A

LMIGHTY author of my frame,
To thee my vital pow'rs belong;
Thy praise, (delightful, glorious theme!)
Demands my heart, my life, my tongue.
2 My heart, my life, my tongue are thine :
O be thy praise their blest employ !
But may my song with angels join,
Nor sacred awe forbid the joy!
3 Thy glories, the seraphic lyre
On all its strings attempts in vain ;
Then how shall mortals dare aspire
In thought, to try th' unequal strain ?
4 Yet the great Sov'reign of the skies
To mortals bends a gracious ear;
Nor the mean tribute will despise,
It offer'd with a heart sincere.

5 Great God, accept the humble praise,
And guide my heart, and guide my tongue,
While to thy name I trembling raise

The grateful, though unworthy song. MRS. STEELE.

IN

HYMN 569. L. M.

God the Soul's only Portion. Lam. iii. 4,

'N vain the world's alluring smile
Would my unwary heart beguile :
Deluding world! its brightest day,
Dream of a moment, fleets away!

2 Earth's highest pleasures, could they last,
Would pall and languish on the taste;
Such airy chaff was ne'er design'd
To feed th' immortal, craving mind.
3 To nobler bliss my soul aspires,
Come, Lord, and fill these vast desires
Be thou my portion, here I rest,
Since of my utmost wish possest.

4 O let thy sacred word impart
Its sealing influence to my heart;
With pow'r, and light, and love divine,
Assure my
soul that thou art mine.
5 The blissful word, with joy replete,
Shall bid my gloomy fears retreat,
And heav'n-born hope, serenely bright,
Shine cheerful through this mortal night.
6 Then shall my joyful spirit rise
On wings of faith above the skies ;

And when these transient scenes are o’er,
And this vain world shall tempt no more :
70 may I reach the blissful plains,
Where thy unclouded glory reigns,
And dwell forever near thy throne

In joys to mortal thoughts unknown. MRS. STEELE.

HYMN 570. C. M.

Intreating the Presence of Christ in his Churches. Hag. xi. 7.

COME, thou desire of all thy saints,

Our humble strains attend,

While with our praises and complaints
Low at thy feet we bend.

2 When we thy wond'rous glories hear,
And all thy suff'rings trace,
What sweetly awful scenes appear!
What rich unbounded grace!

3 How should our songs, like those above,
With warm devotion rise!

How should our souls, on wings of love,
Mount upward to the skies!

4 But ah! the song, how cold it flows!
How languid our desire!

How faint the sacred passion glows,
Till thou the heart inspire!

5 Come, Lord, thy love alone can raise
In us the heav'nly flame;

Then shall our lips resound thy praise,
Our hearts adore thy name.

6 Dear Saviour, let thy glory shine,
And fill thy dwellings here,
Till life, and love, and joy divine
A heaven on earth appear.

7 Then shall our hearts enraptur'd say,
Come, great Redeemer, come,

And bring the bright, the glorious day,
That calls thy children home.

HYMN 571. S. M.

MRS. STEELE

The Heavenly Shepherd. Ps. xxiii. 1, 2, 3.

WHILE my Redeemer's near,

My shepherd and my guide,

I bid farewell to anxious fear,
My wants are all supply'd.

2 To ever-fragrant meads,

4

Where rich abundance grows,
His gracious hand indulgent leads,
And guards my sweet repose.

3

Along the lovely scene,

Cool waters gently roll,

And kind refreshment smiles serene,

To cheer my fainting soul.

4

Here let my spirit rest ;

How sweet a lot is mine!

With pleasure, food, and safety blest ;

Beneficence divine!

Dear shepherd, if I stray,

My wand'ring feet restore,
To thy fair pastures guide my way,
And let me rove no more.
Unworthy, as I am,

Of thy protecting care,

Jesus, I plead thy gracious name,

For all my hopes are there.

MRS. STEELE.

HOW

HYMN 572. L. M.

Psalm oxxxiii.

OW pleasing is the scene, how sweet!
When kindred souls in friendship join ;
Whose joys and cares united meet
In bands of amity divine.

2 Less fragrant was the ointment pour'd
On Aaron's consecrated head,

When balmy sweets profusely shower'd, Down to his sacred vesture spread. 3 Not flow'ry Hermon e'er display'd, (Impearl'd with dew,) a fairer sight; Nor Zion's beauteous hills, array'd In golden beams of morning light. 4 'Tis here the Lord indulgent sheds His kindest gifts, a heavenly store; With life immortal crowns their beads,

When earth's frail comforts please no more. STEELE.

HYMN 573. L. P. M.

Lord's Day Morning.

GREAT God, this sacred day of thine

Demands our souls' collected powers;

May we employ in work divine

These solemn, these devoted hours!

O may our souls adoring own

The grace which calls us to thy throne ! 2 Hence, ye vain cares and trifles, fly! Where God resides appear no more; Omniscient God, thy piercing eye Can every secret thought explore; O may thy grace our hearts refine, And fix our thoughts on things divine. 3 The word of life, dispens'd to-day, Invites us to a heavenly feast; May every ear the call obey, every heart a humble guest!

Be

O bid the wretched sons of need
On soul-reviving dainties feed!
4 Thy spirit's powerful aid impart;
O may thy word, with life divine,
Engage the ear, and warm the heart;
Then shall the day indeed be thine,
Then shall our souls adoring own

The grace which calls us to thy throne. MRS. STEELE.

HYMN 574. L. M.

Psalm cl.

PRAISE ye the Lord; let praise employ
In his own courts your songs of joy ;

The spacious firmament around

Shall echo back the joyful sound.

2 Recount his works in strains divine;
His wond'rous works how bright they shine!
Praise him for his almighty deeds,
Whose greatness all your praise exceeds.
3 Awake the trumpet's piercing sound,
To spread your sacred pleasures round ;
While sweeter music tunes the lute,
The warbling harp, and breathing flute.
4 Ye virgin train, with joy advance
To praise him in the graceful dance;
To praise awake each tuneful string,
And to the solemn organ sing.

5 Let the loud cymbal sounding high,
To softer, deeper notes reply ;
Harmonious let the concert rise,
And bear the rapture to the skies.
6 Let all whom life and breath inspire,
Attend and join the blissful choir;

But chiefly you who know his word,

Adore, and love, and praise the Lord. MRS, STEELE.