Else we had still refused to taste,

And perished in our sin.

5 Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious word abroad,
And bring the wanderers home.

6 We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race,

May with one voice, and heart, and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

250

MATTHEW xviii. 20.

L. M.

1 HOW sweet to leave the world a while,

And seek the presence of the Lord!

O Jesus, on thy people smile,
And come according to thy word.

2 From busy scenes we now retreat,

meditate and

pray;

That we may
Saviour, behold us at thy feet,
And send us not unblest away.

251

PSALM XXXix. 4-7.

1 HOW vain is all beneath the skies!
How transient every earthly bliss!

How slender all the fondest ties,
That bind us to a world like this!

2 The evening cloud, the morning dew,
The withering grass, the fading flower,

L. M.

Of earthly hopes are emblems true;
The glory of a passing hour.

3 But though earth's fairest blossoms die,
And all beneath the skies is vain,
There is a land whose confines lie
Beyond the reach of care and pain.
4 Then let the hope of joys to come
Dispel our cares and chase our fears ;
If God be ours, we're travelling home,
Though passing through a vale of tears.

252

1

HOW

1 CORINTHIANS iii. 21, 22.

L. M

OW vast the blessings we possess ! How rich thy bounty, God of grace! This world is ours, and worlds to come, Earth is our road to heaven our home.

2 All things are ours, the gifts of God,
The purchase of a Saviour's blood;
While the good Spirit shows us how
To use and to improve them too.

3 If peace and plenty crown our days,
They help us, Lord, to speak thy praise;
If bread of sorrows be our food,

These sorrows work our lasting good.

4 We would not change our blest estate
For all the world calls good or great;
Father, be thou our portion still,
And make us gladly do thy will.

253

PUBLIC WORSHIP.

8. 8. 6.

1 HUMBLY thy presence we invite, Blessed Spirit, source of love and light, Thy influence now impart ;

Grant us with faith thy word to hear,
And give to all the listening ear,
The understanding heart.

2 Raise, by thy power, to life divine
The dead in trespasses and sin,
Break off the captive's chain;
Give to the blind the joy of sight,
Give to the weak victorious might,
And may none hear in vain.

254

1

IF

LUKE Xxii. 19.

F human kindness meets return,
And owns the grateful tie,

If tender feelings in us burn
Because a friend is nigh,

2 What words of love and praise can tell,
The gratitude we owe

To him who died, our fears to quell,
Our more than orphan's woe?

3 While yet in anguish he surveyed
Those pangs he would not flee,
What love his latest words displayed,
"Meet, and remember me.'

4 Remember thee! thy death, thy shame, Our sinful hearts to share!

C. M

O memory, leave no other name
So deeply graven there.

255

1

IF

JOHN xiv. 15.

F some, who gospel doctrine know,
Will talk of Christ their Head,
Yet prove, by all they hourly do,
They are among the dead,

2 If some familiar tender names
To Christ our Saviour use,
Yet in their lives neglect his claims.
In heart his grace abuse,

3 We will his holy name adore,
And keep in constant view,

C. M.

Daily, through grace, to know him more,
And more resemble too.

4 And while heaven serves with all its ranks, Of highest seraphim,

We too will offer lowly thanks,

256

1

And daily live to him.

IM

HEBREWS vi. 19.

MMOVEABLE our hopes remain,
Within the veil our anchor lies;

Jesus, who died our life to gain,
Shall bear us safely to the skies.

2 Jesus is with us day by day,
Who for our rescue shed his blood;
Who then shall tear our hopes away,
Or part us from the love of God?

L. M.

3 Not tribulation, nor distress,
Nor persecution, nor the sword,
Have robbed believers of their peace,
Or proved too mighty for the Lord.
4 Founded on Christ, secure we stand,
His love will order all things well,
And we shall gain the promised land,
Triumphant o'er the powers of hell.

5 Trials and dangers we must meet,
Our sins may grieve our Lord and Friend,
Yet will he not his own forget,

But love and save them to the end.

257

1

IN

LUKE ii. 13, 14.

N heaven a rapturous song was heard
Of sweet seraphic praise,

When Jesus in our flesh appeared,
A fallen world to raise.

2 The theme, the song, the joy was new,
To each angelic tongue;

C. M.

Swift through the realms of light it flew,
And loud the echo rung.

3 Down, through the portals of the sky,
The pealing anthem ran,

And angels flew with eager joy,
To bear the news to man.

4 Heaven pours its radiant armies out,
"Glory to God" their song,