3 Had I by him been guided,
And quickly thrown away
The armour men provided,

I might have gain'd the day;
But arm'd as they advis'd me,
My expectations fail'd;
My enemy surpris'd me,

And had almost prevail'd.

4 Furnish'd with books and notions,
And arguments and pride,
I practis'd all my motions,
And Satan's pow'r defy'd:
But soon perceiv'd, with trouble,
That these would do no good;

Iron to him is stubble,

And brass like rotten wood*.

5 I triumph'd at a distance,
While he was out of sight,
But faint was my resistance,
When forc'd to join in fight:
He broke my sword in shivers,

And pierc'd my boasted shield,
Laugh'd at my vain endeavours,

And drove me from the field.

6 Satan will not be braved By such a worm as I ;

Then let me learn with David

To trust in the Most High;
To plead the name of Jesus,
And use the sling of pray'r:
Thus arm'd, when Satan sees us,
He'll tremble and despair.

* Job xli. 27.

II. SAMUEL.

XXIX. David's Fall. Chap. xi. 27.
1 How David, when by sin deceiv'd,
From bad to worse went on!
For when the holy Spirit's griev'd,
Our strength and guard are gone.
2 His eye, on Bathsheba once fix'd,
With poison fill'd his soul;
He ventur❜d on adult'ry next,

And murder crown'd the whole.

3 So from a spark of fire at first,
That has not been descry'd,
A dreadful flame has often burst,
And ravag'd far and wide.

4 When sin deceives, it hardens too;
For, though he vainly sought

To hide his crimes from public view,
Of God he little thought.

5 He neither would, nor could, repent,

No true compunction felt,

'Till God, in mercy,

Nathan sent,

His stubborn heart to melt.

6 The parable held forth a fact,
Design'd his case to show;

But, though the picture was exact,
Himself he did not know.

7 "Thou art the man," the prophet said ; That word his slumber broke:

And when he own'd his sin, and pray'd,
The Lord forgiveness spoke.

8 Let those who think they stand beware,

For David stood before;

Nor let the fallen soul despair,

For mercy can restore.

XXX. Is this thy kindness to thy friend?
Chap. xvi. 17.

1 POOR, weak, and worthless, though I am,
I have a rich, almighty Friend;
Jesus, the Saviour, is his name,
He freely loves, and without end,
2 He ransom'd me from hell with blood,

And by his pow'r my foes controll'd;
He found me wand'ring far from God,
And brought me to his chosen fold.

3 He cheers my heart, my want supplies,
And says, that I shall shortly be
Enthron'd with him above the skies-
Oh! what a friend is Christ to me!

4 But, ah! my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns;
I've been a faithless friend to him,

5 Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey,
And often Satan's lies believe,
Sooner than all my Friend can say.

6 He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate'er I ask :

But I am straiten'd, cold, and dumb,

And count my privilege a task,

7 Before the world, that hates his cause,

My treach'rous heart has throbb'd with shame ;

Loath to forego the world's applause,

I hardly dare avow his name.

8 Sure, were not I most vile and base,
I could not thus my Friend requite!
And were not he the God of grace,
He'd frown and spurn me from his sight.

I. KINGS.

XXXI. Ask what I shall give thee. Chap. iii. 5.

1 COME, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer pray'r,
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.

2 Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring*;
For his grace and pow'r are such,
None can ever ask too much.

3 With my burden I begin,
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.

4 Lord! I come to thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;

There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.

5 As the image in the glass
Answers the beholder's face;
Thus unto my heart appear,

Print thine own resemblance there.

6 While I am a pilgrim here,

Let thy love my spirit cheer;

As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.

7 Show me what I have to do,
Ev'ry hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people's death.

XXXII. Another.

1 IF Solomon for wisdom pray'd, The Lord before had made him wise; Else he another choice had made,

And ask'd for what the worldlings prize.

2 Thus he invites his people still;

He first instructs them how to choose, Then bids them ask whate'er they will, Assur'd that He will not refuse.

3 Our wishes would our ruin prove,

Could we our wretched choice obtain,
Before we feel the Saviour's love
Kindle our love to him again.

4 But when our hearts perceive his worth,
Desires, till then unknown, take place;
Our spirits cleave no more to earth,
But pant for holiness and grace.

5 And dost thou say, "Ask what thou wilt?" Lord, I would seize the golden hour;

I pray to be releas'd from guilt,

And freed from sin and Satan's pow'r.