I fain would see the Saviour near,
Of him would think, and speak, and hear;
But vain and sinful thoughts intrude,
And draw my mind from what is good.
Redeem'd from earth by Jesu's blood,
I fain would give the day to God;
But seldom to my purpose true,
'Tis mine to plan, but not to do.
Of sinners, Lord, I am the chief,
O bring my wav'ring heart relief;
My weak resolves do thou control,
And fix thy Spirit in my soul.
HYMN 266. C. M.
FATHER! whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sov'reign will denies;
Accepted at the throne of grace
Let this petition rise:
"Give me a calm and thankful heart,
From ev'ry murmur free ;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And let me live to thee.
Let the sweet hope that thou art mine
My life and death attend;
Thy presence thro' my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end."
THIS world would seem a fleeting show,
For man's illusion given,-
For smiles of joy, and tears of woe
Deceitful shine, deceitful flow-
There's nothing true but heav'n!
And false the light on glory's plume,
As fading hues of even;
And love, and hope, and beauty's bloom
Are blossoms gathered for the tomb,—
There's nothing bright but heav'n!
Poor wanderers of a stormy day,
From wave to wave we're driven !
"Tis Christ alone can light the ray,
Which serves to guide our troubled way—
There's nothing calm but heav'n!
HYMN 268. L. M.
WHERE'ER I am, whate'er I see,
Eternal Lord, is full of thee;
I feel thee in the gloom of night,
I view thee in the morning light.
When cares distract my anxious soul,
Thy grace can ev'ry thought control;
Thy word can still the troubled heart,
And peace and confidence impart.
If pain invade my broken rest,
Or if corroding griefs molest,
Soon as the Comforter appears,
My sighs are hush'd, and dried my tears
HYMN 269. L. M.
O GIVE me, Lord, myself to see!
Against myself to watch and pray!
How weak am I, when left by thee,
How frail, how prone to fall away!
Jesus, the sinner's only trust,
Let me now feel thy grace infused ;
Ah, raise the fallen from the dust,
Nor break a reed already bruised.
Let thy meek mind descend on me,
Thy sacred Spirit from above;
Assist me, Lord, to follow thee,
Drawn by th' endearing cords of love.
HYMN 270. L. M.
I CANNOT shun the blow of death,
Lord, help me to surmount the fear;
That when I must resign my breath,
Serene my summons I may hear.
'Tis sin gives venom to the dart,—
In me let ev'ry sin be slain;
From secret faults, Lord, cleanse my heart,
From wilful sins my hands restrain.
May I, my God, with holy zeal,
Closely the ends of life pursue;
Seek thy whole counsel to fulfil,
And honour thee in all I do.
HYMN 271. C. M.
"My times are in thy hand,"
My God, I wish them there;
My hopes, my life, my soul I leave
Entirely to thy care.
My times are in thy hand,"
Whatever they may be,
Pleasing or painful, dark or bright,
As best may seem to thee.
"My times are in thy hand,"
Why should I doubt or fear?
My Father's hand will never cause
His child a needless tear.
"My times are in thy hand,"
In life I'll trust to thee;
And after death, where Jesus reigns
I shall for ever be.
"IT is the Lord," my covenant God,-
Thrice blessed be his name!
Whose gracious promise, sealed with blood,
Must ever be the same.
"It is the Lord";-shall I distrust
Or contradict his will,
Who cannot do but what is just,
And must be righteous still?
"It is the Lord," who can sustain
Beneath the heaviest load;
From whom assistance I obtain
To tread the thorny road.
Let not my will, but thine be done,
For all that will is love;
Thy purposes, tho' here unknown,
Shall be revealed above.
HYMN 273. L. M.
HAPPY Soul, thy days are ending,
All thy mourning days below :
Go, with angel guards attending,
To thy Lord's own presence go.
Waiting to receive thy spirit,
Lo! the Saviour stands above;
Shews the purchase of his merit,
Reaches out the crown of love.
Struggle thro' thy latest passion
To thy dear Redeemer's breas
To his uttermost salvation,
To his everlasting rest.
For the joy he sets before thee,
Bear a momentary pain;
Die, to live the life of glory,
Suffer, with thy Lord to reign.
HYMN 274. L. M.
OFT as the bell, with solemn toll,
Speaks the departure of a soul,
Let each one ask himself, "Am I
Prepared, should I be called to die?"
Only this frail and fleeting breath
Preserves me from the jaws of death!
Soon as it fails, at once I'm gone,
And plunged into a world unknown.
My Saviour, help me now to flee,
And seek my hope alone in thee :
Apply thy blood, thy Spirit give,
Subdue my sin, and let me live.
HYMN 275. C. M.
Ir Christ is mine, then all is mine,
And more than angels know;
Both present things, and things to come,
Both grace and glory too.
If he is mine, let friends forsake,
Let earthly comforts flee;
He, the Dispenser of all good,
Is more than these to me.
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