And by his love's restraining pow'r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
4 Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow'rs of hell,
Assault my soul in ev'ry part.
5 Yea more, with his own hand, he seem'd Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross'd all the vast designs I schem❜d, Blasted my grounds, and laid me low. 6 "Lord, why is this," I trembling cry'd, "Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death!" ""Tis in this way," the Lord reply'd, "I answer pray'r for grace and faith. 7 "These inward trials I employ, From self and pride, to set thee free; And break thy schemes of earthly joy, That thou may'st seek thy all in me.'
Secret Prayer. Matt. vi. 6.
NATHER Divine, thy piercing eye,
Sees thro' the darkest night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart discerning sight.
2 There may thy piercing eye survey
My solemn homage paid,
With ev'ry morning's dawning ray,
And ev'ry evening's shade.
3 Oh, let thy own celestial fire,
The incense still inflame;
While my warm vows to thee aspire,
Thro' my Redeemer's name.
4 So shall the visits of thy love
My soul in secret bless;
So shalt thou deign in worlds above,
Thy suppliant to confess.
HYMN 212. L. M..
Family Prayer. Gen. xviii. 19.
ATHER of all, thy care we bless,
FATHER of care lies with peace :
From thee they spring, and by thy hand,
They were and still shall be sustain'd.
2 To God, most worthy to be prais'd,
Be our domestic altars rais'd:
Who, Lord of heav'n, scorns not to dwell
With saints, in their obscurest cell.
3 To thee may each united house,
Morning and night present its vows ;
Our servants there, and rising race,
Be taught thy precepts and thy grace.
4 Oh, may each future age proclaim
The honors of thy glorious name;
While, pleas'd and thankful, we remove
To join the family above.
HYMN 213. L. M.
The Christian's noblest Resolution.
Jos. xxiv. 15.
WRETCHED souls, who strive in vain,
Slaves to the world, and slaves to sia.
A nobler toil may 1 sustain,
A nobler satisfaction win.
2 May I resolve with all my heart,
With all my pow'rs, to serve the Lord
Nor from his precepts e'er depart,
Whose service is a rich reward
3 Oh, be his service all my joy,
Around let my example shine;
Till others love the bless'd employ,
And join in labors so divine.
4 Be this the purpose of my soul,
My solemn, my determin'd choice,
To yield to his supreme control,
And in his kind commands rejoice.
5 Oh, may I never faint nor tire,
Nor wand'ring, leave his sacred ways:
Great God, accept my soul's desire,
And give me strength to live thy praise.
HYMN 214. Eights.
Prayer for Assurance.
OME, Holy Ghost, my soul inspire,
Bear witness that I'm born again;
Come and baptize me, Lord, with fire,
Nor let a doubt or cloud remain ;
Give me the sense of sin forgiv❜n,
Sweet fore-taste of approaching heav'n.
2 Oh, give th' indisputable seal,
That ascertains the kingdom mine:
True holiness I long to feel,
The signature of love divine;
Oh, shed it in my heart abroad,
Fulness of love, of heav'n, of God!
HYMN 215. L. M.
Sufficiency of Divine Grace. 2 Cor. xii. 9.
PPRESS'D with unbelief and sin,
Fightings without, and fears within ;
While earth and hell, with force combin❜d,
Disturb'd and terrify'd my mind:
2 Thus sorely prest, I sought the Lord, To give me some sweet cheering word; Again I sought, and yet again,
I waited long, but not in vain.
3 Oh! 'twas a cheering word indeed!
Exactly suited to my need:
"Sufficient for thee is my grace,
Thy weakness, my great pow'r displays."
4 Now I despond and mourn no more,
I welcome all I fear'd before;
Though weak, I'm strong; tho' troubled, blest,
For Christ's own pow'r shall on me rest.
HYMN 216. C. M.
Contentment. Philip. iv. 11.
IERCE passions discompose the mind,
Fastempests rex
But calm content and peace we find,
When, Lord, we turn to thee.
2 In vain by reason and by rule,
e try to bend the will;
For none but in the Saviour's school,
Can learn the heav'nly skill.
3 Since at his feet my soul has sat,
His gracious words to hear,
Contented with my present state,
I cast on him my care.
4 'Tis he appoints my daily lot,
And will do all things well;
Soon shall I leave this wretched spot,
And rise with him to dwell.
5 In life his grace shall strength supply,
Proportion'd to my day;
In death I still shall find him nigh,
To bear my soul away.
6 Thus I, who once my wretched days,
In vain repining spent,
Taught in my Saviour's school of grace,
Have learn'd to be content.
HYMN 217. L. M.
Contentment and Patience from the Example of
Christ. Heb. xii. 2.
Y various maxims, forms and rules,
That pass for wisdom in the schools,
I strove my passion to restrain;
But all my efforts prov'd in vain.
2 But since the Saviour I have known,
My rules are all reduc'd to one;
I keep my Lord by faith in view,
Which strength supplies, and motives too.
3 I see him lead a suff'ring life,
Patient amidst reproach and strife;
And from this pattern courage take,
To bear and suffer for his sake.
4 Upon the cross I see him bleed,
And by the sight from guilt am freed;
This sight destroys the life of sin,
And quickens heav'nly life within.
5 To look to Jesus as he rose,
Confirms my faith, disarms my foes;
Satan I shame and overcome,
By pointing to my Saviour's tomb.
6 Exalted on his glorious throne,
I see him make my cause his own;
Then all my anxious cares subside,
For Jesus lives, and will provide.
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