A Welcome to Christian Friends -At Meeting.
KINDRED in Christ, for his dear sake,
A hearty welcome here receive;
May we together now partake
The joys which only he can give.
To you and us by grace 'tis given
To know the Saviour's precious name;
And shortly we shall meet in heaven,
Our hope, our way, our end, the same.
3 May he, by whose kind care we meet,
Send his good Spirit from above,
Make our communications sweet,
And cause our hearts to burn with love!
4 Forgotten be each worldly theme,
When christians see each other thus;
We only wish to speak of him,
Who liv'd, and died, and reigns for us,
$ We'll talk of all he did and said,
And suffer'd for us here below;
The path he mark'd for us to tread,
And what he's doing for us now.
Thus, as the moments pass away
We'll love, and wonder, and adore;
And hasten on the glorious day,
When we shall meet to part no more
515. 7s.
1 FOR a season call'd to part,
Let us now ourselves commend,
To the gracious eye and heart
Of our ever-present friend.
Jesus, hear our humble prayer!
Tender shepherd of thy sheep!
Let thy mercy and thy care
All our souls in safety keep.
In thy strength may we be strong,
Sweeten every cress and pain:
Give us, if we live, ere long
In thy peace to meet again.
Then, if thou thy help afford,
Ebenezers shall be rear'd;
And our souls shall praise the Lord,
Who our poor petitions heard.
The Christian Farewell, 2 Cor. xiii. 11.
THY presence, everlasting God,
Wide o'er all nature spreads abroad;
Thy watchful eyes, which cannot sleep,
In every place thy children keep.
2 While near each other we remain,
Thou dost our lives and souls sustain;
When absent, happy if we share
Thy smiles, thy counsels and thy care,
3 To thee we all our ways commit,
And seek our comforts near thy seat;
Still on our souls vouchsafe to shine,
And guard, and guide us still as thine.
4. Give us in thy beloved house,
Again to pay our thankful vows;
Or, if that joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around thy throne.
517. L. M. Dr. S. Stennett.
Early Piety, Matt, xii. 20.
4. HOW soft the words my Saviour speaks! How kind the promises he makes!
A bruised reed he never breaks,
Nor will he quench the smoking flax.
3 The humble poor he won't despise,
Nor on the contrite sinner frown:
His ear is open to their cries,
He quickly sends salvation down.
3 When piety in early minds,
Like tender buds, begins to shoot, [winds,
He guards the plants from threat'ning
And ripens blossoms into fruit.
4 With humble souls he bears a part In all the sorrows they endure: Tender and gracious is his heart, His promise is for ever sure. 5 He sees the struggles that prevail Between the powers of grace and sin; He kindly listens while they tell The bitter pangs they feel within. 6 Tho' press'd with fears on ev'ry side, They know not how the strife may end; Yet he will soon the cause decide, And judgment into vict'ry send. 518. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.
The Encouragement young Persons have to seek
Christ, Prov. viii. 17.
1 YE hearts, with youthful vigor warm,
In smiling crowds draw near.
And turn from every mortal charm,
A Saviour's voice to hear.
2 He, Lord of all the worlds on high,
Stoops to converse with you;
And lays his radiant glories by,
Your friendship to pursue.
"The soul, that longs to see my face,
"Is sure my love to gain;
"And those that early seek my grace,
"Shall never seek in vain.
4 What object, Lord, my soul should move
If once compar'd with thee?
What beauty should command my love,
Like what in Christ I see?
5 Away, ye false delusive toys,
Vain tempters of the mind!'
'Tis here I fix my lasting choice,
For here true bliss I find.
519. C. M. Dr. Doddridge.
Seek first the Kingdom of God, Matt. vi. 39 WOW let a true ambition rise,
And ardor fire our breasts,
To reign in worlds above the skies,
In heavenly glories drest.
2 Behold, Jehovah's royal hand
A radiant crown display,
Whose gems with vivid lustre shine,
While stars and suns decay."
3 Away each grovelling anxious care,
Beneath a christian's aim;
We spring to seize immortal joys,
In our Redeemer's name.
4Ye hearts, with youthful vigor warm,
The glorious prize pursue;
Nor fear the want of earthly good,
While heaven is kept in view.
520. L. M. Dr. Watts's Sermons.'
A lovely Youth falling short of Heaven,
1 MUST all the charms of nature then, So hopeless to salvation prove?
Can hell demand, can heaven condemn The man whom Jesus deigns to love!2 The man who sought the ways of truth, Paid friends and neighbors all their due; A modest, sober, lovely youth,
Who thought he wanted nothing now? 3 But mark the change: thus spake Lord, "Come part with earth for heaven to-day ;" The youth, astonish'd at the word, In silent sadness went his way.
4 Poor virtues, that he boasted so,
This test unable to endure,
Let Christ, and grace, and glory go,
To make his land and money sure.
$ Ah foolish choice of treasures here!
Ah fatal love of tempting gold!
Must this vain world be bought so dear?
And life and heaven so cheaply sold?
6 In vain the charms of nature shine,
If this vile passion governs me;
Transform my soul, O love divine!
And make me part with all for thee.
How shall a young Man cleanse kis Way}
Psalm cxix. 9.
WITH humble heart and tongue,
My God, to thee I pray;
O make me learn whilst I am youngs
How I may cleanse my way.
Now in my early days,
Teach me thy will to know;
O God, thy sanctifying grace
Betimes on me bestow.
3 Make an unguarded youth
The object of thy care;
Help me to choose the way of trati,
And fly from every snare.
4 My heart, to folly prone,
Renew by power divine
Unite it to thyself alone,
And make me wholly thine
O let thy word of grace
My warmest thoughts employ
Be this through all my following day
My treasure and my joy.
To what thy laws impart
Be my whole soul inclin'd;
O let them dwell within my heart,
**And sanctify my mind.
May thy young servant learn,
By these to cleanse his way;
And may I here the path discern
That leads to endless day.
|