L. THE CHRISTIAN.

HONOUR and happiness unite

To make the Christian's name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!

A kingly character he bears,

No change his priestly office knows;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.

Adorn'd with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face ;
His robe is of the ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.

Inferior honours he disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth : The King of kings himself maintains The expenses of his heavenly birth.

The noblest creature seen below,
Ordain'd to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love!

My soul is ravish'd at the thought!
Methinks from earth I see him rise!
Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies!

LI. LIVELY HOPE AND GRACIOUS FEAR.

I was a grovelling creature once,
And basely cleaved to earth;

I wanted spirit to renounce

The clod that gave me birth.

But God has breath'd upon a worm,
And sent me, from above,
Wings such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky
The spacious promised land.

The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promised it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain
As far as faith can see.

How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;
I stand upon a mountain's edge,
Oh save me, lest I fall!

Though much exalted in the Lord,

My strength is not my own; Then let me tremble at his word, And none shall cast me down.

LII. FOR THE POOR.

WHEN Hagar found the bottle spent,
And wept o'er Ishmael,

A message from the Lord was sent
To guide her to a well.*

Should not Elijah's cake and cruise +
Convince us at this day,

A gracious God will not refuse
Provisions by the way?

His saints and servants shall be fed,
The promise is secure ;

"Bread shall be given them," he has said,
"Their water shall be sure."

Repasts far richer they shall prove,
Than all earth's dainties are ;
'Tis sweet to taste a Saviour's love,
Though in the meanest fare.

To Jesus then your trouble bring,
Nor murmur at your lot;

While you are poor and he is King,
You shall not be forgot.

LIII. MY SOUL THIRSTETH FOR GOD.

I THIRST, but not as once I did

The vain delights of earth to share ;
Thy wounds, Emmanuel, all forbid

That I should seek my pleasures there.

* Gen. xxi. 19. +1 Kings xvii. 14.

Isa. xxxiii. 16.

It was the sight of thy dear cross

First wean'd my soul from earthly things; And taught me to esteem as dross

The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.

I want that grace that springs from thee,
That quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn like me
Bloom as the myrtle or the rose.
Dear fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living and life-giving stream!

For sure, of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father's eye,
None proves less grateful to his care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than I.

LIV. LOVE CONSTRAINING TO OBEDIENCE.

No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright:
And what she has she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.

How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress!
I toil'd the precept to obey,

But toil'd without success.

Then, to abstain from 'outward sin

Was more than I could do; Now, if I feel its power within, I feel I hate it too.

Then, all my servile works were done.

A righteousness to raise ; Now, freely chosen in the Son,

I freely choose his ways.

"What shall I do," was then the word,
"That I may worthier grow ?"
"What shall I render to the Lord?"
Is my inquiry now.

To see the law by Christ fulfill'd,
And hear his pardoning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,*
And duty into choice.

LV. THE HEART HEALED AND CHANGED
BY MERCY.

SIN enslaved me many years,
And led me bound and blind;
Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o'er my mind.
"Where," I said, in deep distress,
"Will these sinful pleasures end?
How shall I secure my peace,
And make the Lord my friend ?"

*Romans iii. 31.