5 Shows me the precious promise seal'd
With the Redeemer's blood;
And helps my feeble hope to rest,
Upon a faithful God.
6 There, there unshaken would I rest,
"Till this vile body dies;
And then on faith's triumphant wings,
At once to glory rise.
CXXXII. L. M. Doddridge.
The struggle between faith and unbelief. Mark
ESUS, our soul's delightful choice,
In thee. believing, we rejoice;
Yet still our joy is mix'd with grief,
While faith contends with unbelief.
2 Thy promises our hearts revive,
And keep our fainting hopes alive;
But guilt and fears and sorrows rise,
And hide the promise from our eyes.
3 0 let not sin and Satan boast,
While saints lie mourning in the dust;
Nor see that faith to ruin brought,
Which thy own gracious hand hath wrought.
4 Do thou the dying spark inflame;
Reveal the glories of thy name;
And put all anxious doubts to flight,
As shades dispers'd by opening light.
CXXXIII. S. M. Mount Ephraim Tune.
Rippon's Selec.
Weak Believer's encouraged.
YOUR harps, ye trembling saints,
Down from the willows take:
Loud to the praise of Christ our Lord
Bid every string awake.
2 Though in a foreign land,
We are not far from home; And nearer to our house above, We every moment come.
3 His grace shall to the end
Stronger and brighter shine;
Nor present things, nor things to come,
Shall quench the spark divine.
4 The time of love will come,
When we shall clearly see Not only that he shed his blood, But each shall say, for me.
5 Tarry his leisure then,
Wait the appointed hour;
Wait till the bridegroom of your souls
Reveal his love with power.
6 Blest is the man, O God,
That stays himself on thee! Who waits for thy salvation, Lord, Shall thy salvation see.
FEAR OF GOD.
CXXXIV. C. M. Doddridge.
Being in the Fear of God all the day long.
Prov. xxiii. 17.
THRICE happy souls, who born from hea
While yet they sojourn here,
Humbly begin their days with God,
And spend them in his fear.
2 So may our eyes with holy zeal
Prevent the dawning day;
And turn the sacred pages o'er,
And praise thy name and pray!
love present
3 Midst hourly cares may
Its incense to thy throne;
And, while the world our hands employs,
Our hearts be thine alone;
4 As sanctified to noblest ends,
Be each refreshment sought;
And by each various providence
Some wise instruction brought!
5 When to laborious duties call'd,
Or by temptations try'd,
We'll seek the shelter of thy wings,
And in thy strength confide.
6 As different scenes of life arise;
Our grateful hearts would be
With thee, amidst the social band,
In solitude with thee.
7 At night we lean our weary heads
On thy paternal breast;
And safely folded in thine arms,
Resign our powers to rest.
8 In solid pure delights, like these,
Let all my days be past;
Nor shall I then impatient wish,
Nor shall I fear the last.
CXXXV. C. M. Stamford Tune.
Fear of God. Prov. xvi. 26.
HAPPY beyond description he
Who fears the Lord his God;
Who hears his threats with holy awe,
And trembles at his rod.
2 Fear, sacred passion, ever dwells
With it's fair partner love;
Blending their beauties, both proclaim
Their source is from above.
3 Let terrors fright the unwilling slave,
The child with joy appears;
Cheerful he does his father's will,
And loves as much as fears.
4 Let fear and love, most holy God!
Possess this soul of mine,
Then shall I worship thee aright,
And taste thy joys divine.
CXXXVI. L. M. Watts's Sermons.
M I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb? And shall I fear to own his cause, Or blush to speak his name?
2 Must I be carried to the skies,
On flowery beds of ease;
Though others fought to win the prize,
And sail'd through bloody seas?
3. Are there no foes for me to face?
Must I not stem the flood?
Is this vile world a friend to grace,
To help me on to God?
4 Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord!
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.
5 Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.
6 When that illustrious day shall rise,
And all thy armies shine
In robes of victory through the skies,
The glory shall be thine.
CXXXVII. C. M. S. Pearce.
Lines on the words of Ignatius when going to
Martyrdom.
"Meum desiderium crucifixum est."
My love is crucify'd.
WARM was his heart, his faith was strong,
Who thus in rapture cry'd,
When on his way to martyrdom,
My love is crucify'd.
2 Warm also be my love for him,
Who thus for sinners died;
Long as I live be this my theme,
My love is crucify'd.
3 What lover ere to win my heart,
So much has done beside;
To him I'll cleave, and never part;
My love is crucify'd.
4 O that in Jesus' wounds, my soul
Secure may ever hide,
And sing as changing seasons roll
My love is crucify'd.
5 To what a test his love was put,
When by his suff'rings try'd,
But faithful to the end endur'd:
My love is crucify'd.
6 Let not my dear despised Lord,
Be e'er by me deny'd;
My joy, my crown, my boast be this,
My love is crucify'd.
7 Dead be my heart to all below,
In Christ may I abide;
Why should I love the creature so?
My love is crucify'd.
8 Still while upon this earth I stay,
Whate'er shall me betide,
To all around I'll meekly say,
My love is crucify'd.
9 And when death's gloomy vale I walk,
My Lord shall be my guide;
To him I'll sing, of him I'll talk,
My love is crucify'd.
CXXXVIII. L. M. Watts's Sermons.
Gravity and Decency.
EHOLD the sons, the heirs of God,
So dearly bought with Jesus' blood!
Are they not born to heavenly joys,
And shall they stoop to earthly toys?
2 Can laughter feed th' immortal mind?
Were spirits of celestial kind
Made for a jest, forsport and play,
To wear out time, and waste the day?
3 Doth vain discourse, or empty mirth,
Well suit the honours of their birth?
Shall they be fond of gay attire,
Which children love and fools admire?
4 What if we wear the richest vest,
Peacocks and flies are better drest;
This flesh with all its gaudy forms,
Must drop to dust and feed the worms.
5 Lord, raise our hearts and passions higher;
Touch our vain souls with sacred fire;
Then, with a heaven directed eye;
We'll pass these glitt'ring trifles by.
6 We'll look on all the toys below
With such disdain as angels do;
And wait the call that bids us rise
To mansions promis'd in the skies.
HOPE IN DARKNESS AND TRIALS. CXXXIX. L. M. Chard tune. Rippon's Selec. Hope in Darkness.
10 Can warm, rejoice, and guide my heart!
GOD, my Sun, thy blissful rays
How dark, how inournful are
If thy enlivening beams depart!
2 Scarce through the shades, a glimpse of day
Appears to these desiring eyes!
But shall my drooping spirit say,
The cheerful morn will never rise?
3 O let me not despairing mourn,
Though gloomy darkness spreads the sky;
My glorious Sun will yet return
And night with all its horrors fly.
4 O for the bright, the joyful day,
When hope shall in fruition die!
So tapers lost their feeble ray,
Beneath the sun's refulgent eye.
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