Father, I've done thy justice wrong,
Nor can deserve thy grace."

4 He said, and hasten'd to his home
To seek his father's love;
The father saw the rebel come,
And all his bowels move.

5 He ran, and fell upon his neck,
Embrac'd and kiss'd his son;

The rebel's heart with sorrow brake
For follies he had done.

6 "Take off his clothes of shame and sin,`
(The father gives command,)
Dress him in garments white and clean,
With rings adorn his hand.

7A day of feasting I ordain,
Let mirth and joy abound;
My son was dead, and lives again,
Was lost, and now is found."

C. M.

206.The converted Thief. Luke xxiii. 42. 1 AS on the cross the Saviour hung,

And wept, and bled, and died,

He pour'd salvation on a wretch
That languish'd at his side.

2 His crimes, with inward grief and shame, The penitent confess'd;

Then turn'd his dying eyes to Christ,
And thus his prayer address'd;

3 "Jesus, thou Son and heir of heaven!
Thou spotless Lamb of God!

I see thee bath'd in sweat and tears,
And weltering in thy blood.

"Yet quickly, from these scenes of wo
In triumph thou shalt rise,

Burst through the gloomy shades of death, And shine above the skies.

5 "Amid the glories of that world,
Dear Saviour, think on me,
And in the vict'ries of thy death
Let me a sharer be.'

6 His prayer the dying Jesus hears,
And instantly replies,
"To-day thy parting soul shall be
With me in Paradise."

C. M.

207. The leper healed. Matt. viii. 2, 3. 1 WHEN the poor leper's case I read, My own describ❜d I feel;

Sin is a leprosy indeed,

Which none but CHRIST can heal. 2 What anguish did my soul endure, Til hope and patience ceas'd! The more I strove myself to cure, The more the plague increas'd. 3 While thus I lay distress'd, I saw The Saviour passing by;

To him, though fill'd with shame and aw❤ I rais'd my mournful cry.

4 Lord, thou canst heal me, if thou wilt,
Oh, pity to me shew;

Oh, cleanse my leprous soul from guilt;
My filthy heart renew.

5 He heard, and with a gracious look
Pronounc'd the healing word:

"I will be clean," and while he spoke I felt my health restor❜d.

6 Come, sinners, seize the present hour,
The Saviour's grace to prove;

He can relieve, for he is pow'r-
He will, for he is love.

C. M.

208.Bartimeus's Prayer. Mark x. 46–50. IKE Bartimeus, we are blind, Inwrapt in rature's night;

1

'L'

The grossest darkness veils our mind,
For sin prevents the sight.

2 But lo! the Lord from heaven is come
To open sinners' eyes;

To make his wondrous mercy known,
And heal their maladies.

3 Come then, ye blind, and beg, and pray,
And in the Lord believe;
For who can tell? perhaps to-day
You may your sight receive.

4 Jesus of Naz'reth passeth by-
He is the sinner's friend;

Call on his name, and wait and cry,
He will your suit attend.

5 Should sinners say, "Hold ye your peace,
"Nor dare to make so free,"
Then cry the more, and never cease,
"Have mercy, Lord, on me."

6 Your worthless garments leave behind;
Go to the Lord of light;

Trust in his name, however blind,
And he will give you sight.

FROM THE HAPPINESS OF THE CHRISTIAN IN THE

209.

1

PRESENT AND FUTURE LIFE.

(285.) L. M.

The beatitudes.

BLESS'D are the humble souls, who see
Their ignorance and poverty:

Treasures of grace to them are giv'n,
And crowns of joy laid up in heav'n.

2 Bless'd are the men of broken heart,
Who mourn for sin with inward smart;
For them divine compassion flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.

3 Bless'd are the meek, who stand afar
From rage and passion, noise and war:

God will secure their peaceful state,
And plead their cause against the great.

4 Bless'd are the souls, who thirst for grace,
Hunger and long for righteousness:
They shall be well supplied and fed
With living streams and living bread.

5 Bless'd are the men, whose hearts still move And melt with sympathy and love;

They shall themselves from God obtain
Like sympathy and love again.

6 Bless'd are the pure, whose hearts are clean From the defiling power of sin:

With endless pleasure they shall see
A God of spotless purity.

7 Bless'd are the men of peaceful life,
Who quench the coals of growing strife:
They shall be call'd the heirs of bliss,
The sons of God, the God of peace.

8 Bless'd are the suff'rers who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake:
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.

210.

C. M.

(284.)
The blessings of obedience.

1 BLEST are the undefil'd in heart,
Whose ways are right and clean;
Who never from thy law depart,
But fly from ev'ry sin.

2 Blest are the men that keep thy word,
And practise thy commands;

With their whole heart they seek the Lord,
And serve thee with their hands.

3 Great is their peace, who love thy law;
How firm their souls abide!

Nor can a bold temptation draw
Their steady feet aside.

4 Then shall my heart have inward joy,
And keep my face from shame,
When all thy statutes I obey,
And honour all thy name.

211.

1

L. M.

Religion.

THROUGH shades and solitudes profound,
The fainting traveller winds his way;
Bewildering meteors glare around,
And tempt his wandering feet astray.

2 Welcome, thrice welcome, to his eye,
The sudden moon's inspiring light,
When forth she sallies through the sky,
The guardian angel of the night!

3 Thus mortals, blind and weak, below
Pursue the phantom bliss, in vain;
The world's a wilderness of wo,
And life a pilgrimage of pain!

4 Till mild religion from above,
Descends, a sweet engaging form,
The messenger of heavenly love,
The bow of promise 'mid the storm.

5 Beyond the narrow vale of time,
Where bright celestial ages roll,
To scenes eternal, scenes sublime,
She points the way, and leads the soul.
9 At her approach the grave appears
The gate of Paradise restor❜d;
Her voice the watching cherub hears,
And drops his double-flaming sword.

7 Baptiz'd with her renewing fire,

May we the crown of glory gain: Rise when the hosts of heaven expire, And reign with God, for ever reign!