But where the Lord of grace and power Father of mercies, we have need Let the same hand that gives the seed XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER THY mansion is the Christian's heart, And leave the consecrated door. Devoted as it is to thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; There, too, a sharp designing trade Sin, Satan, and the World maintain; Oh for the joy thy presence gives, What peace shall reign when thou art here! And if thou make thy temple shine, The gold and silver are not mine ; XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? HARK, my soul! it is the Lord; Say, poor sinner, lovest thou me? "I delivered thee when bound, And, when bleeding, healed thy wound, "Can a woman's tender care "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint Oh! for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT Phil. iv. II FIERCE passions discompose the mind, 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, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, ""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, Thus I, who once my wretched days XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL Heb. iv. 2 ISRAEL in ancient days Not only had a view Of Sinai in a blaze, But learned the Gospel too; The types and figures were a glass, In which they saw a Saviour's face. The paschal sacrifice And blood-besprinkled door, And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood To reconcile an angry God. The Lamb, the Dove, set forth His perfect innocence, Whose blood of matchless worth Should be the soul's defence; For he who can for sin atone The scape-goat on his head Was to be seen no more: In him our Surety seemed to say, Dipped in his fellow's blood, Expressed the sinner's plea; Described a guilty soul enlarged, And by a Saviour's death discharged. Jesus, I love to trace, Oh grant that I may faithful be XXI. SARDIS Rev. iii, 1-6 "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, "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 "Yet I number now in thee When in judgment I appear, They for mine shall be confessed; XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING ON THE YOUNG BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Ye careless ones, oh hear betimes Your youth is stained with many crimes, True, you are young, but there's a stone Or half the crimes which you have done For you the public prayer is made; We pray that you may early prove XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH SIN has undone our wretched race; But Jesus has restored, And brought the sinner face to face |