The world's esteem is but a bribe, To buy their peace you sell your own; Who hate you while they make you known. The joy that vain amusements give, Defended by a thousand stings. 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools God knows the thousands who go down O fearful thought! be timely wise. VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. Isaiah xii. 1. I WILL praise thee every day Here in the fair gospel-field, And my Jesus is become at length Praise ye, then, his glorious name, Still his worth your praise exceeds, Raise again the joyful sound, Let the nations roll it round! Zion, shout, for this is he, God the Saviour dwells in thee! IX. THE CONTRITE HEART. Isaiah lvii. 15. THE Lord will happiness divine On contrite hearts bestow; A contrite heart or no? I hear, but seem to hear in vain, Insensible as steel; If ought is felt, 'tis only pain To find I cannot feel. I sometimes think myself inclined My best desires are faint and few, Thy saints are comforted, I know, O make this heart rejoice or ache; X. THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF THE CHURCH. Isaiah ix. 15-20. HEAR what God the Lord hath spoken, "O my people, faint and few, "There, like streams that feed the garden, Pleasures without end shall flow; For the Lord, your faith rewarding, All his bounty shall bestow; "Ye no more your suns descending, God shall rise, and shining o'er you, XI. JEHOVAH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jer. xxiii. 6. My God, how perfect are thy ways! But mine polluted are; Sin twines itself about my praise, And slides into my prayer. When I would speak what thou hast done, I cannot make thy mercies known, But self-applause creeps in. Divine desire, that holy flame This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, While self upon the surface floats, Let others in the gaudy dress Of fancied merit shine; The Lord shall be my righteousness, The Lord for ever mine. XII. EPHRAIM REPENTING. Jer. xxxi. 18 20. My God, till I received thy stroke, How like a beast was I! So unaccustom❜d to the yoke, So backward to comply. With grief my just reproach I bear, Thy merciful restraint I scorn'd, |