469

LUKE X. 42. ECCLESIASTES xii. I.

C. M.

1 RELIGION is the chief concern

Of here below;

May we its great importance learn,
Its sovereign virtue know.

2 Religion should our thoughts engage
Amidst our youthful bloom;
'Twill fit us for declining age,
And for the awful tomb.

3 Oh, may our hearts, by grace renewed,
Be our Redeemer's throne,

And be our stubborn wills subdued,
His government to own.

4 May true repentance, faith, and love,
Be joined with godly fear,

And all our conversation prove
Our hearts to be sincere.

5 Preserve us from the snares of sin
Through our remaining days,
And in us let each virtue shine,
To our Redeemer's praise.

470

LUKE xiii. 3. ACTS ii, 38.-xvii. 30.

1 REPENT, the voice celestial cries,
Sinners, no more delay;

Whoever scorns the mandate, dies,
And meets a vengeful day.

2 While in his presence thus ye bow,
Sinners your guilt confess;

C, M.

Embrace the Saviour's mercy now,
Nor trifle with his grace.

3 Now, ere the awful trumpet sound,
And call you to his bar ;

For mercy knows the appointed bound,
And turns to vengeance there.

LUKE XV. 11-24. JEREMIAH iii. 22. REVELATION ii. 5,

471 MATTHEW v. 4. 1 JOHN ii. 9.

1 RETURN, O wanderer, return

L. M.

And seek thy injured Father's face, Quench not the thoughts which in thee burn, But seek to-night reclaiming grace.

2 Return, O wanderer, return,
Thy Father has a loving heart;
His eyes thy misery discern,
His grace can bid it all depart.
3 Return, O wanderer, return,
With many a penitential tear;
For blessed are the souls that mourn,
And God invites them to draw near.

4 Return, O wanderer, return,

He wills thee to return and live;
Go then to him, and grateful learn
How much he can through Christ forgive.

472

1

ROCK

EXODUS XXxiii. 23.

OCK of ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee;

Let the water and the blood

From thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the perfect cure,

Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

2 Not the labors of my hands,
Can fulfil the law's demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears for ever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and thou alone.
3 Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Helpless, look to thee for grace,
Guilty, plead thy righteousness;
Vile, I to the fountain fly,
Wash me, Saviour, or I die!
4 While I draw this fleeting breath,
When my eyes are closed in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
When I see the judgment throne,
Rock of ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.

473

I

SATURDAY EVENING.

AFELY through another week,

SAR

God hath brought us on our way,

Let us now a blessing seek

On the approaching Sabbath-day;
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.

2 Mercies, multiplied each hour,
Gracious Lord, our praise demand ;

7's.

Guarded by thy mighty power,
Nourished by thy bounteous hand,
Now from worldly cares set free,
May our souls rejoice in thee.

3 When the morn shall bid us rise,
May we feel that thou art near;
May thy glory meet our eyes,
When we in thy house appear;
And may all our Sabbaths prove
Foretastes of the joys above.

ALVATION is for ever nigh

L. M.

The souls that fear and trust the Lord; And grace, descending from on high, Fresh hopes of glory shall afford.

2 Mercy and truth on earth are met,

Since Christ the Lord came down from heaven;
By his obedience, so complete,
Justice is pleased, and peace is given.

3 Now truth and justice shall abound,
Religion dwell on earth again;

And heavenly influence bless the ground,
In our Redeemer's gentle reign.

4 His Righteousness is gone before,
To give us free access to God;

Our wandering feet shall stray no more,
But mark his steps and keep the road.

C. M.

475

MATTHEW i. 21. LUKE ii. 10, 11.

1 SALVATION, Oh, the joyful sound,

'Tis music to our ears;

A sovereign balm for every wound,
A cure for all our fears.

2 Buried in sorrow and in sin,
At hell's dark door we lay;
But we arise, by grace divine,
To see a heavenly day.

3 Salvation! O thou Lamb of God,
To thee the praise belongs;
Salvation shall inspire our hearts,
And dwell upon our tongues.

4 Salvation! let the echo fly

The spacious earth around; While all the armies of the sky Conspire to raise the sound.

Glory, honour, praise, &c.

R.OMANS X 1. 2. TIMOTHY ii. 26.

476 ACTS VI. 17, 18.-il. 41. iv. 4.-V. 14.—vi. 7. 7's.

1

SA

AVED ourselves by Jesus' blood,
Let us now draw nigh to God;

Many round us blindly stray,
Moved with pity, let us pray;
Pray that they who now are blind,
Soon the way of truth may find.
2 Lord, awaken all around,
Let them know the joyful sound;