4 The saints espouse my cause by pray'r,
The angels make my soul their care;
Mine is the promise seal'd with blood,
And Jesus lives to make it good.

I. CHRONICLES.

XLI. Faith's Review and Expectation. Ch. xvii. 16, 17.

1 AMAZING grace! (how sweet the sound,) That sav'd a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

2 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come;

'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures :
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.

5 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the vail,

A life of joy and peace.

6 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call'd me here below,

Will be for ever mine.

NEHEMIAH.

XLII. The Joy of the Lord is your Strength. Chap. viii. 10.

1 Joy is a fruit that will not grow
In nature's barren soil;

All we can boast, till Christ we know,
Is vanity and toil.

2 But where the Lord has planted grace,
And made his glories known,
There fruits of heav'nly joy and peace
Are found, and there alone.

3 A bleeding Saviour seen by faith,
A sense of pard'ning love;
A hope that triumphs over death,
Give joys like those above.

4 To take a glimpse within the vail,
To know that God is mine,
Are springs of joy that never fail,
Unspeakable! divine!

5 These are the joys which satisfy,
And sanctify the mind;

Which make the spirit mount on high,
And leave the world behind.

6 No more, believers, mourn your lot; But if you are the Lord's,

Resign to them that know him not
Such joys as earth affords.

JOB.

XLIII. Oh that I were as in months past!
Chap. xxix. 2.

1 SWEET was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pard'ning blood
Apply'd, to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.

2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd,
His praises tun'd my tongue;
And when the ev'ning shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.

3 In vain the tempter spread his wiles,
The world no more could charm ;
I liv'd upon my Saviour's smiles,
his arm.

And lean'd upon

4 In pray'r my soul drew near the Lord, And saw his glory shine;

And when I read his holy word,
I call'd each promise mine.

5 Then to his saints I often spoke,
Of what his love had done;
But now my heart is almost broke,
For all my joys are gone.

6 Now when the ev'ning shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns ;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.

7 My pray'rs are now a chatt'ring noise, For Jesus hides his face;

I read, the promise meets my eyes,
But will not reach my case.

8 Now Satan threatens to prevail,
And make my soul his prey:
Yet, Lord, thy mercies cannot fail,
O come without delay!

XLIV. The Change*.

1 SAVIOUR, shine and cheer my soul,
Bid my dying hopes revive;
Maké my wounded spirit whole,
Far away the tempter drive,
Speak the word, and set me free,
Let me live alone to thee,

2 Shall I sigh and pray in vain,
Wilt thou still refuse to hear?
Wilt thou not return again,

Must I yield to black despair?
Thou hast taught my heart to pray,
Canst thou turn thy face away?

3 Once I thought my mountain strong,
Firmly fix'd no more to move;
Then thy grace was all my song,
Then my soul was fill'd with love;

Those were happy golden days,

Sweetly spent in prayer and praise.

4 When my friends have said, "Beware, "Soon or late you'll find a change,"

I could see no cause for fear,

Vain their caution seem'd and strange :

Not a cloud obscur'd my sky,

Could I think a tempest nigh?

* Bood ii. Hymn 34. and Book iii. Hymn 86.

5 Little then myself I knew,

Little thought of Satan's pow'r :
Now I find their words were true,

Now I feel the stormy hour!
Sin has put my joys to flight,
Sin has chang'd my day to night.

6 Satan asks and mocks my wo,

"Boaster, where is now your God?" Silence, Lord, this cruel foe,

Let him know I'm bought with blood: Tell him, since I know thy name, Though I change, thou art the same.

PSALMS.

XLV. Pleading for Mercy. Psalm vi.

1 IN mercy, not in wrath, rebuke
Thy feeble worm, my God!
My spirit dreads thine angry look,
And trembles at thy rod.

2 Have mercy, Lord, for I am weak,
Regard my heavy groans;
O let thy voice of comfort speak,
And heal my broken bones!

3 By day, my busy beating head
Is fill'd with anxious fears;
By night, upon my restless bed,
I weep a flood of tears.

4 Thus I sit desolate and mourn,

Mine eyes grown dull with grief: How long, my Lord, ere thou return, And bring my soul relief?