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THE WISE CHOICE.

Ι

BESET with snares on ev'ry hand,
In life's uncertain path we stand:
Father divine! diffuse thy light
To guide our doubtful footsteps right.

II

Direct the frail and wav'ring heart
Wisely to choose the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day
For joys that never fade away.

III

Then let the wildest storms arise:
Let tempests mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwreck shall we fear,
But all our treasures with us bear.

IV

If thou, o father! still art nigh,
Cheerful we 'll live, and joyful die :
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee.

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HEAVEN THE ABODE OF THE RIGHTEOUS.

I

THE spacious earth is thine, O LORD!
It owes its being to thy word:

And fill'd with various good, thy love
Hath greatly bless'd it from above.

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But there's a brighter world on high,
Thy palace, LORD! above the sky:
Who shall ascend that blest abode,
And dwell so near his maker, GOD?

III

They who abhor and fear to sin,

Whose hearts are pure, whose handsareclean: These shall our heav'nly father bless, And clothe with robes of righteousness.

IV

Such are the men, the pious men,
Who, thy great favour strive to gain;
Such shall enjoy the blissful sight,
And dwell in everlasting light.

A MORNING HYMN.

I

GOD of the morning! at whose voice
The cheerful sun makes haste to rise,
And, rob'd in splendour, doth rejoice
To run his journey through the skies;

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Oh! like the sun, may we fulfil
Th' appointed duties of the day;
With ready mind, and active will,
March on, and keep our heav'nly way.

III

LORD! thy commands are right and pure,
Enlight'ning our beclouded eyes;
Thy threat'nings just, thy promise sure :
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.

IV

Be thou, o GOD! our guide and strength
Till we arrive at heav'nly bliss ;
All our desires and hopes beside,
Are vanity, compar'd with this.

THE TRUE WAY TO FLEASE GOD.

I

WHEREWITH shall we approach thee, LORD!
And bow before thy throne?
Or, how procure thy kind regard,
And for our guilt atone?

II

Shall altars flame, and victims bleed,
And spicy fumes ascend?

Will these, our earnest wish succeed,
And make our GOD our friend?

III

Oh! no, great GOD! 'twere fruitless all,
Such off'rings are in vain :
No fatlings from the field or stall,
Thy favour can obtain.

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To men their rights we must allow,
And proofs of kindness give;
To thee with humble rev'rence bow,
And to thy glory live.

V

Hands that are clean, and hearts sincere,

Our GOD will ne'er despise ;'

And cheerful duty will prefer
To costly sacrifice.

TRUE HAPPINESS.

I

IF solid happiness we prize,
Within our breasts this jewel lies,
And they are fools who roam :
The world has little to bestow;
From our own selves our joys must flow,
Our bliss begins at home.

II

To be resign'd, when ills betide,
Patient, when favours are deny'd,

And pleas'd with favours giv'n :
This, gracious GOD! is wisdom's part,
This is that incense of the heart,
Whose fragrance reaches heav'n.

III

Thus thro' life's changing scenes we
Its chequer'd paths of joy and woe
With cautious steps we'll tread;
Quit its vain scenes without a tear,
Without a trouble or a fear,
And mingle with the dead:

IV

'11 go,

While conscience, like a faithful friend,
Shall through the gloomy vale attend,
And cheer our dying breath;
Shall, when all other comforts cease,
Like a kind angel, whisper peace,
And smooth the bed of death.

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