Illusive shapes of fancy's brood,-
The pride of life, and transient mirth.
3 But grace, rich grace her soul renews,
And cheers with bliss of holy love;
And now a contrite tear bedews
That eye, turn'd meekly up above.
4 No pearl from Ceylon's gem-pav'd sea,
Nor diamond from Golconda's shore,
Doth shine so pure and beauteously,
As tearful eye,-that scorns no more!
mf 5 What glorious images now press,
And crowd within th' enraptur'd eye?—
Visions of truth and holiness,
And heaven's illimitable joy?
6 And on that eye shall darkness rest?
Yes, for a while; as diamond's ray
May slumber in the mine unblest,-
Its grave, until it finds the day.
7 But sleeping eye, when final morn
The dead shall wake, will kindle bright,
And gleam, like gem from darkness torn,
Reflecting CHRIST's eternal light!
L. M. Winchester. Nantwich.
God dwelling with the Humble.
1 THUS saith the high and lofty One,
"I sit upon my holy throne;
My name is God; I dwell on high,
Dwell in my own eternity.
2 "But I descend to worlds below;
On earth I have a mansion too;
The humble spirit and contrite
Is an abode of my delight.
8 "The humble soul my words revive,
I bid the mourning sinner live,
Heal all the broken hearts, I find,
And ease the sorrows of the mind."
Aff 4 0, may thy pard'ning grace be nigh,
Lest we should faint, despair, and die!
Thus shall our better thoughts approve
The methods of thy chast'ning love. WATTS.
Chist's regard to the Humble. Mat. 12. 1 WHEN conscience to the heart within Reveals the penalty of sin,
To Thee, O Lord, my wants I plead:
Thou dost not "break the bruised reed."
2 When anxious doubts assail my soul,
And dark'ning horrors round me roll,
I seek the beamings of thy face ;
Thou dost not "quench" the spark of grace.
aff 3 0, raise that drooping reed anew,
Refresh its root with heav'nly dew;
And fan the spark, till, pure and bright,
It swells into a burning light!
C. M. Peterborough. Bowdoin Square.
Salvation by Grace.
1 MY soul, thy God forever praise;
Forever love his name,
Who turns thy feet from dang'rous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.
2 'Tis not by works of righteousness,
Which our own hands have done;
But we are sav'd by sov'reign grace,
Abounding through his Son.
mp 3 'Tis from the mercy of our God,
That all our hopes begin ;
'Tis by the water and the blood,
Our souls are wash'd from sin.
4 'Tis through the purchase of his death,
Who hung upon the tree,
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
On such dry bones, as we.
mf 5 Rais'd from the dead, we live anew;
And, justified by grace,
We shall appear in glory too,
And see our Father's face!
Jesus looked on him. Luke 22.
1 BY th' apostle thrice denied,
When the SAVIOR turn'd his eye,
In his look there was descried
Strength of love, which cannot die,-
Pity for the fallen one,
Mercy, which the wand'rer won!
- 2 0, what gushing, bitter tears
Down the rigid cheek then flowed?
Now the swordsman meek appears,
In the dust in sorrow bowed;
Now he seeks forgiving love,
Now he finds strength from above.
aff 3 Lord, although in tempting hour
Oft our souls, in guilty pride,
Have withstood the Spirit's power,
And thy blessed name denied ;
Yet on us have mercy too,
And our thankless hearts renew!
1 SEEST thou that worldly heart?
Seest thou that scornful eye,
Which says to heav'nly thoughts,—"Depart;
I ask no joys on high!"
2 Now see that heart renew'd,
And fill'd with heav'nly love!
That eye, with contrite tears bedew'd,
And meekly turn'd above!
aff 3 Lord, shall that eye soon close In darkness of the tomb?
Yet Thou wilt wake it from repose,
mf And with heav'n's light illume!
Not ashamed of the Gospel.
mf 1 I'M not asham'd to own my Lord,
Nor to defend his cause,
Maintain the honor of his word,
The glory of his cross!
2 Jesus, my God, I know his name,-
His name is all my trust;
Nor will He put my soul to shame,
Nor drive me from the just.
3 Firm, as his throne, his promise stands,
And He'll at last restore
What I've committed to his hands,
Till the decisive hour.
4 Then will He own my name in love
Before his Father's face;
And in Jerusalem above
Appoint my soul a place.
Not ashamed of Jesus. Mark 8.
mp 1 ASHAM'D of JESUS! Can it be?
Mortals, O Lord, asham'd of Thee?
Scorn'd be the thought by rich and poor:
O, may I scorn it more and more!
2/Asham'd of Jesus! Just as soon
| Might midnight blush to think of noon:
Asham'd of Jesus! Sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star.
3 Asham'd of Jesus!—Of that Friend,
On whom my hopes of heav'n depend?
O, no! My soul, be this my shame,
That I no more revere his name.
mp 4 Asham'd of Jesus!-Yes, I may,
When I've no sins to wash away;
No ills to flee, no joys to crave,
No hell to fear, no soul to save!
5 Till then, nor is my boasting vain,—
f< Till then I boast a Savior slain!
And O, may this my portion be,-
That SAVIOR, not asham'd of me!
1 BLEST are the humble souls, who see
Their emptiness and poverty;
Treasures of grace to them are given,
And crowns of joy laid up in heaven.
2 Blest are the men of broken heart,
Who mourn for sin with inward smart ;
The blood of Christ divinely flows
A healing balm for all their woes.
S Blest are the meek, who stand afar
From rage and passion, noise and war;
God will secure their happy state,
And plead their cause against the great.
4 Blest are the men, who upward press,
Hunger and thirst for righteousness
They shall be well supplied, and fed
With living streams and living bread.
5 Blest they, whose kind affections move,
Who melt with sympathy and love;
From Christ, the Lord, shall they obtain
Like sympathy and love again.
6 Blest are the pure, whose hearts, renewed,
With heav'nly graces are endued;
With endless pleasure they shall see
A God of spotless purity.
7 Blest are the men of peaceful life,
Who quench the coals of growing strife;
Children of God shall they be called,
From woes of hatred disenthralled.
8 Blest are the suff'rers, who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake;
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord;
Glory and joy are their reward!
(ii. 106.)
Difficult Way to Heaven.
1 STRAIT is the way, the door is strait,
That leads to joys on high;
'Tis but a few, that find the gate,
While crowds mistake and die.
2 Beloved self must be denied,
The mind and will renewed,
|