Hymn 118. C. M.

Marriage. John ii. 1, 2.

1 SINCE Jesus freely did appear
To grace a marriage feast;
Dear Lord, we ask thy presence here
To make a wedding guest.

2 Upon the bridal pair look down,
Who now have plighted hands
Their union with thy favour crown,
And bless the nuptial bands.

3 With gifts of grace their hearts endow
Of all rich dowries blest!

Their substance bless, and peace bestow,
To sweeten all the rest.

4 In purest love their souls unite,
That they, with christian care,
May make domestic burdens light,
By taking mutual share.

5 True helpers may they prove indeed,
In pray'r, and faith, and hope;
And see with joy a godly seed
To build their houshold up.
6 As Isaac and Rebecca gave
A pattern chaste and kind,
So may this married couple live,
And die in friendship join'd.

7 'O may each soul assembled here,
Be married, Lord, to thee;

Clad in thy robes made white and fair,
To spend eternity.'

Hymn 119. L. M.
Marriage.

To nature's God devoutly raise

Your grateful voice in songs of praise;

'Tis he, who form'd the human kind, And gave to man the social mind: Made Eden's beauties round him rise, And crown'd him lord below the skies, But what were Eden's charming bowers, To lonely man with social powers? 3 He wants a friend! what can atone? Man was not made to be alone : 'Tis from the social state that flow The sweetest pleasures here below. 4 The God of heav'n was pleas'd to make A blooming Eve for Adam's sake; Then join'd their hearts in bands of love, And sent them blessings from above. 5 Then sacred be the plighted hand, And sacred be the marriage band; May love from each to other beam, And virtue be their constant theme. 6 And when death cuts the vital cord, May each be wedded to the Lord; To share with saints the bliss of heaven, Bliss purer than by marriage given.

Family Religion. Gen. xviii. 19. 1 FATHER of men, thy care we bless, Which crowns our families with peace; From thee they sprung, and by thy hand Their root and branches are sustain'd. 2 To God, most worthy to be prais'd, Be our domestic altars rais'd;

Who, Lord of heav'n, scorns not to dwell
With saints in their obscurest cell.

8 To thee may each united house,
Morning and night present its vows;

Our servants there and rising race Be taught thy precepts and thy grace. 4 O may each future age proclaim, The honours of thy glorious name, While pleas'd and thankful we remove, To join the family above.

Hymn 121. L. M.

For a Master of a Family.

1 MASTER Supreme, I look to thee
For grace and wisdom from above!
Vested with thine authority,
Endue me with thy patient love.
2 That taught according to thy will,
To rule my family aright,

I may th' appointed charge fulfil, With all my heart and all my might. 3 Inferiors as a sacred trust,

I from the sovereign Lord receive,
That what is suitable and just,
Impartial, I to all may give.

4 O'erlook them with a guardian eye,
From vice and wickedness restrain :
Mistakes and lesser faults pass by,
And govern with a gentle rein.

5 O could I emulate the zeal

Thou dost to thy poor servants bear!
The troubles, griefs, and burdens feel,
Of souls entrusted to my care.

6 In daily pray❜r to God commend
The souls whom Jesus died to save,
And think how soon my sway may end,
And all be equal in the grave.

Hymn 122. C. M.

Death of a Child. 2 Sam. xii. 22, 23.
1 ALAS! how chang'd that lovely flower,
Which bloom'd and cheer'd my heart!
Fair fleeting comfort of an hour,
How soon we're call'd to part!
2 And shall my bleeding heart arraign
That God whose ways are love?
Or vainly cherish anxious pain
For her who rests above?

3 No!-let me rather humbly pay
Obedience to his will,

And with my inmost spirit say,
The Lord is righteous still.

4 From adverse blasts and low'ring storms
Her favour'd soul he bore,
And with yon bright angelic forms,
She lives to die no more.

5 Why should I vex my heart, or fast;
No more she'll visit me;

My soul will mount to her at last,
And I her face shall see.

6 Prepare me blessed Lord to share
The bliss thy people prove;

Who round thy glorious throne appear,
And dwell in perfect love.

On the Death of a Child.

1 LIFE is a span, a fleeting hour,
How soon the vapour flies!
Man is a tender, transient flower,
That e'en in blooming dies.

2 Death spreads, like winter's frozen arms,
And beauty smiles no more;

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Ah! where are now those rising charms,
Which pleas'd our eyes before!

3 The once lov'd form, now cold and dead,
Each mournful thought employs;
And nature weeps her comforts fled,
And wither'd all her joys.

4 But wait the interposing gloom,
And lo, stern winter flies;

And dress'd in beauty's fairest bloom,
The flow'ry tribes arisc.

5 Hope looks beyond the bounds of time,
When, what we now deplore,
Shall rise in full immortal prime

And bloom to fade no more.

6 Then cease, fond nature, cease thy tears,
Religion points on high;
There everlasting spring appears,
And joys that cannot die.

Recovery from Sickness.

1 My God, thy service well demands
The remnant of my days;
Why was this fleeting breath renew'd,
But to renew thy praise?

2 Thine arms of everlasting love

Did this weak frame sustain,

When life was hov'ring o'er the grave,
And nature sunk with pain.

3 Into thy hands, my Saviour God,
Did I my soul resign,

In firm dependance on that truth,
Which made salvation mine.

4 Back from the borders of the grave,
At thy command I come ;