And couldst thou be delighted With creatures such as we,
Who, when we saw thee, slighted, And nail'd thee to a tree? Unfathomable wonder,
And mystery divine!
The voice that speaks in thunder, Says, "Sinner, I am thine !"
VII. VANITY OF THE WORLD.
GOD gives his mercies to be spent ; Your hoard will do your soul no good; Gold is a blessing only lent,
Repaid by giving others food.
The world's esteem is but a bribe,
To buy their peace you sell your own; The slave of a vainglorious tribe,
while they make you
The joy that vain amusements give, Oh! sad conclusion that it brings! The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings. 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools That live upon her treacherous smiles: She leads them blindfold by her rules, And ruins all whom she beguiles. God knows the thousands who go down From pleasure into endless woe; And with a long despairing groan Blaspheme their Maker as they go.
O fearful thought! be timely wise; Delight but in a Saviour's charms, And God shall take you to the skies, Embraced in everlasting arms.
VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE.
I WILL praise thee every day Now thine anger's turn'd away; Comfortable thoughts arise From the bleeding sacrifice.
Here, in the fair gospel-field, Wells of free salvation yield Streams of life, a plenteous store, And my soul shall thirst no more.
Jesus is become at length My salvation and my strength; And his praises shall prolong, While I live, my pleasant song.
Praise ye, then, his glorious name, Publish his exalted fame!
Still his worth your praise exceeds; Excellent are all his deeds.
Raise again the joyful sound, Let the nations roll it round! Zion, shout! for this is he;
God the Saviour dwells in thee!
THE Lord will happiness divine
On contrite hearts bestow; Then tell me, gracious God, is mine
A contrite heart, or no?
I hear, but seem to hear in vain, Insensible as steel;
If ought is felt, 'tis only pain, To find I cannot feel.
I sometimes think myself inclined To love thee, if I could; But often feel another mind, Averse to all that's good.
My best desires are faint and few, I fain would strive for more; But when I cry, "My strength renew!" Seem weaker than before.
Thy saints are comforted, I know, And love thy house of prayer; I therefore go where others go, But find no comfort there.
O make this heart rejoice or ache; Decide this doubt for me;
And if it be not broken, break,— And heal it if it be !
THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH. Isaiah, ix. 15-20.
HEAR what God the Lord hath spoken, "O my people, faint and few, Comfortless, afflicted, broken, Fair abodes I build for you. Thorns of heart-felt tribulation Shall no more perplex your ways: You shall name your walls, Salvation, And your gates shall all be Praise.
"There, like streams that feed the garden, Pleasures without end shall flow;
For the Lord, your faith rewarding, All his bounty shall bestow; Still in undisturb'd possession Peace and righteousness shall reign; Never shall you feel oppression, Hear the voice of war again.
"Ye no more your suns descending, Waning moons no more shall see; But, your griefs for ever ending, Find eternal noon in me:
God shall rise, and shining o'er ye, Change to day the gloom of night; He, the Lord, shall be your glory, God your everlasting light."
JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
My God, how perfect are thy ways!
But mine polluted are;
Sin twines itself about my praise,
And slides into my prayer.
When I would speak what thou hast done To save me from my sin,
I cannot make thy mercies known, But self-applause creeps in.
Divine desire, that holy flame Thy grace creates in me; Alas! impatience is its name, When it returns to thee.
This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, How does it overflow,
While self upon the surface floats,
Still bubbling from below.
Let others in the gaudy dress Of fancied merit shine;
The Lord shall be my righteousness,
The Lord for ever mine.
My God, till I received thy stroke,
How like a beast was I!
So unaccustom❜d to the yoke, So backward to comply.
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