5 Could I joy his saints to meet,
Choose the ways I once abhorr'd,
Find at times the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?

6 Lord decide the doubtful case,
Thou who art thy people's sun;
Shine upon thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun.

7 Let me love thee more and more,
If I love at all I pray;

If I have not lov'd before,
Help me to begin to-day.

Hymn 157. C. M.

Religion the one thing Needful.

1 RELIGION is the chief concern
Of mortals here below;
May I its great importance learn,
Its sov'reign virtue know.

2 More needful this than glitt'ring wealth,
Or aught the world bestows;
Not reputation, food, nor health,
Can give us such repose.

3 Religion should our thoughts engage, Amidst our youthful bloom i

"Twill fit us for declining age,

And for the awful tomb.

4 O may my heart by grace renew'd,
Be my Redeemer's throne;
And be my stubborn will subdu'd,
His government to own.

5 Let deep repentance, faith and love,
Be join'd with godly fear;

And all my conversation prove
My heart to be sincere.

6 Preserve me from the snares of sin
Through my remaining days;
And in me let each virtue shine,
To my Redeemer's praise.
7 Let lively hope my soul inspire;
Let warm affections rise:
And may I wait with strong desire,
To mount above the skies.

Hymn 158. C. M.

Famine of the Word.

1 GLADNESS was spread through Israel's host,
When first they manna view'd;
They labour'd who should gather most,
And thought it pleasant food.

2 But when they had it long enjoy'd
From day to day the same,

Their hearts were by the plenty cloy'd,
Although from heav'n it came.

3 Thus gospel bread at first is prized,
And makes a people glad;

But afterwards, too much despis'd,
When easy to be had.

4 But should the Lord, displeas'd, withhold
The bread, his mercy sends;
To have our houses fill'd with gold,
Would make but poor amends.

5 How tedious would the week appear,
How dull the Sabbath prove;
Could we no longer meet to hear
The precious truths we love?
6 How would believing parents bear
To leave their heedless youth,
Expos'd to ev'ry fatal snare,
Without the light of truth?

7 Preserve us from this judgment, Lord,
For Jesus' sake we plead;
A famine of the gospel word
Would be a stroke indeed!

Hymn 159. C. M.

[Tune, Stade, Vil. Har.]

Deliverance from a Storm.

1 OUR little bark, on boist'rous seas,
By cruel tempest tost,

Without one cheerful beam of hope,
Expecting to be lost.

2 We to the Lord in humble pray'r
Breath'd out our sad distress;
Though feeble, yet with contrite hearts,
We begg'd return of peace.

3 With pitying eyes, the Prince of Grace Beheld our helpless grief;

He saw, and (O, amazing love!)

He came to our relief. Hallelujah.

4 The stormy winds did cease to blow,
The waves no more did roll;
And soon again a placid sea

Spoke comfort to each soul. Hal.

5 O! may our grateful, trembling hearts Sweet hallelujah's sing,

To him who hath our lives preserv'd,
Our Saviour and our King. Hal.

Let us proclaim to all the world,
With heart and voice, again,
And tell the wonders he hath done
For us, the sons of men. Hal,

Hymn 160. L. M.

Prayer Answered by Crosses.

1 I ASK'D the Lord that I might grow
In faith, and love, and every grace;
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek, more earnestly, his face.
2 I hop'd that in some favour'd hour,
At once he'd answer my request;
And by his love's constraining power
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
3 Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And let the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.

4 Yea more, with his own hand he seem'd Intent to aggravate my wo:

Cross'd all the fair designs I schem❜d, Blasted my gourds and laid me low. 5" Lord, why is this," I trembling cry'd, "Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death? ""Tis in this way," the Lord reply'd, "I answer prayer for grace and faith. 6 "These inward trials I employ,

"From self, and pride, to set thee free; "And break thy schemes of earthly joy, "That thou may'st seek thy All in me.'

Hymn 161. S. M.

[Tune, Gospel Pool.]

Bethesda's Pool.

John v. 2-4.

1 BESIDE the gospel pool,

Appointed for the poor,

From year to year my helples soul
Has waited for a cure.

2

How often have I seen
The healing waters move;

1

3

4

And others round me stepping in,
There efficacy prove!

But my complaints remain ;
I feel the very same;

As full of guilt, and fear, and pain,

As when at first I came.

O, would the Lord appear
My malady to heal;

He knows how long I've languish'd here,
And what distress I feel.

5

[How often have I thought,

Why should I longer lie?
Surely the mercy I have sought,
Is not for such as I?

6 But whither can I go?
There is no other pool

7

8

Where streams of sov'reign virtue flow
To make a sinner whole.]

Here, then, from day to day,
I'll wait and hope and try;
Can Jesus hear a sinner pray,
Yet suffer him to die?

No-he is full of grace;

He never will permit

A soul, that fain would see his face,

To perish at his feet.

The Pool of Bethesda. John v. 2-4.

1 How long, thou faithful God, shall I
Here in thy ways forgotten lie?
When shall the means of healing be
The channels of thy grace to me?
2 Sinners on ev'ry side step in,
And wash away their pain and sio;