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'Tis past! 'tis o'er! in foul defeat
The Demon host are fled !
Before the Saviour's mercy-seat,

(His live-long work of faith complete),
Their conqueror bends his head.
"The spoils Thyself hast gained, Lord!
I lay before Thy throne:

Thou wert my rock, my shield, my sword;
My trust was in Thy name and word :
'Twas in Thy strength my heart was strong;
Thy spirit went with mine along;

How was I then alone ?"

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

R. H.

OH GOD! my sins are manifold, against my life they cry, And all my guilty deeds foregone, up to Thy temple fly; Wilt Thou release my trembling soul, that to despair is driven?

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Forgive!" a blessed voice replied, "and thou shalt be forgiven !"

My foemen, Lord! are fierce and fell, they spurn me in their pride,

They render evil for my good, my patience they deride; Arise, oh King! and be the proud to righteous ruin driven ! Forgive!" an aweful answer came, as thou would'st be forgiven !"

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Seven times, oh Lord! I pardon'd them, seven times they sinn'd again :

They practise still to work me woe, they triumph in my pain; But let them dread my vengeance now, to just resentment

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driven !

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Forgive!" the voice of thunder spake, or never be for

given !"

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

R. H.

FROM foes that would the land devour;
From guilty pride, and lust of power;
From wild sedition's lawless hour;
From yoke of slavery :

From blinded zeal by faction led ;
From giddy change by fancy bred;
From poisonous error's serpent head,
Good Lord, preserve us free!

Defend, oh God! with guardian hand,

The laws and ruler of our land,

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And grant our church Thy grace to stand

In faith and unity!

The Spirit's help of Thee we crave,

That Thou, whose blood was shed to save,

May'st at Thy second coming, have

A flock to welcome Thee!

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY.

R. H.

To conquer and to save, the Son of God
Came to His own in great humility,

Who wont to ride on cherub wings abroad,
And round Him wrap the mantle of the sky.
The mountains bent their necks to form His road;
The clouds dropt down their fatness from on high;
Beneath His feet the wild waves softly flow'd,
And the winds kiss'd his garment tremblingly!

The grave unbolted half his grisly door,
(For darkness and the deep had heard His fame,
Nor longer might their ancient rule endure ;)
The mightiest of mankind stood hush'd and tame :
And, trooping on strong wing, His angels came

To work His will, and kingdom to secure :

No strength he needed save His Father's name;
Babes were His heralds, and His friends the poor!

[Twenty fifth after Trinity, see fourth Sunday in Lent.]

[For the Annunciation and Purification, see third Sunday in Lent.]

FOR ST. JAMES'S DAY.

R. H.

THOUGH Sorrows rise, and dangers roll
In waves of darkness o'er

my soul,

Though friends are false and love decays,
And few and evil are my days,

Though conscience, fiercest of my foes,
Swells with remember'd guilt my woes,
Yet ev'n in nature's utmost ill,

I love Thee, Lord! I love Thee still!

Though Sinai's curse, in thunder dread,
Peals o'er mine unprotected head,
And memory points, with busy pain,
To grace and mercy given in vain,
Till nature, shrinking in the strife,
Would fly to hell to 'scape from life,
Though every thought has power to kill,
I love Thee, Lord! I love Thee still!

Oh, by the pangs Thyself hast borne,
The ruffian's blow, the tyrant's scorn;
By Sinai's curse, whose dreadful doom
Was buried in Thy guiltless tomb :
By these my pangs, whose healing smart,
Thy grace hath planted in my heart;

I know, I feel, Thy bounteous will!

Thou lovest me, Lord! Thou lovest me still!

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