But where the Lord of grace and
Has blessed the happy field,
How plenteous is the golden store
The deep-wrought furrows yield!
Father of mercies, we have need
Of thy preparing grace;
Let the same hand that gives the seed
Provide a fruitful place.
XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER
Mark xi. 17
THY mansion is the Christian's heart,
O Lord, thy dwelling-place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.
Devoted as it is to thee,
A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.
There, too, a sharp designing trade
Sin, Satan, and the World maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade
To part with ease, and purchase pain.
I know them, and I hate their din;
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within,
I cannot serve thee as I would.
Oh for the joy thy presence gives,
What peace shall reign when thou art here!
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm delightful house of prayer.
And if thou make thy temple shine,
Yet self-abased will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine;
I give thee what was thine before.
XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME?
John xxi. 16
HARK, my soul! it is the Lord;
'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word;
Jesus speaks, and speaks to thee,
"Say, poor sinner, lovest thou me?
"I delivered thee when bound,
And, when bleeding, healed thy wound,
Sought thee wandering, set thee right,
Turned thy darkness into light.
"Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.
"Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above,
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.
"Thou shalt see my glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of my throne shalt be :-
Say, poor sinner, lovest thou me ?"
Lord, it is my chief complaint
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee and adore,-
Oh! for grace to love thee more!
FIERCE passions discompose the mind,
As tempests vex the sea;
But calm content and peace we find
When, Lord, we turn to thee.
In vain by reason and by rule
We try to bend the will;
For none but in the Saviour's school
Can learn the heavenly skill.
Since at his feet my soul has sate,
His gracious words to hear,
Contented with my present state,
I cast on him my care.
"Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said,
"Then how canst thou complain?
How light thy troubles here, if weighed
With everlasting pain!
"If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured,
Compare thy griefs with mine;
Think what my love for thee endured,
And thou wilt not repine.
""Tis I appoint thy daily lot,
And I do all things well;
Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell.
"In life my grace shall strength supply, Proportioned to thy day;
At death thou still shalt find me nigh,
To wipe thy tears away."
"Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive,
And strengthen what remains ; Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall,
Lest my sudden stroke descend
And smite thee once for all.
"Yet I number now in thee
A few that are upright;
These my Father's face shall see,
And walk with me in white.
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confessed;
Let my faithful servants hear,—
And woe be to the rest!"
XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING ON THE YOUNG
BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth
The gift of saving grace;
And let the seed of sacred truth
Fall in a fruitful place.
Grace is a plant, where'er it grows,
Of pure and heavenly root;
But fairest in the youngest shows,
And yields the sweetest fruit.
Ye careless ones, oh hear betimes
The voice of sovereign love!
Your youth is stained with many crimes,
But mercy reigns above.
True, you are young, but there's a stone
Within the youngest breast;
Or half the crimes which you have done
Would rob you of your rest.
XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH
SIN has undone our wretched race;
But Jesus has restored,
And brought the sinner face to face
With his forgiving Lord.
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