Yet once there was a day
When I poffeffed more:
Thou know'ft that from my very birth
I've been, the poorest wretch on earth.
Nor can I dare profefs,
As beggars often do,
Though great is my diftrefs,
My faults have been but few:
If thou shouldft leave my foul to starve,
It would be what I well deserve.
Though crumbs are much too good
For fuch a wretch as I;
No lefs than children's food
My foul can fatisfy :
O do not frown and bid me go,
I must have all thou canft bestow.
Nor can I willing be
Thy bounty to conceal
From others who like me,
Their want and hunger feel:
I'll tell them of thy mercy's ftore,
And try to fend a thousand more.
270. L. M. WATTS'S H.
The Chriftian Warfare.
TAND up, my foul, fhake off thy fears,
And gird the gofpel armour on;
March to the gates of endless joy,
Where thy great Captain-Saviour's gone.
Hell and thy fins refift thy course,
But hell and fin are vanquifh'd foes;
Thy Jefus nail'd them to the cross,
And fung the triumph when he rose.
What tho' the prince of darkness rage,
And waste the fury of his fpite;
Eternal chains confine him down
To fi'ry deeps, and endless night.
What tho' thine inward lufts rebel,
'Tis but a ftruggling gasp for life;
The weapons of victorious grace
Shall flay thy fins, and end the ftrife.
Then let my foul march boldly on,
Prefs forward to the heav'nly gate;
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glitt'ring robes for conqu'rors wait.
There fhall I wear a ftarry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace;
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious Leader's praise.
WAKE our fouls, away our fears,
Let ev'ry trembling thought be gone;
Awake, and run the heav'nly race,
And put a chearful courage on.
True, 'tis a ftraight and thorny road,
And mortal fpirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God,
Who feeds the ftrength of ev'ry faint.
O mighty God, thy matchlefs pow'r,
Is ever new and ever young;
And firm endures, while endless years,
Their everlasting circles run.
From thee, the overflowing fpring,
Believers drink a fresh fupply;
While fuch as truft their native strength,
Shall melt away, and droop, and die.
Swift as an eagle cuts the air,
Oh may we mount to thine abode;
On wings of love to Jefus fly,
Nor tire amidst the heav'nly road.
272. L. M. WATTS'S H.
Publican and Pharifee.
EHOLD how finners difagree-
The publican and pharifee-
One doth his righteoufnefs proclaim,
The other owns his guilt and shame:
The one at humble diftance ftands,
And owns the breach of God's commands;
The other rifes near the throne,
And talks of duties he has done.
The Lord their diff'rent language knows,
And diff'rent answers be bestows:
The humble foul with grace he crowns,
Whilft on the proud his anger frowns.
Dear Father, let me never be
Join'd with the boafting pharifee;
I have no merit of my own,
But plead the fuff'rings of thy Son.
The Pilgrim: or, Chrift my Guide.
UIDE me, O thou great Jehovah !
Pilgrim thro' this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy pow'rful hand;
Bread of Heaven,
Feed me till I want no more.
Open thou the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing ftreams do flow;
Let the fiery cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey thro':
Strong Deliv`rer,
Be thou ftill my ftrength and shield.
When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears fubfide;
Death of death's, and hell's deftruction,
Land me fafe on Canaan's fide.
Songs of praises,
Will I ever give to thee.
Daniel and the three Worthies..
THE fervant of the Lord,
Tho' in himself a worm,
/ Supported by the Word,
Can wond'rous acts perform; Strong in his God, he boldly treads Where'er the path of duty leads,
The haughty king, in vain,
With fury on his brow,
Believers would conftrain
To golden gods to bow :
The furnace could not make them fear, Because they knew the Lord was near.
As vain was the decree
Which charg'd them not to pray; Daniel ftill bow'd the knee,
And worshipp'd thrice a day; Regardless heard the threats of men ; Nor dreaded he the lion's den.
Secure they might refuse
Compliance with fuch laws,
For what had they to lofe,
When God efpous'd their caufe? He made the hungry lions crouch; Nor durft the fire his children touch.
The Lord is ftill the fame,
A mighty Shield and Tow'r ;
And they who truft his name
Are guarded by his pow'r :
He can the rage of lions tame,
And bear his people thro' the flame.
Yet faints too often fhrink
When trials are in view;
And oft believers think
They never can get thro' :
But could they on their God rely,
They would their foes and fears defy.
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