch ev'ry nerve,
And press with vigor on;
A heav'nly race demands thy zcal,
And an immortal crown.
193.Mourning past Neglect. (1 Kings xxi. 20—27.)
AS o'er the past my mem'ry strays,
Why heaves the secret sigh?
"Tis that I mourn departed days,
Still unprepar'd to die.
The world, and worldly things belov'd,
My anxious thoughts employ'd:
While time unhallow'd, unimprov'd,
Presents a fearful void.
Yet, holy Father! wild despair
Chase from this lab'ring breast:
Thy grace it is which prompts the prayer;
That grace can do the rest.
My life's best remnant all be thine;
And when thy sure decree
Bids me this fleeting breath resign-
O take my soul to thee!
Danger of delaying Repentance.
(1 Kings xxii. 37, 38.)
HASTEN, sinner, to be wise;
Stay not for the morrow's sun;
Wisdom if you still despise,
Harder is she to be won.
Hasten, sinner, to return;
Stay not for the morrow's sun;
Lest thy lamp should cease to burn,
Ere the needful work be done.
Hasten mercy to implore:
Stay not for to-morrow's sun;
Lest thy season should be o'er,
Ere to-morrow is begun.
Lord! do thou the sinner turn;
Rouse him from his senseless state;
Let him not thy counsel spurn,
And lament his choice too late.'
|