320. The Security of the Believer. 8-7-7.

But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel; for, behold, I will save thee from afar off-JER. xlvi. 27.

ISRA'L shall obtain a pardon : (Thus the Lord proclaims his love): He shall be a water'd garden: Isra'l shall no more remove: He shall come from distant lands; Thus my sov'reign purpose stands. 2 0 my servant Jacob, fear not :

I have call'd thee; thou art mine:
Tho' my glory yet appear not;

I will come, thy light shall shine:
Object of my love and care,
I will save thee from afar.

3 Though I make an end of others:
Fear thou not, but trust in me;
Greater than the love of mothers,
Is the love I bear to thee:
Tho' all other nations fall,
Jacob shall survive them all.

4 Yet thou shalt not be unpunish'd,
Thou shalt know that I am GOD:
Though beloved, yet admonish'd,
Thou shalt feel the chast'ning rod;
But thy night shall soon be past;
And the day shall dawn at last.

5 When thy foes are all brought under:
When I gather all thy seed:
Then shalt thou be fill'd with wonder,
Then shalt thou rejoice indeed:
All thy warfare then shall cease;
All thy children shall have peace.

321. The Security of the Believer. L.M. As thy days, so shall thy strength be.-DEUT.XXXiii. 25. AFFLICTED saint, to CHRIST draw

near,

Thy SAVIOUR's gracious promise hear; His faithful word declares to thee, That as thy days, thy strength shall be. 2 Let not thy heart despond and say, "How shall I stand the trying day?" He has engag'd by firm decree, That as thy days, thy strength shall be. 3 Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong; And, if the conflict should be long, Thy Lord will make the tempter flee; For as thy days, thy strength shall be. 4 Should persecution rage and flame, Still trust in thy REDEEMER'S name; In fiery trials thou shalt see,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be. 5 When thou art call'd to bear the cross, Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,

Or deep distress, or poverty, Still as thy days, thy strength shall be. 6 When ghastly death appears in view, CHRIST'S presence shall thy fears subHe comes to set thy spirit free, [due; And, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

322. Encouraged to trust in Christ. 8-7-4.

What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?-MARK iv. 41.

WHY those fears? behold 'tis JESUS
Holds the helm and guides the ship:
Spread the sails, and catch the breezes
Sent to waft us through the deep,
To the regions

Where the mourners cease to weep.

2 Could we stay where death is hov'ring;
Could we rest on such a shore?
No, the awful truth discov'ring,
We could linger there no more:
We forsake it;

Leaving all we lov'd before.

3 Though the shore we hope to land on, Only by report is known;

Yet we freely all abandon,
Led by that report alone;
And with JESUS,

Through the trackless deep move on.

4 [Led by that we brave the ocean;
Led by that the storms defy:
Calm amidst tumultuous motion,
Knowing that our Lord is nigh.
Waves obey him,

And the storms before him fly.]
5 Render'd safe by his protection,
We shall pass the wat'ry waste;
Trusting to his wise direction,
We shall gain the port at last;
And with wonder

Think on toils and dangers past.

6 [O! what pleasures there await us!
There the tempests cease to roar :
There it is that those who hate us
Can molest our peace no more.
Trouble ceases

On that tranquil happy shore.]

Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower and my deliverer; my shield, &c.-PSALM CXliv. 1, 2.

FOR ever blessed be the Lord,
My SAVIOUR and my shield;
He sends his Spirit with his Word,
To arm me for the field.

2

2 When sin and hell their force unite,
He makes my soul his care,
Instructs me to the heav'nly fight,
And guards me thro' the war.

3 A friend and helper so divine
Does my weak courage raise;
He makes the glorious vict'ry mine,
And his shall be the praise.

*324. The Backslider Returning. C.M.

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our GOD. JEREMIAH iii. 22.

HOW oft, alas! this wretched heart
Has wander'd from the Lord;
How oft my roving thoughts depart,
Forgetful of his word!

2 Yet sov❜reign mercy calls," Return :"
Dear Lord! and may I come?
My vile ingratitude I mourn;

O take the wanderer home.

3 And canst thou, wilt thou yet forgive,

And bid my

crimes remove?

And shall a pardon'd rebel live

To speak thy wond'rous love?

The Hymns to the end of the Section relate to Chris. tian Experience.