3 'Tis God's all-animating voice,
That calls thee from on high:
"Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye.

4 That prize with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,

When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems Shall blend in common dust.

5 Blest Saviour, introduc'd by thee,
Have I my race begun;

And, crown'd with victory, at thy feet
I'll lay my honours down.

250.

L.M.-Zeal for Christ; or Peter and John following their Master.
John xxi. 18-20.

1 BLEST men, who stretch their willing hands,
Submissive to their Lord's commands,
And yield their liberty and breath
To him that lov'd their souls in death!

2 Lead me to suffer and to die,

If thou, my gracious Lord, art nigh:
One smile from thee my heart shall fire,
And teach me smiling to expire.

3 If nature at the trial shake,

And from the cross or flames draw back,
Grace can its feeble courage raise.
And turn its tremblings into praise.
4 While scarce I dare with Peter say,
I'll boldly tread the bleeding way;
Yet in thy steps, like John, I'd move
With humble hope and silent love.

1

251.

S.M.-Christian Zeal.

JESUS, I fain would find

Thy zeal for God in me;

Thy yearning pity for mankind,
Thy burning charity.

2

In me thy Spirit dwell!
In me thy bowels move!
So shall the fervour of my zeal
Be the pure flame of love.

252.

C.M.-Holy Zeal and Diligence.

1 WHILE carnal men, with all their might, Earth's vanities pursue,

How slow the advances which I make
With heaven itself in view.
2 Inspire my soul with holy zeal;
Great God my love inflame;
Religion, without zeal and love,
Is but an empty name.

3 To gain the top of Zion's hill
I would with fervour strive;
And all those powers employ for thee
Which I from thee derive.

253.

C.M.-The good Samaritan. Luke x. 30-37.

1 FATHER of mercies, send thy grace
All-powerful from above,

To form in our obedient souls
The image of thy love.

2 O may our sympathising breasts
That generous pleasure know,
Kindly to share in others' joy,
And weep for others' wo!

3 When the most helpless sons of grief
In low distress are laid,
Soft be our hearts their pains to feel
And swift our hands to aid.

4 So Jesus look'd on dying men,

When 'thron'd above the skies,

And 'midst the embraces of his God,
He felt compassion rise.

5 On wings of love the Saviour flew, To raise us from the ground,

And made the richest of his blood

A balm for every

wound.

254.

C.M.-Providing Bags that wax not old, &c. Luke xii. 33. 1 THESE mortal joys, how soon they fade! How swift they pass away!

The dying flower reclines his head,
The beauty of a day!

2 The bags are rent, the treasures lost
We fondly call'd our own;

Scarce could we the possession boast,
And straight we found it gone.

3 But there are joys that cannot die,
With God laid up in store;
Treasure beyond the changing sky,
Brighter than golden ore.

4 To that my rising heart aspires,
Secure to find its rest,

And glories in such wide desires
Of all their wish possest.

5 The seeds which piety and love
Have scatter'd here below,

In the fair fertile fields above,
To ample harvests grow.

6 The mite my willing hands can give,
At Jesus' feet I lay;

Grace shall the humble gift receive,
And heaven at large repay.

255.

S.M.-Communion with God and Christ. 1 John i. 3.

1 OUR heavenly Father calls,

And Christ invites us near;

With both our friendship shall be sweet, And our communion dear.

2

God pities all my griefs;
He pardons every day;
Almighty to protect my soul
And wise to guide my way.

3

How large his bounties are;

4

What various stores of good,

Diffus'd from my Redeemer's hand,
And purchas'd with his blood!

Jesus, my living head,

I bless thy faithful care;

Mine advocate before the throne, my forerunner there,

And

5 Here fix, my roving heart;
Here wait, my warmest love,
Till the communion be complete
In nobler scenes above.

256.

C.M.-Converse with God. Gen. v. 24. Heb. xi. 5.

1 ETERNAL God, our wondering souls
Admire thy matchless grace;
That thou wilt walk, that thou wilt dwell
With Adam's worthless race.

2 O lead me to that happy path,
Where I my God may meet;
Though hosts of foes begird it round,
Though briers wound my feet.

3 Cheer'd with thy converse, I can trace
The desert with delight;
Through all the gloom one smile of thine
Can dissipate the night.

4 Nor shall I through eternal days
A restless pilgrim roam;

Thy hand that now directs my course,
Shall soon convey me home.

5 I ask not Enoch's rapturous flight
To realms of heavenly day;
Nor seek Elijah's fiery steeds
To bear this flesh away.

6 Joyful my spirit will consent
To drop its mortal load;
And hail the sharpest pangs of death,
That break its way to God.

257.

C.M.-Joy and Prosperity from the Presence and Blessing of God.

Ps. xc. 17.

1 SHINE on our souls, eternal God,

With rays of beauty shine:

O let thy favour crown our days,
And all their round be thine.

2 Did we not raise our hands to thee,
Our hands might toil in vain;
Small joy success itself could give,
If thou thy love restrain.

3 With thee let every week begin,
With thee each day be spent,

For thee each fleeting hour improv'd,
Since each by thee is lent.

4 Thus cheer us through this desert road,
Till all our labours cease;
And heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.

258.

C.M.-The Divine Presence desired. Job xxiii. 3, 4.

1 O THAT I knew the secret place,
Where I might find my God!
I'd spread my wants before his face,
And pour my woes abroad!

2 I'd tell him how my sins arise,
What sorrows I sustain;

How grace decays, and comfort dies,
And leaves my heart in pain.