There, too, a sharp designing trade To part with ease, and purchase pain. I know them, and I hate their din ; Am weary of the bustling crowd; Oh! for the joy thy presence gives, And if thou make thy temple shine, XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? John, xxi. 16. HARK, my soul! it is the Lord; 66 "I deliver'd thee when bound, And when bleeding, heal'd thy wound; "Can a woman's tender care Cease towards the child she bare? Yet will I remember thee. "Mine is an unchanging love, ; "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint, Oh! for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT. Phil. iv. 11. FIERCE passions discompose the mind, In vain by reason and by rule Since at his feet my soul has sate, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, ""Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell. "In life my grace shall strength supply, At death thou shalt find me nigh, To wipe thy tears away.” Thus I, who once my wretched days Taught in my Saviour's school of grace, XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. Heb. iv. 2. ISRAEL in ancient days Not only had a view But learn'd the Gospel too; The paschal sacrifice And blood-besprinkled door", And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood, The Lamb, the Dove, set forth His perfect innocence", Whose blood of matchless worth Should be the soul's defence; For he who can for sin atone, Must have no failings of his own. The scape-goat on his head1o Was to be seen no more: In him our Surety seem'd to say, 8 Exod. xii. 13. 9 Lev. xii. 6. 10 Lev. xvi. 21. Dipt in his fellow's blood, Express'd the sinner's plea ; O grant that I may faithful be XXI. SARDIS. Rev. iii. 1-6. "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, "And write what he declares, He whose Spirit, and whose word, Upholds the seven stars : All thy works and ways I search, Find thy zeal and love decay'd; Thou art call'd a living church, But thou art cold and dead. "Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive, And strengthen what remains ; Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend, Former times to mind recall, Lest my sudden stroke descend, And smite thee once for all. "Yet I number now in thee 11 Lev. xiv. 51-53. XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING. BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth, And let the seed of sacred truth Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Ye careless ones, O hear betimes Your youth is stain'd with many crimes, True, you are young, but there's a stone Or half the crimes which you have done rest. For you the public prayer is made; For We pray that you may early prove The Spirit's power to teach; You cannot be too young to love That Jesus whom we preach. XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH. SIN has undone our wretched race; And brought the sinner face to face This we repeat from year to year, |