2 "Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answer'd prayer;
But it has been in such a way
As almost drove me to despair.
3 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.
4 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.

5 Yea, more, with his own hand he seem'd Intent to aggravate my woe;

Cross'd all the fair designs I schem'd Blasted my gourds, and laid me low. 6 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: 7 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. NEWTON.

322 (1st P.) L. M. Ulverston 179. Portugal 97. Growing in Grace, 2 Pet. iii. 18.

1 PRAISE to thy name, eternal God!

For all the grace thou shed'st abroad;

For all thy influence from above,

To warm our souls with sacred love:

2 Bless'd be thy hand, which from the skies
Brought down this plant of paradise;
And gave its heavenly beauties birth
To deck this wilderness of earth:
3 But why does that celestial flower
Open and thrive and shine no more?

Where are its balmy odours fled?:
And why reclines its beauteous head ?
4 Too plain, alas! the languor shows
Th' unkindly soil in which it grows;
Where the black frost, and beating storm,
Wither and rend its tender form.

5 Unchanging Sun! thy beams display
To drive the frost and storms away;
Make all thy potent virtues known
To cheer a plant so much thy own.
6 And thou, bless'd Spirit! deign to blow
Fresh gales of heav'n on shrubs below;
So shall they grow, and breathe abroad
A fragrance grateful to our God.

DR. DODDRIDGE.

322 (2d P.) L. M. Pell St. 306. Bodenham 309. Growth in Grace, promised and pleaded, Hos, xiv. 4. 1 SHOW us our welcome, gracious LORD, To all the Treasures of thy word;

And help us now in faith to trace Thy promises of GROWTH IN GRACE. 2 Thou, on thy people from above, Wilt pour thy Spirit and his love, Like plenteous showers and copious dews Which blooming life and joy diffuse. 3 Like fragrant lilies they shall grow, Like cedars strike their roots below, And spread their branches fair and green As fruitful olive trees are seen. 4 As does the dying corn revive, As vines in southern aspects thrive, So shall their graces vigorous shine, And breathe an incense all divine.

PAUSE. New Sabbath 122.

5 O may thy promises be mine,
The sure performance, LORD, is thine;

For little children and young men
Have grown, and honour'd Fathers been.
6 Paul said, with joy, of some he knew,
Exceedingly their graces grew

So did their faith and love abound,
The fame spread all the churches round.
7 Precept and promise still unite
To make this service our delight;
To grow in grace, this, surely this,
Is the transcendency of bliss.
8 Then, LORD, forbid, forbid that we
Should always little children be;
But may our path shine more, we pray,
And more until the perfect day.

322-(3d P.) L. M. Martin's-lane 67. Leeds 19.

Unfruitfulness reproved and deprecated.

And when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, Luke xii. 6. Matt. xxi. 19. Mark xi. 13,

1

OES GOD, the ever good and kind,

Do

Come seeking fruit, and fruit not find? Sure, as the means he richly gives, He justly looks for more than leaves. 2 The buds are pleasing in his view, And beauteous are the blossoms too ; But plenteous fruits are, in his sight, Fair objects of his chief delight. 3 Then what if Jesus comes and sees That we are only barren trees, Spreading our leafy branches round, Mere worthless cumberers of the ground! 4 Ah! LORD, we have deserv'd the name; But save us from the sin, the shame, Lest Thou and thine should with a frown, Cry, Cut, now cut the cumberer down. 5 But a sweet wrestling voice we hear, O spare it, LORD, another year, That fruit may on each branch be found, The graces clust ring all around..

6 This prayer has often reach'd the skies,
Now let it from our hearts arise;

Spare, spare it, LORD,—so Mercy spake,→
Spare it, we cry, for Jesus' sake.

323 L. M. Lebanon 79. New Sabbath 122.

1

NOW

Rising to God.

OW let our souls, on wings sublime,
Rise from the vanities of time,
Draw back the parting veil, and see
The glories of eternity.

2 Born by a new celestial birth,
Why should we grovel here on earth?
Why grasp at transitory toys,
So near to heav'n's eternal joys?
3 Shall aught beguile us on the road,
When we are walking back to GOD?
For strangers into life we come,
And dying is but going home.

14 Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge, That sets our longing souls at large, Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cell, And gives us with our Gop to dwell.5 To dwell with God, to feel his love, Is the full heaven enjoy'd above; And the sweet expectation now Is the young dawn of heaven below. 324 L. M. Magdalene 214. Lewton 30. Remembering all the Way the Lord bas led him, Deut. viii. 2.

1 THUS far my God hath led me on,

And made his truth and mercy known;
My hopes and fears alternate rise,
And comforts mingle with my sighs.
2 Thro' this wide wilderness I roam,
Far distant from my blissful home;
LORD! let thy presence be my stay,
And guard me in this dangerous way.

3 Temptations every where annoy,
And sins and snares my peace destroy;
My earthly joys are from me torn,
And oft an absent GOD I mourn.
4 My soul, with various tempests toss'd
Her hopes o'erturn'd, her projects cross'd,
Sees every day new straits attend,
And wonders where the scene will end,
5 Is this, dear LORD! that thorny road
Which leads us to the mount of GOD?
Are these the toils thy people know,
While in the wilderness below?
6 "Tis even so thy faithful love

Doth all thy children's graces prove;
'Tis thus our pride and self must fall,

That JESUS may be All in All. DR. FAWCETT.
Stockport 47.

325 S. M. Sutton 149.

Waiting for the Coming of his LORD, or, the active Chris-
tian, Luke xii, 35-38.
E servants of the LORD,
Each in his office wait,

1

2

3

YE

Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate,
Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame:

Gird up your loins as in his sight,
For awful is his name.

Watch, 'tis your LORD's command;

And while we speak he's near:

Mark the first signal of his hand,

And ready all appear.

4. O happy servant he

In such a posture found!

He shall his LORD with rapture see,
And be with honour crown'd..
Christ shall the banquet spread
With his own bounteous hand,

5