3

Lord, I would not repine

At strokes in mercy sent;

If the chastisement comes in love,

My soul shall be content.
541. L. M. W-

Sickness and Recovery.

1 AWHILE remain'd the doubtful strife, Till Jesus gave me back my life: My life my soul, recall the word, 'Tis life to see thy gracious Lord. 2 Why inconvenient now to die? Vile unbelief, O'tell me why? When can it inconvenient be, My loving Lord, to come to thee? 3 He saw me make the sport of hell, He knew the tempter's malice well, And when my soul had all to fear, Then did the glorious Sun appear! 4 O bless him!-bless, ye dying saints, The God of grace, when nature faints! He shew'd my flesh the gaping grave, To shew me he had power to save. 542. C. M. Dr. Doddridge. Praise for Recovery from Sicknessı Psalm cxviii. 18, 19. 1 SOVEREIGN of life, I own thy hand In every chastening stroke; And, while I smart beneath thy rod, Thy presence I invoke.

2 To thee in my distress I cried,

And thou hast bow'd thine ear;
Thy powerful word my life prolongʻd,
And brought salvation near.

3 Unfold, ye gates of righteousness,
That, with the pious throng,
may record my solemn vows,
And tune my grateful song..

1

4 Praise to the Lord, whose gentle hand
Renews our laboring breath:
Praise to the Lord, who makes his saints
Triumphant e'en in death.

5 My God, in thine appointed hour
Those heavenly gates display,

Where pain and sin, and fear and death
For ever flee away.

6 There, while the nations of the bless'd,
With raptures bow around,
My anthems to delivering grace,
In sweeter strains shall sound.

TIME AND ETERNITY.

543. L. M.

Steele.

The shortness of Time and frailty of Man
Psalm xxxix.

1 ALMIGHTY Maker of my frame,
Teach me the measure of my days!
Teach me to know how frail I am,
And spend the remnant to thy praise.
2 My days are shorter than a span,
A little point my life appears;
How frail at best is dying man!
How vain are all his hopes and fears.
3 Vain his ambition, noise, and show!
Vain are the cares which rack his mind!"
He heaps up treasure mix'd with woe;
And dies, and leaves them all behind.
4. O be a nobler portion mine;

My God, I bow before thy throne,
Earth's fleeting treasures I resign,
And fix my hope on thee alone.
544. L. M. Dr. Doddridge,
The Wisdom of redeeming Time,
Eph. v. 15, 16.

1 GOD of eternity, from thee
Did infant-Time his being draw; -

Moments and days, and months, and years
Revolve by thine unvaried law.

2 Silent and slow they glide away:
Steady and strong the current flows,
Lost in eternity's wide sea,

The boundless gulph from whence it rose. $ With it the thoughtless sons of men Before the rapid streams are borne On to that everlasting home,

Whence not one soul can e'er return. 4 Yet, while the shore on either side Presents a gaudy flattering show, We gaze, in fond amazement lost, Nor think to what a world we go. 5 Great source of wisdom, teach my heart To know the price of every hour; That time may bear me on to joys Beyond its measure, and its power. 545. 7s. Ryland, Junr.

The Saint happy in being entirely at the Dispo sal of bis God.-My Times are in thy Hand. Psalm xxxi. 15. xxxiv, 1.

1 SOVEREIGN Ruler of the skies,
Ever gracious, ever wise!

All my times are in thy hand,
All events at thy command.
2 His decree, who form'd the earth,
Fix'd my first and second birth:
Parents, native-place, and time,
All appointed were by him.

8 He that form'd me in the womb,
He shall guide me to the tomb:
All my times shall ever be
Order'd by his wise decree. -

4 Times of sickness, times of health;
Times of penury and wealth:
Times of trial and of grief;
Times of triumph and relief;

3 Times the tempter's power to prove;
Times to taste a Saviour's love;
All must come, and last, and end,
As shall please my heavenly friend.
6 Plagues and deaths around me fly;
Till he bids, I cannot die:
Not a single shaft can hit
Till the God of love sees fit.
70 thou gracious, wise, and just,
In thy hands my life I trust:
Have I somewhat dearer still?
I resign it to thy will.

8 May I always own thy hand-
Still to the surrender stand;
Know that thou art God alone,
I and mine are all thy own.
9 Thee at all times will I bless;
Having thee, I all possess:
How can I bereaved be,
Since I cannot part with thee.

546. C. M. Steele.

Time and Eternity; or, longing after unseen. Pleasures, 2 Cor. iv. 18.

1 HOW long shall earth's alluring toys Detain our hearts and eyes, Regardless of immortal joys,

And strangers to the skies?

2 These transient scenes will soon decay, They fade upon the sight;

And quickly will their brightest day
Be lost in endless night.

3 Their brightest day, alas, how vain!
With conscious sighs we own;
While clouds of sorrow, care, and pain,
O'ershade the smiling noon.

4 O could our thoughts and wishes fly Above these gloomy shades,

To those bright worlds beyond the sky,
Which sorrow ne'er invades.
5 There joys unseen by mortal eyes,
Or reason's feeble ray,
In ever blooming prospects rise,
Unconscious of decay.

6 Lord, send a beam of light divine,
To guide our upward aim!
With one reviving touch of thine
Our languid hearts inflame.
Then shall, on faith's sublimest wing,
Our ardent wishes rise

1

To those bright scenes, where pleasures spring

Immortal in the skies.

547. S. M. Dr. S. Stennett.

Divine Mercies in constant succession,
Lam. iii. 22, 23.

HOW various and how new,
Are thy compassions Lord!

Each morning shall thy mercy shew,
Each night thy truth record.

2 Thy goodness, like the sun,
Dawn'd on our early days;
Ere infant-reason had begun
To form our lips to praise,
Each object we beheld

3

4

5

Gave pleasure to our eyes:
And nature all our senses held
In bands of sweet surprise.
But pleasures more refin'd
Awaited that bless'd day,
When light arose upon our mind,,
And chas'd our sins away.
How new thy mercies then!
How sovereign and how free!

Our souls that had been dead in sin,
Were made alive to thee.