XXV.-We were Pharaoh's Bondmen.
Deut. vi. 20-23.

1 BENEATH the tyrant Satan's yoke
Our souls were long opprest;
Till grace our galling fetters broke,
And gave the weary rest.

2 Jesus, in that important hour,

His mighty arm made known;
He ransom'd us by price and pow'r,
And claim'd us for his own.

3 Now, freed from bondage, sin, and death,
We walk in Wisdom's ways;

And wish to spend our ev'ry breath
In wonder, love, and praise.

4 Ere long, we hope with him to, dwell
In yonder world above:

And now we only live to tell

The riches of his love.

5 O might we, ere we hence remove,
Prevail upon our youth

To seek, that they may likewise prove
His mercy and his truth.

¤ Like Simeon, we shall gladly go*,
When Jesus calls us home,

If they are left a seed below,

To serve him in our room.

7 Lord, hear our prayer, indulge our hope,
On these thy Spirit pour,

That they may take our story up
When we can speak no more.

XXVI. Travailing in Birth for Souls. Gal. iv. 19.
1 WHAT Contradictions meet
In 'ministers' employ !

It is
is a bitter sweet,
A sorrow full of joy:

*Luke ii. 29.

2

3

1

4

5

6

No other post affords a place
For equal honour or disgrace!

Who can describe the pain
Which faithful preachers feel,
Constrain'd to speak in vain,

To hearts as hard as steel!
Or who can tell the pleasures felt,
When stubborn hearts begin to melt!

The Saviour's dying love,

The soul's amazing worth,
Their utmost efforts move,

And draw their bowels forth:

They pray and strive, their rest departs,
Till Christ be form'd in sinners' hearts.

If some small hope appear,

They still are not content;

But, with a jealous fear,

They watch for the event:

Too oft they find their hopes deceiv'd,
Then how their inmost souls are griev'd!

But when their pains succeed,

And from the tender blade
The rip'ning ears proceed,

Their toils are overpaid:

No harvest joy can equal theirs,
To find the fruit of all their cares.

On what has now been sown,

Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;

The pow'r is thine alone,

To make it spring and grow:

Do thou the gracious harvest raise,
And thou alone shalt have the praise.

XXVII. We are Ambassadors for Christ.

2 Cor. v.

20.

1 THY message by the preacher seal,
And let thy pow'r be known,
That ev'ry sinner here may feel
The word is not his own.

2 Amongst the foremost of the throng,
Who dare thee to thy face,
He in rebellion stood too long,
And fought against thy grace.

3 But grace prevail'd, he mercy found,
And now by thee is sent,
To tell his fellow-rebels round,
And call them to repent.

4 In Jesus God is reconcil'd,

The worst may be forgiven;
Come, and he'll own you as a child,
And make you heir of heaven.
5 Oh may the word of Gospel truth
Your chief desires engage,

And Jesus be your guide in youth,
Your joy in hoary age!

6 Perhaps the year that's now begun
May prove to some their last :
The sands of life may soon be run,
The day of grace be past.

7 Think, if you slight this embassy,
And will not warning take,
When Jesus in the clouds you see,
What answer will you make?
XXVIII.-Paul's Farewell Charge.
Acts xx. 26, 27.

1 WHEN Paul was parted from his friends, It was a weeping day;

But Jesus made them all amends,
And wip'd their tears away.

H

2 Ere long they met again with joy,
Secure no more to part,

Where praises ev'ry tongue employ,
And pleasure fills each heart.

3 Thus all the preachers of his grace
Their children soon shall meet;
Together see their Saviour's face,
And worship at his feet.

4 But they who heard the word in vain,
Though oft and plainly warn'd,
Will tremble when they meet again
The ministers they scorn'd.

5 On

your

your own heads blood will fall,
If any perish here;

The preachers, who have told you all,
Shall stand approv'd and clear.

6 Yet, Lord, to save themselves alone
Is not their utmost view;

Oh! hear their pray'r, thy message own,
And save their hearers too!

XXIX.-How shall I put thee among the Children? Jer. iii. 19.

1 ALAS! by nature how deprav'd,
How prone to ev'ry ill!

Our lives to Satan how enslav'd!
How obstinate our will!

2 And can such sinners be restor❜d,
Such rebels reconcil'd?

Can grace itself the means afford,
To make a foe a child?

3 Yes, grace has found the wondrous means,
Which shall effectual prove,

To cleanse us from our countless sins,
And teach our hearts to love.

4 Jesus for sinners undertakes,
And died that they may live;
His blood a full atonement makes,
And cries aloud, 'Forgive!'

5 Yet one thing more must grace provide,
To bring us home to God,
Or we shall slight the Lord who died,
And trample on his blood.

6 The Holy Spirit must reveal

The Saviour's work and worth; Then the hard heart begins to feel A new and heav'nly birth.

7 Thus bought with blood, and born again,
Redeem'd and sav'd by grace,

Rebels in God's own house obtain
A son's and daughter's place.

XXX.-Winter*.

1 SEE how rude Winter's icy hand

Has stripp'd the trees, and seal'd the ground!
But Spring shall soon his rage withstand,
And spread new beauties all around.

2 My soul a sharper winter mourns,
Barren and fruitless I remain ;
When will the gentle Spring return,
And bid my graces grow again!

3 Jesus, my glorious Sun, arise!

"Tis thine the frozen heart to move; Oh! hush these storms, and clear my skies, And let me feel thy vital love!

4 Dear Lord, regard my feeble cry,

I faint and droop till thou appear; Wilt thou permit thy plant to die? Must it be winter all the year?

* Book III. Hymn 31.