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2 The world's esteem is but a bribe,

To buy their peace you sell your own;
The slave of a vain-glorious tribe,

Who hate you while they make you known.

3 The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! sad conclusion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

4 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treach'rous smiles;
She leads them, blindfold, by her rules,
And ruins all whom she beguiles.

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5 God knows the thousands who go
From pleasure, into endless woe;
And with a long despairing groan,
Blaspheme their Maker as they go.
6 O fearful thought! be timely wise;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms ;
And God shall take you to the skies,
Embrac'd in everlasting arms.

VII.

O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE.--ISAIAH, Xii.

1 I WILL praise thee ev'ry day,
Now thine anger's turn'd away!
Comfortable thoughts arise
From the bleeding sacrifice.

VOL. II.

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2 Here in the fair gospel field,
Wells of free salvation yield
Streams of life, a plenteous store,
And my soul shall thirst no more.

3 JESUS is become at length

My salvation and my strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.

4 Praise ye, then, his glorious name,
Publish his exalted fame!

Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.

5 Raise again thy joyful sound, Let the nations roll it round!

Zion shout, for this is he,

GOD the Saviour dwells in thee.

VIII.

THE CONTRITE HEART.--ISAIAH, lvii. 15.

1 THE Lord will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow :

Then tell me, gracious GoD, is mine
A contrite heart or no?

2 I hear, but seem to hear in vain,
Insensible as steel;

If ought is felt, 'tis only pain,

To find I cannot feel.

3 I sometimes think myself inclin'd
To love thee, if I could;

But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.

4 My best desires are faint and few,
I fain would strive for more;
But when I cry," My strength renew,"
Seem weaker than before.

5 Thy saints are comforted I know,
And love thy house of pray'r ;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

6 Oh make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break,
And heal it, if it be.

IX.

THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH.

ISAIAH, lx. 15--20.

1 HEAR what GOD the LORD hath spoken,

Oh my people, faint and few ;
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,
Fair abodes I build for you:
Themes of heart-felt tribulation
Shall no more perplex your ways:
You shall name your walls, salvation,
And your gates shall all be praise.

2 There like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures, without end, shall flow;
For the LORD, your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow :
Still in undisturb'd possession,
Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.

3 Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see ;
But your griefs, forever ending,
Find eternal noon in me:

GOD shall rise, and shining o'er you,
Change to day the gloom of night;
He, the LORD, shall be your glory,
GOD your eyerlasting light.

X.

JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.--JER. xxiii. 6.

1 MY GOD, how perfect are thy ways!
But mine polluted are;

Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.

2 I would speak what thou hast done

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To save me from my sin,

I cannot make thy mercies known,

But self-applause creeps in.

3 Divine desire, that holy flame Thy grace creates in me;

Alas! impatience is its name,
When it returns to thee.

4 This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, How does it overflow?

While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.

5 Let others in the gaudy dress
Of fancied merit shine;

The LORD shall be my righteousness,
The LORD forever mine.

XI.

EPHRAIM REPENTING.--LAM. XXXi. 18--20.

1 MY GOD, till I receiv'd thy stroke,
How like a beast was I;

So unaccustom'd to the yoke,
So backward to comply.

2 With grief my just reproach I bear,
Shame fills me at the thought;
How frequent my rebellions were!
What wickedness I wrought!

3 Thy merciful restraint I scorn'd,
And left the pleasant road;
Yet turn me and I shall be turn'd,
Thou art the LORD my God.

4 Is Ephraim banish'd from my thoughts, Or vile in my esteem!

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