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And prove such consolation,
As none below can tell.

370. The Church comforted.

O ZION, afflicted with wave upon wave, Whom no man can comfort, whom no man can save,

With darkness surrounded, by terrors dismay'd;

In toiling and rowing thy strength is decay'd.

Loud roaring the billows now nigh overwhelm,

But skilful's the pilot who sits at the helm; His wisdom conducts thee, his pow'r thee defends,

In safety and quiet thy warfare he ends.

O fearful! O faithless! in mercy he cries; My promise, my truth, are they light in thine eyes?

Still, still I am with thee, my promise shall stand;

Through tempests and tossings I'll bring thee to land.

Forget thee I will not, I cannot, thy name Engrav'd on my heart doth for ever remain: The palms of my hands whilst I look on, I

see

The wounds I received, when suff 'ring for thee.

I feel at my heart all thy sighs and thy

groans,

For thou art most near me, my flesh and my bones;

In all thy distresses thy head feels the pain, Yet all are most needful, not one is in vain. Then trust me, and fear not; thy life is

secure;

My wisdom is perfect, supreme is my pow'r; In love I correct thee, thy soul to refine, To make thee at length in my likeness to .shine.

The foolish, the fearful, the weak are my

care,

The helpless, the hopeless, I hear their sad pray'r;

From all their afflictions my glory shall spring,

And the deeper their sorrows, the louder they'll sing.

371.

Encouragement to pray.

WHAT various hind'rances we meet

In coming to a mercy-seat!

Yet who that knows the worth of pray'r,
But wishes to be often there.

Pray'r makes the dark'ned cloud withdraw,
Pray'r climbs the ladder Jacob saw,
Gives exercise to faith and love.
Brings ev'ry blessing from above.

Restraining pray'r, we cease to fight; Pray'r makes the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees

The weakest saint upon his knees.

Whilst Moses stood with arms spread wide,
Success was found on Israel's side;
But when thro' weariness they fail'd,
That moment Amalek prevail'd.

Have you no words? Ah! think again,
Words flow apace when you complain,
And fill your fellow-creature's ear
With the sad tale of all your care.

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Were half the breath thus vainly spent,
To heav'n in supplication sent,
Your cheerful song would oft'ner be,
Hear what the Lord has done for me.'

372. The Throne of Grace.

WHEN Hannah, press'd with grief,
Pour'd forth her soul in pray'r;
She quickly found relief,

And left her burden there :
Like her in ev'ry trying case,

Let us approach the throne of grace.

When she began to pray,

Her heart was pain'd and sad;
But ere she went away

Was comforted and glad:

In trouble, what a resting-place

Have they who know the throne of grace!

Tho' men and devils rage,
And threaten to devour,

The saints, from age to age,
Are safe from all their pow'r;

Fresh strength they gain to run their race, By waiting at the throne of grace!

373. The Church encouraged.

WITH joy we meditate the grace
Of our High Priest above;
His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels melt with love.
Touch'd with a sympathy within,
He knows our feeble frame;"
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For he has felt the same.

But spotless, innocent, and pure,
The great Redeemer stood,
While Satan's fiery darts he bore
And did resist to blood.

He in the days of feeble flesh
Pour'd out his cries and tears,
And in his measure feels afresh
What ev'ry member bears.

He'll never quench the smoaking flax
But raise it to a flame;

The bruised reed he never breaks,
Nor scorns the meanest name.

Then let our humble faith address
His mercy and his pow'r,

We shall obtain delivering grace
In the distressing hour.

374. For Pilgrims.

YE happy pilgrims come,
Your drooping spirits raise,
Our Jesus soon will take us home
To sing his endless praise.
Cíо. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah,
We are on our journey home.

Rise, this is not our rest,

Why seek it here in vain?

When ready for the marriage feast,
We there our rest shall gain.

As strangers here we live,
Nor 'biding city find;

Hallelujah, &c.

And all our hearts to Jesus give,
And leave the world behind.

Thus saints in ancient days

A country sought above,

Hallelujah, &c.

And hasten'd there with songs of praise, And hearts inflam'd with love.

Their steps let us pursue,
With ev'ry foe to fight,

Hallelujah, &c.

And always keep the prize in view,
Our Jesus full in sight.

Hallelujah, &c.

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