Then, by a Saviour's dying love

To every wounded heart reveal'd, Temptations, fears, and guilt remove,

And be their Sun, and Strength, and Shield.

To mourners speak a cheering word,
On seeking souls vouchsafe to shine;
Let poor backsliders be restored,

And all Thy saints in praises join.

O hear our prayer, and give us hope
That when Thy voice shall call us home,
Thou still wilt raise a people up

To love and praise Thee in our room!

11. C. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH.

SIN has undone our wretched race,
But Jesus has restored,

And brought the sinner face to face
With his forgiving Lord.

This we repeat from year to year,
And press upon our youth:
Lord, give them an attentive ear;
Lord, save them by Thy truth!
Blessings upon the rising race!
Make this a happy hour,
According to Thy richest grace,
And Thine almighty power.

We feel for your unhappy state,
(May you regard it too!)

And would awhile ourselves forget,
To pour out prayer for you.

We see, though you perceive it not,
Th' approaching awful doom;
O tremble at the solemn thought,
And flee the wrath to come!

Dear Saviour, let this new-born year
Spread an alarm abroad,
And cry, in every careless ear,
'Prepare to meet Thy God!'

12. C. PRAYER FOR CHILDREN.
GRACIOUS LORD, our children see!
By Thy mercy we are free;
But shall these, alas! remain
Subjects still of Satan's reign?
Israel's young ones, when of old
Pharaoh threaten'd to withhold,*
Then Thy messenger said, 'No;
Let the children also go.'

When the angel of the Lord,
Drawing forth his dreadful sword,
Slew, with an avenging hand,
All the first-born of the land,†

* Exod. x. 9-11.

† Exod. xii. 29.

Then the people's door he pass'd Where the bloody sign was placed : Hear us now, upon our knees,

Plead the blood of Christ for these!

Lord, we tremble, for we know How the fierce malicious foe, Wheeling round his watchful flight, Keeps them ever in his sight. Spread Thy pinions, King of kings! Hide them safe beneath thy wings, Lest the ravenous bird of prey Stoop, and bear the brood away.

13. THE SHUNAMMITE.*

THE Shunammite, oppress'd with grief, When she had lost the son she loved, Went to Elisha for relief,

Nor vain her application proved.

He sent his servant on before
To lay a staff upon his head;
This he could do, but do no more-
He left him, as he found him, dead.

*2 Kings iv. 31.

But when the Lord's almighty power

Wrought with the prophet's prayer and faith, The mother saw a joyful hour—

She saw her child restored from death.

Thus, like the weeping Shunammite,
For many dead in sin we grieve;
Now, Lord, display Thine arm of might,
Cause them to hear Thy voice, and live.

Thy preachers bear the staff in vain,
Though at Thine own command we go ;
Lord, we have tried and tried again;

We find them dead, and leave them so.

Come, then, Thyself to every heart
The glory of Thy name make known;
The means are our appointed part,
The power and grace are Thine alone.

14. ELIJAH'S PRAYER.*

DOES it not grief and wonder move
To think of Israel's shameful fall?

Who needed miracles to prove

Whether the Lord was God or Baal!

* 1 Kings xviii.

Methinks I see Elijah stand,

His features glow with love and zeal;
In faith and prayer he lifts his hand,
And makes to Heaven his great appeal.

'O God! if I Thy servant am,
If 'tis Thy message fills my heart,
Now glorify Thy holy Name,

And show this people who Thou art!'

He spake; and lo! a sudden flame

Consumed the wood, the dust, the stone; The people, struck, at once proclaim, "The Lord is God, the Lord alone!'

Like him, we mourn an awful day,
When more for Baal than God appear;
Like him, believers, let us pray,

And may the God of Israel hear!

Lord, if Thy servant speak Thy truth,
If he indeed is sent by Thee,
Confirm the word to all our youth,
And let them Thy salvation see.

Now may the Spirit's holy fire

Pierce every heart that hears Thy Word, Consume each hurtful vain desire,

And make them know Thou art the Lord!

P