3 Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;

But, hark! the foe's at hand*; Saul turns his arms another way,

To save th' invaded land.

4. When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no moret ;
But God prepar'd a fish to save
And bear him to the shore.

5 Blest proofs of pow'r and

grace divine,

That meet us in his word!
May ev'ry deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.

6 Wait for his seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.

VII. The Lord will provide.

1 THOUGH troubles assail,
And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail,

And foes all unite;

Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,

The Scripture assures us,
The Lord will provide.

2 The birds without barn,

Or storehouse, are fed;
From them let us learn

To trust for our bread:

1 Sam. xxiii. 27. † Jonah i. 17.
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VOL. III.

4 His call we obey,

Like Abra'm of old,

Not knowing our way,

But faith makes us bold;

For though we are strangers,
We have a good guide,
And trust in all dangers,
The Lord will provide.

5 When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith:
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has try'd,
This heart-cheering promise,
The Lord will provide.

6 He tells us we're weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek

We ne'er shall obtain ;

But when such suggestions
Our spirits have ply'd,
This answers all questions,
The Lord will provide.

7 No strength of our own,
Or goodness, we claim ;
Yet since we have known
The Saviour's great name,
In this our strong tow'r
For safety we hide,
The Lord is our pow'r,
The Lord will provide.

8 When life sinks apace,
And death is in view,

This word of his grace
Shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The Lord will provide.

VIII. Esau. Chap. xxv. 34.

1 POOR Esau repented too late,

Heb. xii. 16.

That once he his birth-right despis'd,
And sold, for a morsel of meat,

What could not too highly be priz’d:
How great was his anguish when told,
The blessing he sought to obtain
Was
gone with the birth-right he sold,
And none could recall it again!

2 He stands as a warning to all,

Wherever the Gospel shall come;
O hasten and yield to the call,

While yet for repentance there's room!

Your season will quickly be past;
Then hear and obey it to-day,
Lest, when you seek mercy at last,

The Saviour should frown you away.

3 What is it the world can propose?

A morsel of meat at the best!
For this are you willing to lose
A share in the joys of the blest?
Its pleasures will speedily end,

Its favour and praise are but breath ;
And what can its profits befriend

Your soul in the moments of death?

4 If Jesus, for these, you despise,
And sin to the Saviour prefer;
In vain your entreaties and cries,
When summon'd to stand at his bar:
How will you his presence abide ?
What anguish will torture your heart!
The saints all enthron'd by his side,
And you be compell'd to depart.

5 Too often, dear Saviour, have I
Preferr'd some poor trifle to thee;
How is it thou dost not deny

The blessing and birth-right to me? No better than Esau I am,

Though pardon and heaven be mine; To me belongs nothing but shame, The praise and the glory be thine.

IX. Jacob's Ladder. Chap. xxviii. 12.

1 IF the Lord our leader be,
We may follow without fear;
East or west, by land or sea,

Home, with him, is ev'ry where:

When from Esau Jacob fled,

Though his pillow was a stone,
And the ground his humble bed,
Yet he was not left alone.

2 Kings are often waking kept,

Rack'd with cares on beds of state;

Never king like Jacob slept,

For he lay at heaven's gate:
Lo! he saw a ladder rear'd,
Reaching to the heav'nly throne;
At the top the Lord appear'd,
Spake, and claim'd him for his own:

3 "Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,

"And my presence with thee goes; "On thy heart my love shall shine, "And my arm subdue thy foes: "From my promise comfort take, "For my help in trouble call; "Never will I thee forsake,

"Till I have accomplish'd all."

4. Well does Jacob's ladder suit
To the Gospel-throne of grace;
We are at the ladder's foot,
Ev'ry hour, in ev'ry place:
By assuming flesh and blood,
Jesus heav'n and earth unites;
We, by faith, ascend to God*,
God to dwell with us delights.

5 They who know the Saviour's name, Are for all events prepar'd;

What can changes do to them

Who have such a guide and guard?

* 2 Cor. vi. 16.