WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent, A message from the Lord was sent To guide her to a well.* Should not Elijah's cake and cruse† A gracious God will not refuse His saints and servants shall be fed, The promise is secure ; "Bread shall be given them," as he said, To Jesus then your trouble bring, LIII. MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD. I THIRST, but not as once I did The vain delights of earth to share ; Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid That I should seek my pleasures there. * Gen. xxi. 19. 1 Kings xvii. 14. ‡ Isa. xxxiii. 16. It was the sight of thy dear cross First wean'd my soul from earthly things; And taught me to esteem as dross The mirth of fools and pomp of kings. I want that grace that springs from thee, Dear fountain of delight unknown! For sure, of all the plants that share LIV. LOVE CONSTRAINING TO OBEDIENCE. No strength of nature can suffice How long beneath the law I lay LV. Then, to abstain from outward sin Was more than I could do; Then all my servile works were done A righteousness to raise ; Now, freely chosen in the Son, I freely choose his ways. "What shall I do," was then the word, "That I may worthier grow?" "What shall I render to the Lord ?" Is my inquiry now. To see the law by Christ fulfill'd, THE HEART HEALED AND CHANGED BY MERCY. SIN enslaved me many years, And led me bound and blind; 66 Where," said I, in deep distress, How shall I secure my peace, And make the Lord my friend?" *Romans iii. 31. Friends and ministers said much But my blindness still was such, I chose a legal course : Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove, Scarce would show my face abroad, Thus afraid to trust his grace, Long time did I rebel; Till despairing of my case, Down at his feet I fell: Then my stubborn heart he broke, By a simple word he spoke, HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth, Nor dare thy least commandment slight; Yet pierced by sin, the serpent's tooth, But though the poison lurks within, Free from the only thing I hate. Had I a throne above the rest, Where angels and archangels dwell, One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heaven as dark as hell. The prisoner sent to breathe fresh air, Would mourn, were he condemn'd to wear But, oh! no foe invades the bliss, When glory crowns the Christian's head; One view of Jesus as he is Will strike all sin for ever dead. LVII. THE NEW CONVERT. THE new-born child of gospel grace, Lifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes, Nor has he learnt to whom he owes But sin soon darts its cruel sting, |