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CHRISTIAN EXERCISES.

417. C. M. Watts.

Aspiring to Heavenly Joys.

THERE's nothing round the spacious earth,
That suits my large desires;

To boundless joys and solid mirth,
My nobler thought aspires.

2 Where pleasure rolls its living flood,
From sin and dross refin'd;
Still springing from the throne of God,
And fit to cheer the mind.

3 Had I the pinions of a dove,

I'd climb the heavenly road;
There sits my Saviour cloth'd in love,
And there my smiling God.

418. C. M. Walls.

Paradise on Earth.

WHEN Christ, with all his graces crown's

Sheds his kind beams abroad,

"Tis a young heaven on earthly ground And glory in the bud.

2 A blooming paradise of joy

In this wild desert springs;

And every sense I straight employ
On sweet celestial things..

3 But, an! how soon my joys decay!
How soon my sins arise,

And snatch the heavenly scene away
From these lamenting eyes!

4 When shall the time, dear Jesus, when,
The shining day appear,

That I shall leave these clouds of sin,
And guilt and darkness here.

5 Up to the fields above the skies
My hasty feet would go,-
There everlasting flowers arise,
And joys unwithering grow.

419. C. M. W. & B.

Longing for Heaven. Job iii. 17. vii. 16
NO that dear world of light and bliss,
Above the starry skies,

Tir'd of the sins and griefs of this,
I lift my longing eyes.

2 There Jesus, the unsetting Sun,
Darts forth his brightest rays,
And every heart and every tongue
Unite to love and praise.

3 "Tis there the weary are at rest,
And all is peace within,

The mind with guilt no more opprest,
The conscience all serene.

4 Discord and strife, those regions fly,
Distrust and slavish fear;
No longer heaves the pensive sigh,
Or drops the briny tear.

5 And can I longer wish to stay,
So far from that abode?

Kind angels, bear my soul away,
That I may dwell with God."

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420. C. M. Watts.

Doubts scattered; or, Joy restored.

ENCE from my soul, sad thoughts, begone,
And leave me to my joys;

My tongue shall triumph in my God,

And make a joyful noise.

2 Darkness and doubts had veil'd my mind,
And drown'd my head in tears,

Till sovereign grace with shining rays
Dispell'd my gloomy fears.

3 0 what immortal joys I felt,
And raptures all divine,
When Jesus told me I was his,
And my beloved mine!

4 In vain the tempter frights my soul,
And breaks my peace in vain,
One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face,
Revives my joys again.

Resignation; or, God our Portion. times of sorrow and of joy,' Great God! are in thy hand;

MY

My choicest comforts come from thee,
And go at thy command.

2 If thou shouldst take them all away,
Yet would I not repine;
Before they were possess'd by me,
They were entirely thine.

3 Nor would I drop a murm'ring word, Though the whole world were gone; But seek enduring happiness

In Thee, and Thee alone.

4 What is the world, with all its stores?
"Tis but a bitter sweet;

When I attempt to pluck the rose,
A piercing thorn I meet.

5 Here perfect bliss can ne'er be found,
The honey's mix'd with gall;

'Midst changing scenes, and dying friends, Be Thou my all in all.

Humble Reliance and Submission.

MY God, my Father, thou art wise;

O bend my will to thine!

Whate'er toy providence denies,
I calmly would resign.

2 Whate'er thy sacred will ordains,
O give me strength to bear!

And let me know my Father reigns,
And trust his tender care.

3 If pain and sickness rend this frame, And life almost depart,

Is not thy mercy still the same,
To cheer my drooping heart?

4 If cares and sorrows me surround,
Their power why should I fear?
My inward peace they cannot wound,
If thou, my God, art near.

5 Thy sovereign ways are all unknown
To my weak, erring sight;
Yet let my soul, adoring, own
That all thy ways are right.

423. C. M. Cowper.
Submission.

LORD, my best desires fulfil,
And help me to resign
Life, health, and comfort, to thy will,
And make thy pleasure mine.

2 Why should I shrink at thy command,
Whose love forbids my fears?
Or tremble at the gracious hand
That wipes away my tears?

3 No! let me rather freely yield
What most I prize, to thee,
Who never hast a good withheld,
Nor wilt withhold from me.

4 Thy favour, all my journey through Thou art engaged to grant;

What else I want, or think I do,
"Tis better still to want.

5 Wisdom and mercy guide my way Shall I resist them both?

A poor blind creature of a day,
And crush'd before the moth!

6 But, ah! my inward spirit cries,
Still bind me to thy sway;
Else the next cloud that veils my skies,
Drives all these thoughts away.

424. C. M. Watts.

Formality in Worship, detestable.
YOD is a Spirit, just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind;

In vain to heaven we raise our cries,
And leave our hearts behind.

2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honour can appear;

The painted hypocrites are known Through the disguise they wear. 3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies, Their bending knees the ground; But God abhors the sacrifice,

Where not the heart is found.

4 Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways,
And make my soul sincere;
Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.

425. L. M. Rippon's Selection.
In your patience possess ye your souls.
ATIENCE!-O, what a grace divine!
Sent from the God of power and love.
Submissive to its Father's hand,

PA

As through the wilds of life we rove.

2 By patience we serenely bear

The troubles of our mortal state,
And wait contented our discharge,
Nor think our glory comes too late.