LXI. C. My Soul thirsteth for God.

1 I THIRST, but not as once I did,
The vain delights of earth to share;
Thy wounds, Immanuel, all forbid
That I should seek my pleasures there.

2 It was the sight of thy dear cross,

First wean'd my soul from earthly things, And taught me to esteem as dross

The mirth of fools and pomp of kings.

3 I want that grace that springs from thee,
That quickens all things where it flows,
And makes a wretched thorn, like me,
Bloom as the myrtle, or the rose.

4 Dear Fountain of delight unknown!
No longer sink below the brim;
But overflow, and pour me down
A living, and life-giving stream!

5 For sure, of all the plants that share
The notice of thy Father's eye,
None proves less grateful to his care,
Or yields him meaner fruit than I.

LXII. C. Love constraining to Obedience.

1 No strength of nature can suffice
To serve the Lord aright;
And what she has, she misapplies,
For want of clearer light.

2 How long beneath the law I lay
In bondage and distress!

I toil'd the precept to obey,
But toil'd without success.

3 Then to abstain from outward sin, Was more than I could do; Now, if I feel its pow'r within,

I feel I hate it too.

4 Then all my servile works were done
A righteousness to raise ;
Now, freely chosen in the Son,
I freely choose his ways.

5 "What shall I do," was then the word,
"That I worthier grow?"

may

"What shall I render to the Lord ?"
Is my inquiry now.

6 To see the law by Christ fulfill'd,
And hear his pard'ning voice,
Changes a slave into a child,
And duty into choice*.

LXIII. C. The heart healed and changed by Mercy.

1 SIN enslav'd me many years,
And led me bound and blind;
Till at length a thousand fears
Came swarming o'er my mind.
"Where," I said in deep distress,
"Will these sinful pleasures end?
"How shall I secure my peace,
"And make the Lord my friend?"

2 Friends and ministers said much
The Gospel to enforce ;

But my blindness still was such,
I chose a legal course:

*Rom. iii. 31.

Much I fasted, watch'd, and strove,
Scarce would show my face abroad,
Fear'd almost, to speak or move,
A stranger still to God.

3 Thus afraid to trust his grace,
Long time did I rebel;
Till, despairing of my case,
Down at his feet I fell:
Then my stubborn heart he broke,
And subdu'd me to his sway;

By a simple word he spoke,
"Thy sins are done away."

LXIV. C. Hatred of Sin.

1 HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth,
Nor dare thy least commandment slight;
Yet pierc'd by sin, the serpent's tooth,
I mourn the anguish of the bite.

2 But though the poison lurks within,
Hope bids me still with patience wait;
Till death shall set me free from sin,
Free from the only thing I hate.

3 Had I a throne above the rest,

Where angels and archangels dwell; One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heav'n as dark as hell.

4 The pris'ner, sent to breathe fresh air, And bless'd with liberty again,

Would mourn, were he condemn'd to wear One link of all his former chain.

5 But, oh! no foe invades the bliss,

When glory crowns th' Christian's head; One view of Jesus as he is,

Will strike all sin for ever dead.

LXV. The Child*.

1 QUIET, Lord, my froward heart,
Make me teachable and mild,
Upright, simple, free from art,
Make me as a weaned child:
From distrust and envy free,
Pleas'd with all that pleases thee.

2 What thou shalt to-day provide,
Let me as a child receive;
What to-morrow may betide,
Calmly to thy wisdom leave :
'Tis enough that thou wilt care,
Why should I the burden bear?

3 As a little child relies

On a care beyond his own; Knows he's neither strong nor wise; Fears to stir a step alone;

Let me thus with thee abide,

As my Father, Guard, and Guide.

4 Thus preserv'd from Satan's wiles,
Safe from dangers, free from fears,
May I live upon thy smiles,
Till the promis'd hour appears,
When the sons of God shall
All their Father's boundless love.

prove

* Psal. cxxxi. 2.; Matt. xviii. 3, 4.

1 Fix my heart and eyes on thine!
What are other objects worth?
But to see thy glory shine,

Is a heav'n begun on earth:
Trifles can no longer move,
Oh! I tread on all beside,
When I feel my Saviour's love,
And remember how he dy'd.

2 Now my search is at an end,
wishes rove no more!

Now my
Thus my moments I would spend,

Love, and wonder, and adore:
Jesus, source of excellence!

All thy glorious love reveal! Kingdoms shall not bribe me hence. While this happiness I feel.

3 Take my heart, 'tis all thine own,
To thy will my spirit frame?
Thou shalt reign, and thou alone,
Over all I have, or am:

If a foolish thought shall dare
To rebel against thy word,
Slay it, Lord, and do not spare;
Let it feel thy Spirit's sword.

4 Making thus the Lord my choice, I have nothing more to choose,

But to listen to thy voice,

And my will in thine to lose :

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