Soon shall close thy earthly mission; Soon shall pass thy pilgrim's days; Hope shall change to glad fruition; Faith to sight, and pray'r to praise.

160

John xxi, 21. (7's.)

1 'TIS a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought;
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I his, or am I not?

2 When I turn my eyes within,
All is dark, and vain, and wild;
Fill'd with unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?

3 Yet I mourn my stubborn will,
Find my sin a grief and thrall,
Should I grieve for what I feel,
If I did not love at all?

4 Could I joy his saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhorr'd,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord ?

5 Lord, decide the doubtful case!
Thou who art thy people's sun,
Shine upon thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.

6 Let me love thee more and more,
If I love at all, I pray;

If I have not lov'd before,
Help me to begin to-day.

161

1

Ephesians vi, 10. (D. S. M.)

SOLDIERS of Christ arise,
And put your armour on,

Strong in the strength which God supplies
Through his eternal Son;

Strong in the Lord of Hosts,

And in his mighty pow'r;
Who in the strength of Jesus trusts,
Is more than conqueror,

2 Stand, then, in his great might,
With all his strength endued;
And take, to arm you for the fight,
The panoply of God:

That, having all things done,

And all your conflicts past,

Ye may o'ercome, through Christ alone,
And stand entire at last.

162

Philippians ii, 13. (s. M.)

1 "TIS God the Spirit leads,
In paths before unknown;

The work to be perform'd is ours,
The strength is all his own.

2 Assisted by his grace,

We still pursue our way;

And hope at last to reach the prize,
Secure in endless day.

3 'Tis he that works to will;
"Tis he that works to do;

His is the power by which we act;
His be the glory too.

163

Revelations xxi and xxii. (c. M.)

1 JERUSALEM! my happy home!
Name ever dear to me!

When shall my labours have an end,
In joy, and peace, and thee?

2 O, when, thou city of my God,
Shall I thy courts ascend,
Where congregations ne'er break up,
And sabbaths have no end?

3 There happier bow'rs than Eden's bloom,
Nor sin nor sorrow know;

Bless'd seats! through rude and stormy

scenes,

I onward press to you.

4 Jerusalem! my happy home!
My soul still pants for thee;
Then shall my labours have an end,
When I thy joys shall see.

164

Matthew viii, 25. (P.M.)

1 WHEN through the torn sail, the wild tempest is streaming,

When o'er the dark wave, the red lightning is gleaming;

Nor hope lends a ray, the poor seaman to cherish,

We fly to our Maker! "save, Lord! or we perish."

2 O Jesus! once rock'd on the breast of the

billow,

Arous'd by the shriek of despair from thy pillow,

Now seated in glory, the mariner cherish, Who cries in his anguish, "save, Lord! or we perish."

3 And, O! when the whirlwind of passion is

raging,

When sin in our hearts his wild warfare is

waging;

Then send down thy grace, thy redeemed to cherish;

Rebuke the destroyer; "save, Lord! or we perish."

165

Jude xxiv, 25. (s. M.)

1 TO God, the only wise,

Our Saviour, and our King, Let all the saints below the skies Their humble praises bring.

2 'Tis his Almighty love,

His counsel and his care,
Preserves us safe from sin and death,
And ev'ry hurtful snare.

3 He will present our souls,
Unblemish'd and complete,
Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.

4 Then all the chosen seed,

5

Shall meet around the throne; Shall bless the conduct of his grace, And make his wonders known.

To our Redeemer, God,

Wisdom and power belongs, Immortal crowns of majesty, And everlasting songs.

166

Romans xv, 13. (c. M.)

1 SPIRIT of holiness! look down,
Our fainting hearts to cheer,

And when we tremble at thy frown,
O bring thy comforts near.