311. The Narrow Gate. 7's.

1 Seek, my soul, the narrow gate; Enter, ere it be too late;

Many ask to enter there,

When too late to offer prayer. 2 God from mercy's seat shall rise And for ever bar the skies:

Then, though sinners cry without, He will say, "I know you not." 3 Mournfully will they exclaim,

Lord! we have profess'd thy name; "We have ate with thee, and heard "Heavenly teaching in thy word." 4 Vain, alas! will be their plea, Workers of iniquity;

Sad their everlasting lot

Christ will say, "I know you not."

312. The Request. C. M.

1 Father, whate'er of earthly bliss
Thy sovereign will denies,
Accepted at thy throne of grace
Let this petition rise:

Epis. Col.

2 "Give me a calm, a thankful heart, "From every murmur free;

"The blessings of thy grace impart, "And let me live to thee..

3 "Let the sweet hope that I am thine, "My life and death attend;

"Thy presence through my journey shine, "And crown my journey's end." Steele.

313. Prayer for Mercy. C. M. 1 Lord, I approach thy throne of grace, Where mercy doth abound, Desiring mercy for my sin,

To heal my soul's deep wound.
2 O Lord, I need not to repeat
What I would humbly crave,
For thou dost know before I ask,
The thing that I would have.
3 Mercy, good Lord, mercy I ask,
This is the total sum:

Mercy, through Christ, is all my suit;
Lord, let thy mercy come.

314. Importunate Prayer. S. M.

1 Jesus, who knows full well
The heart of every saint,
Invites us all our griefs to tell,
To pray, and never faint.

2 He bows his gracious ear-
We never plead in vain;
Then let us wait till he appear,

And pray, and pray again.

3 Though unbelief suggest,

"Why should we longer wait ?” He bids us never give him rest, But knock at mercy's gate. 4 Jesus, the Lord, will hear

His chosen when they cry;
Yes, though he may a while forbear,
He'll help them from on high.

5 Then let us earnest cry,

And never faint in pray'r:

He sees, he hears, and from on high
Will make our cause his care.

Newton.

315. The Lord's Prayer. C. M.

1 Father of all, we bow to thee,

Who dwell'st in heav'n, ador'd,

But present still through all thy works, The universal Lord.

2 For ever hallowed be thy name
By all below the skies;

And may thy kingdom still advance,
Till grace to glory rise.

3 Thy glorious purpose, Lord, fulfil;
Let all thy glory see;

And, as in heaven thy will is done,
On earth so let it be.

4 Our wants with every morning grow,
With food these wants supply;

And on our souls the BREAD bestow
To eat-and never die !

5 Our sins before thee we confess;
O may they be forgiv'n!
As we to others mercy show,
We mercy beg of heaven.

6 Still let thy grace our life direct;
From evil guard our way;
And in temptation's fatal path
Permit us not to stray.

PRIVATE DEVOTION.

316. Private Devotion. L. M.

1 Return, my roving heart, return,
And chase these shadowy forms no more,
Seek out some solitude to mourn,
And thy forsaken God implore..

2 0 thou great God, whose piercing eye
Distinctly marks each deep recess,
In these sequestered hours draw nigh,
And with thy presence fill the place.

3 Through all the windings of my heart, My search let heavenly wisdom guide, And still its radiant beams impart,

Till all be search'd and purified. 4 Then, with the visits of thy love, Vouchsafe my inmost soul to cheer; Till every grace shall join to prove That God has fix'd his dwelling there.

Doddridge.

317. Communion with God. C. M.

1 Oh that I knew the secret place
Where I might find my God!
I'd spread my wants before his face,
And pour my woes abroad.

2 I'd tell him how my sins arise,
What sorrows I sustain ;

How grace decays, and comfort dies,
And leaves my heart in pain.

3 He knows what arguments I'd take
To wrestle with my God;

I'd plead for his own mercy's sake,
And for my Saviour's blood.

4 Arise, my soul, from deep distress,
And banish every fear;

He calls thee to his throne of grace,
To spread thy sorrows there.

Watts' Ser.