"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits."-Ps. ciii. 2.
WHEN all thy mercies, O my GOD,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise '
Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant heart conceiv'd
From whom those blessings flow'd.
When in the slippery paths of youth.
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, convey'd me safe
And led me up to man.
When worn with sickness, oft has thou
With health renew'd my face;
And, when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Reviv'd my soul with grace.
Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My constant thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
To taste those gifts with joy,
[Through every period of my life
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds
The glorious theme renew.]
Through all eternity to thee
A joyful song I'll raise:
But oh! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.
I LOVE my shepherd's voice,
Whose watchful eye doth keep
Poor wandering souls among
The thousands of his sheep.
He feeds his flock, he calls their names,
His bosom bears the tenderest lambs!
Great Prophet of the Lord,
My tongue shall bless thy name;
By thee the joyful news
Of God's salvation came.
The joyful news of sin forgiven,
Of hell subdued, and peace in heaven.
Jesus my great High Priest,
Offered his blood and died,
My guilty conscience secks
No sacrifice beside.
His powerful blood did once atone,
And still it pleads before the throne.
To this dear surety's hand
Do I commit my cause;
He answered and fulfilled,
His Father's broken laws!
Behold my soul at freedom set,
My surety paid the dreadful debt.
Thou dear Almighty Lord,
My Conqueror and my King;
My sceptre and my sword,
Thy reigning grace I sing:
Thine is the power. behold I sit
In willing bonds beneath thy feet.
"And he must needs go through Samaria.-John iv 4.
BEHOLD the Shepherd's tender care,
Towards his sheep that strays,
Throughout the desert waste and bare,
He tracks its wandering ways.
So Jesus, whilst he sojourn'd here,
Amidst this waste of sin,
"Tis said, "He travell'd far and near,
"And sought his sheep therein."
To save from everlasting woe
An object of His care;
Behold Him through Samaria go,
A sheep had wandered there.
Though she insults Him to his face,
It matter'd not to Him;
Her name was found amongst that race
The Saviour must redeem.
Amidst this flock, belov'd of God,
Manasseh we behold,
And, though his fleece was stain'd with blood,
He brought him to the fold.
Yea, from the very dregs of sin,
Shall grace her trophies wave:
And each eternal life shall win
Whom GOD ordain'd to save.
Ezek. xxxiv. 11.-John x. 14.
JESUS, dear Shepherd of the sheep!
Thy little flock in safety keep;
The flock for which thou cam'st from heaven;
The flock for which thy life was given.
Thou saw'st us wandering far from thee,
Secure as if from danger free;
Thy love did all our wandering trace.
And brought us to a wealthy place.
Oh, guard thy sheep from beasts of prey,
And keep them that they never stray;
In verdant pastures may they lie,
Oh, watch them with a shepherd's eye.
Lord, may thy sheep discern thy voice,
And in its sacred sound rejoice:
From strangers may they ever flee,
And know no other Guide but thee.
Oh bring thy sheep that wander yet,
Soon let their number be complete;
Then shall the flock with thee appear,
Thy glory and thy throne to share,
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