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156. S. M. Mr. Fellows.

Prayer for Children.

GRE Bless our rising race;

REAT GOD, now condescend

Soon may their willing spirits bend
To thy victorious grace.

O! what a vast delight

Their happiness to see!

Our warmest wishes all unite
To lead their souls to thee.
Dear Lord, thy spirit pour
Upon our infant seed,

O bring the long'd-for happy hour
That makes them thine indeed!
May they receive thy word,

Confess the Saviour's name,
Then follow their despised Lord
Through the baptismal stream.

Then let our favour'd race,

Surround thy sacred board,
There to adore thy sov'reign grace,
And sing their dying Lord."

157. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.

Children invited by Jesus, and commended to God. Mark x. 14.

1 SEE Israel's gentle shepherd stand,
With all-engaging charms:

Hark how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!

2 Permit them to approach,' he cries,
'Nor scorn their humble name,

For 'twas to bless such souls as these,
The Lord of angels came.'

3 We bring them, Lord, by fervent prayer,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be!

4 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;

That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.

158. C. M. Dr. Watts.

Pious Education and Instruction of Chil dren. Psalm lxxvii. First Part.

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LET children hear the mighty deeds
Which God perform'd of old;

Which in our younger years we saw,
And which our fathers told.

2 He bids us make his glories known;
His works of pow'r and grace;
And we'll convey his wonders down
Through ev'ry rising race.

3 Our lips shall tell them to our sons,
And they again to theirs;
That generations yet unborn
May teach them to their heirs.
4 Thus they shall learn in God alone
Their hope securely stands,
That they inay ne'er forget his works,
But practice his commands!

The Book of Nature and of Scripture com pared; or, the Glory and Success of the Gospel. Psalm xix.

THE heav'ns declare thy glory, Lord;
In ev'ry star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.
? The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ,
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise Round the whole earth, and never stand; So when thy truth begun its race,

It touch'd and glanc'd on ev'ry land.

4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run:
Till Christ has all the nations blest,
That see the light, or feel the sun.

5 Great Sun of Righteousness arise.

Bless the dark world with heav'nly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise,

Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right. 6 Thy noblest wonders here we view, In souls renew'd, and sins forgiv'n: Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heav'n.

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160. S. M. Dr. Watts.

The Book of Nature and Scripture. BEHOLD the lofty sky

Declares its maker God,

And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his pow'r abroad.

The darkness and the light

Still keep their course the same;
While night to day, and day to night,
Divinely teach his name.

In ev'ry diff'rent land

Their gen'ral voice is known;
They show the wonders of his hand,
And orders of his throne.

Ye British lands rejoice;

Here he reveals his word;

We are not left to nature's voice
To bid us know the Lord.
His statutes and commands
Are set before our eyes:

He puts his gospel in our hands,
Where our salvation lies.
His laws are just and pure,

His truth without deceit;
His promises for ever sure,
And his rewards are great.

[Not honey to the taste

Affords so much delight,

Nor gold that has the furnace past
So much allures the sight.

While of thy works I sing,

Thy glory to proclaim,

Accept the praise, my God, my king,
In iny Redeemer's name.]

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161. S. M. Dr. Watts.

God's Word most excellent. Psalm xix.

BEHOLD the morning sun

Begins his glorious way;

Ilis beams throngh all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light,

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is thy word!

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And all thy judgments just:
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And men securely trust.
My gracious God, how plan
Are thy directions giv'n!
O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heav'n.

162. L. M. Dr. Watts.

The Holy Scriptures a great Blessing. Heb. i. 1, 2. Tim. iii. 15, 16. Ps. cxlvii. 19, 20. OD, who in various methods told

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'G his mind and will to saints of old,

Sent his own Son with truth and grace,
To teach us in these latter days.

2 Our nation reads the written word,
That book of life, that sure record:
The bright inheritance of heav'n
Is by the sweet conveyance giv'n.

3 God's kindest thoughts are here express'd,
Able to make us wise and bless'd;
The doctrines are divinely true,"
Fit for reproof and comfort too.

4 Ye British isles, who read his love
In long epistles from above,

(He hath not sent his sacred word To ev'ry land) praise ye the Lord.

163. L. M. Mr. Beddome.

The Usefulness of the Scriptures. Ps. xix.
WHEN Israel through the desert pass'd,
A fiery pillar went before,

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To guide them through the dreary waste,
And lessen the fatigues they bore.

2 Such is thy glorious word, O God,
'Tis for our light and guidance given;
It sheds a lustre all abroad,

And points the path to bliss and heaven.
3 It fills the soul with sweet delight,
And quickens its inactive pow'rs,
It sets our wand'ring footsteps right,
Displays thy love, and kindles ours.
4 Its promises rejoice our hearts,

Its doctrines are divinely true;
Knowledge and pleasure it imparts,
It comforts and instructs us too.
5 Ye British isles who have this word,
Ye saints, who feel its saving power,
Unite your tongues to praise the Lord,
And his distinguish'd grace adore!

164. P. M. Mr. Fellows.

1 THE law of the Lord is worthy our songs; This is word our safety belongs: For to its perfection all wisdom we owe, And by its direction we're guided below. 2 The simple may learn where happiness lies, Their errors discern, and quickly grow wise, The saints from this fountain refreshment may gain,

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And firm as a mountain their faith shall remain.

165. C. M. Steele.

The Excellency and Sufficiency of the
Holy Scriptures.

FATHER of mercies, in thy word

What endless glory shines!

For ever be thy name ador'd
For these celestial lines!