There, too, a sharp designing trade To part with ease, and purchase pain. I know them, and I hate their din ; Oh! for the joy thy presence gives, And if thou make thy temple shine, XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? John, xxi. 16. HARK, my soul! it is the Lord; "I deliver'd thee when bound, "Can a woman's tender care Yet will I remember thee. "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint, Oh! for grace to love thee more! FIERCE passions discompose the mind, In vain by reason and by rule Since at his feet my soul has sate, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, Compare thy griefs with mine; Think what my love for thee endured, And thou wilt not repine. ""Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell. "In life my grace shall strength supply, Proportion'd to thy day; At death thou shalt find me nigh, To wipe thy tears away." Thus I, who once my wretched days Taught in my Saviour's school of grace, XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. ISRAEL in ancient days Not only had a view Heb. iv. 2. But learn'd the Gospel too; The paschal sacrifice And blood-besprinkled door", And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood, To reconcile an angry God. The Lamb, the Dove, set forth Whose blood of matchless worth Should be the soul's defence; For he who can for sin atone, Dipt in his fellow's blood, The living bird went free"; The type, well understood, Express'd the sinner's plea ; Described a guilty soul enlarged, And by a Saviour's death discharged. Jesus, I love to trace, Throughout the sacred page, The footsteps of thy grace, The same in every age! O grant that I may faithful be To clearer light vouchsafed to me! XXI. SARDIS. Rev. iii. 1-6. "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, "Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive, And strengthen what remains ; Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend, Former times to mind recall, XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING. BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth, And let the seed of sacred truth Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Ye careless ones, O hear betimes Your youth is stain'd with many crimes, True, you are young, but there's a stone Or half the crimes which you have done For you the public prayer is made; For We pray that you may early prove The Spirit's power to teach; You cannot be too young to love That Jesus whom we preach. XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH. SIN has undone our wretched race; And brought the sinner face to face This we repeat from year to year, Lord, give them an attentive ear, |