Take ye heed, watch and pray. Mark xiii. 33.

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The Saviour bids us watch and pray
Through time's brief, fleeting hour,
And gives the Spirit's quickening ray
To those who seek its power.

The Saviour bids us watch and pray,

Maintain a warrior's strife; Help, Lord, to hear thy voice to-day;

Obedience is our life.

The Saviour bids us watch and pray,
For quickly he will come,
To call us from our toils away
To our eternal home.

The Saviour bids us watch and pray,
For lo! the Judge is near;
Oh may we joyfully obey,
And watch till he appear!

Thomas Hastings, b. 1784.

333-338

Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel iii. 9.

Before thy mercy-seat, O Lord,
Behold thy servants stand,
To ask the knowledge of thy word,
The guidance of thy hand.

Let thy eternal truth, we pray,

Dwell richly in each heart; That from the safe and narrow way We never may depart.

C. M.

Michael Bruce, 1744-1767.

342 O Lord, truly I am thy servant.

Psalm cxvi. 16.

Oh, not to fill the mouth of fame
My longing soul is stirred;
Oh, give me a diviner name!
Call me thy servant, Lord!

342-346

Jesus, at whose supreme command,
We now approach to God,
Before us in thy vesture stand,
Thy vesture dipped in blood!

Obedient to thy gracious word,
We break the hallowed bread,
Commemorate our dying Lord,

And trust on thee to feed.

The tokens of thy dying love

C. M.

Oh, let us all receive;
And feel the quickening Spirit move,
And sensibly believe!

The cup of blessing, blessed by thee,
Let it thy blood impart;
The bread thy mystic body be,

And cheer each languid heart.

The living bread sent down from heaven In us vouchsafe to be:

Thy flesh for all the world is given,

And all may live by thee.

Now, Lord, on us thy flesh bestow,
And let us drink thy blood,
Till all our souls are filled below
With all the life of God.

Wesley, ab, 1745.

.Psalm cxix. 33.

C. M.

Oh, that the Lord would guide my ways To keep his statutes still!

Oh, that my God would grant me grace
To know and do his will!

Oh, send thy Spirit down, to write
Thy law upon my heart;
Nor let my tongue indulge deceit,
Nor act the liar's part.

Order my footsteps by thy word,
And make my heart sincere;
Let sin have no dominion, Lord,

But keep my conscience clear. Make me to walk in thy commands'Tis a delightful road;

Nor let my head, nor heart, nor hands Offend against my God.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

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2 Night unto night his name repeats,
The day renews the sound;
Wide as the heaven on which he sits,
To turn the seasons round.

3 'Tis he supports my mortal frame;
My tongue shall speak his praise;
My sins might rouse his wrath to flame,
But yet his wrath delays.

4 O God, let all my hours be thine,
Whilst I enjoy the light;

Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a peaceful night.

Isaac Watts, ab. 1709.

The Peace of God. Phil. iv. 7.

C. M.

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm,
Let thine outstretched wing
Be like the shade of Elim's palm
Beside her desert spring.

Yes! keep me calm, though loud and rude
The sounds my ears that greet;
Calm in the closet's solitude;

Calm in the bustling street.

Calm in the day of buoyant health;
Calm in the hour of pain;
Calm in my poverty or wealth;
Calm in my loss or gain.

Calm in the sufferance of wrong,
Like him who bore my shame;
Calm 'mid the threatening, taunting throng
Who hate thy holy name.

Calm as the ray of sun or star

Which storms assail in vain,

Moving unruffled through earth's war, Th' eternal calm to gain.

Calm me, my God, and keep me calm, Soft resting on thy breast,

And bid my spirit rest.

Horatius Bonar, ab. 1856.

350

The entrance of thy words giveth light.
Psalm cxix. 130.

Father of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!
Forever be thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

350-354

Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than naturo knows
Invite the longing taste.

Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.

O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou forever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view the Saviour there.

Ï John i. 7.

C. M.

Walk in the light! so shalt thou know
That fellowship of love
His Spirit only can bestow,

Who reigns in light above.

Walk in the light! and thou shalt find Thy heart made truly his,

Who dwells in cloudless light enshrined,
In whom no darkness is.

Walk in the light! and thou shalt own
Thy darkness passed away,
Because that light hath on thee shone
In which is perfect day.

Walk in the light! and e'en the tomb
No fearful shade shall wear;
Glory shall chase away its gloom,

For Christ hath conquered there.
Walk in the light! thy path shall be
Peaceful, serene, and bright:
For God, by grace, shall dwell in thee,
And God himself is light.

353

Bernard Barton, 1827.

The King of heaven his table spreads,
And dainties crown the board;

Not paradise, with all its joys,
Could such delight afford.

Ye hungry poor, that long have strayed,
In sin's dark mazes, come;
Come from your most obscure retreats,
And grace shall find you room.
All things are ready; come away;
Nor weak excuses frame.
Crowd to your places at the feast,
And bless the Master's name.
Philip Doddridge, ab. 1702-1754.
Let the earth rejoice.
Psalm xcvii. 1.

354

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