RELIGIOUS RESOLUTIONS.

I

O! that thy statutes ev'ry hour

Might dwell upon my mind! Thence shou'd I feel a quick’ning pow'r,

And daily peace shou'd find.

II

To meditate thy precepts, LORD !

Shall be my chief employ; I never will forget thy word,

But make it all my joy.

III

Fain would I run in thy commands,

If thou my heart discharge From each bad passion's hateful bands,

And set my feet at large.

IV

My lips, with courage, shall declare

Thy statutes and thy name, Whatever loss, or scorn, I bear;

Nor yield to fear, or shame.

V

Let those depart, who wish to draw

My hand or heart to ill; l'll keep my maker's holy law,

And bow to all his will.

The Lord my pasture shall prepare,
And fecd me with a shepherd's care;
His presence shall my wants supply,
And guard me with a watchful eye;
My noon-day walks he shall attend,
And all my midnight hours defend.

II

When in the sultry glebe I faint,
Or, on the thirsty mountains pant;
To fertile vales and dewy meads,
My weary, wand’ring steps he leads,
Where peaceful rivers, soft and slow,
Amidst the verdant landscape flow,

III

Though in a bare and rugged way,
Through devious lonely wilds I stray ;
His presence shall my pains beguile,
The barren wilderness shall smile,
With sudden greens and lierbage crown'd;
And streams shall murmur all around.

IV

Though in the paths of death I tread,
With gloomy horrors overspread ;
My stedfast heart shall fear no ill,
For thou, O LORD! art with me still ;
Thy friendly hand shall give me aid,
And guide me through the awful shade.

MÅN MORTAL, AND GOD ETERNAL,

I

Through ev'ry age, eternal GOD!
Thou art our rest, our safe abode ;
High was thy throne ere heav'n was made,
Or carth, thy huinble footstool, laid.

II
Long badst thou reign'd cre time began,
Or dust was fashion'd into man;
And long thy kingdom shall endure,
When earth and time shall be no more.

ITI
With thee a thousand years amount
Not to a day in our account,
Like yesterday's departed light,
Or, an unnoticed watch of night.

IV

Ah! what is life in all its pride ?
A rapid year, an ebbing tide ;
A winter's gleam, a morning flow'r
1 hat fades and withers in an hour.

V
Teach us, O LORD! how frail is man!
And kindly lengthen out our span;
Till, formd by wisdom, we shall be
Prepar’d to die, and dwell with thee.

Hark! the glad tidings ! Jesus.comcs;

Messiah promis'd long :
Let ev'ry heart a throne prepare,

And every voice a song !

II

On him the spirit, largely shed,

Exerts its sacred fire : Wisdom and pow'r, and zeal and love,

His holy breast inspire,

UJI

He comes, from galling chains of vice,

To free the captive mind;
He comes to pour the cheering light

Of truth upon the mind.

IV

He comes with blessings for the meek,

The broken heart to cure ;
And, with the treasures of his love,

T'enrich the humble poor.

V

Glory to God! who reigns on high,

And heav'nly peace on earth ; Good will to man, to angels joy,

At the messiah's birth.

CHRIST THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.

I

Behold! the prince of peace !

The chosen of the LORD ! God's well-beloved son ! fulfils

The sure prophetic word.

1

No royal pomp adorns

This king of righteousness; Meckness and patience, truth and love

Compose his princely dress.

Jesus, the light of men !

His doctrine life imparts ;
O! may we feel its quick’ning pow'r

To warm and glad our hearts !

IV

Cheer'd by its beams, our lives

Shall speed the heav'nly way:
The path which Christ has mark'd and trod,

Will lead to endless day.