There, too, a sharp designing trade 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; "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? Yes, she may forgetful be, "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint, 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. ISRAEL in ancient days Not only had a view Heb. iv. 2. 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, To reconcile an angry God. 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, The scape-goat on his head1o Was to be seen no more : 8 Exod. xii. 13. 9 Lev. xii. 6. 10 Lev. xvi. 21. Dipt in his fellow's blood, Express'd the sinner's plea ; Throughout the sacred page, 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, "Yet I number now in thee They for mine shall be confest; 11 Lev. xiv. 51-53. XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING. BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth, 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 For you the public prayer is made 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, |