3 Should some tall rock at such an hour, A distant shade prepare,
Hope would exert his feeble pow'r,
To fly and rest him there.
4 Thus he who treads the heav'nly path,
And feels upon him burn
The kindlings of almighty wrath,
Must labor, droop, and mourn :
5 Till Christ, the covert from the heat, His longing spirit sees,
And draws him to a cool retreat,
Affording rest and ease.
6 He, like a rock of refuge, rose,
And sacred shade extends,
Refreshment and secure repose,
For all his weary friends.
HYMN 283. Sevens.
Trust in God. Hab. iii. 17, 18.
HOULD the rising whirlwinds tear From its stem the rip'ning ear, Should the fig-tree's blasted shoot Drop her green, untimely fruit:
2 Should the vine put forth no more, Nor the olive yield her store;
Though the sick'ning flocks should fall,
And the herds desert the stall:
3 Should God's alter'd hand restrain
Th' early and the latter rain;
Blast each op'ning bud of joy,
And the rising year destroy
4 Yet to God my soul should raise
Grateful vows of solemn praise;
And when ev'ry blessing's flown,
Love him-for himself alone.
The Christian Armor. Eph. vi.13-17.
ITH holy zeal and Christian grace,
I'll take the armor for the race;
Whilst foes and fears beset me round,
In Christ the Lord my strength is found.
2 For ever blessed be the Lord,
His word he gives me for a sword;
And he commands to wield it well,
Against the pow'rs of earth and hell.
3 His righteousness a breast-plate yields,
Whilst faith affords a glorious shield;
His free salvation's sov❜reign grace,
Shall on my head the helmet place.
4 Thus arm'd and martial'd for the field,
Against temptation doubly steel'd,
The glorious combat 1 begin,
Declaring war with flesh and sin.
5 My heav'nly Captain's watchful care,
Shall keep me from the fowler's snare;
His Spirit guide my wand'ring feet,
Till his face in glory meet.
Christ's Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascen
Christ's Birth and Life.
AWAKE, my soul, tune ev'ry string,
In God thy Saviour's praise;
Join with the heav'nly hosts, and sing
The highest notes they raise.
2 Tell how the glorious Son of God
Forsook the realms of bliss ;
Descended to our guilty world,
Proclaiming life and peace.
3 Angelic hosts declare his birth,
"Glory to God on high,
Good will to men, and peace on earth!
Behold the Saviour nigh!
4" To Bethle'm's city quick repair,
Th' etherial spirits cry,
And see the promis'd Saviour there,
Low in a manger lie.
5" With humble faith and holy fear,
Go visit Christ, your king,'
Their heav'nly notes the shepherds hear,
And join the praise they sing.
6 On Jordon's banks th' eternal God
His birth divine declares;
"This is my Son!" Lo! on his head
The heav'nly dove appears.
7 Holy his life, his doctrine true;
(How bright the Godhead shone!)
Diseases beard, and Satan knew,
That what he spake was done.
Christ's Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Intercession.
8 BEHOLD the Saviour on the tree,
With arms extended wide!
From death a sinful world to free,
He groan'd and bled and dy'd!
9 The sun its beams no longer lent,
To see its Maker bleed;
His groans the rocks and mountains rent,
And woke the sleeping dead.
10 But when th' appointed hour was come,
The sleeping Saviour woke :
He rose triumphing from the tomb,
The chains of death he broke.
11 On the eternal God's right hand,
The great Redeemer sits;
Both heav'n and earth to his command
The Father now commits.
12 Our advocate himself he stiles,
The sinner's cause he pleads;
Through him the Father looks and smiles,
While thus he intercedes.
13 Whom once he loves he'll ne'er forget,
His counsels guide them still;
His grace their weary souls will seat
On heav'n's eternal hill.
14 Reviving thought! then, humble soul,
With courage venture on!
Though earth and hell against thee roll,
In Christ the battle's won.
HYMN 286. C. M.
Prayer under Temptations of Satan.
HEN I can read my title clear
W to mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to ev'ry fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.
2 Should earth against my soul engage,
And Satan's darts be hurl'd,
Then I can smile at all his rage,
And face a frowning world.
3 Let all the tempter's malice come,
And storms of sorrow fall;
If I may safely reach my home,
My God, my heav'n, my all.
4 There shall I bathe ny weary soul,
In seas of heav'nly rest,
Nor feel a troubling tempter's call
Disturb my peaceful breast.
HYMN 287. L. M.
Prayer under Temptation from the Tumults of the
HE billows swell, the winds are high,
Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,
My fears are great, my strength is small.
2 O Lord, a Saviour's part perform,
And guide and guard me thro' the storm;
Defend me from each threat'ning ill,
Control the waves, say, "peace, be still."
3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,
My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Are all that save me from despair.
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