So Saul advised David
He certainly would fail,
Nor could his life be saved
Without a coat of mail.
2 But David, though he yielded
To put the armour on,
Soon found he could not wield it,
And ventured forth with none.
With only sling and pebble,
He fought the fight of faith;
The weapons seem'd but feeble,
Yet prov'd Goliath's death.
3 Had I by him been guided,
And quickly thrown away
The armour men provided,
I might have gain'd the day;
But arm'd as they advis'd me,
My expectations fail'd;
My enemy surpris'd me,
And had almost prevail'd.
4 Furnish'd with books and notions, And arguments and pride,
I practis'd all my motions,
And Satan's power defy'd;
But soon perceived, with trouble,
That these would do no good;
Iron to him is stubble,
And brass like rotten wood*.
5 I triumph'd at a distance,
While he was out of sight;
But faint was my resistance,
When forc'd to join in fight:
He broke my sword in shivers,
And pierc'd my boasted shield;
Laugh'd at my vain endeavours,
And drove me from the field.
6 Satan will not be braved
By such a worm as I;
Then let me learn, with David,
To trust in the Most High;
To plead the name of Jesus,
And use the sling of pray'r;'
Thus arm'd, when Satan sees us,
He'll tremble and despair.
XXIX-David's Fall. Chap. xi. 27.
1 How David, when by sin deceiv'd,
From bad to worse went on!
For when the Holy Spirit's griev'd,
Our strength and guard are gone.
2 His eye on Bathsheba once fix'd,
With poison fill'd his soul;
He ventur'd on adult'ry next,
And murder crown'd the whole.
3 So from a spark of fire at first,
That has not been descry'd,
A dreadful flame has often burst,
And ravag'd far and wide.
4 When sin deceives, it hardens too,
For, though he vainly sought,
To hide his crimes from public view,
Of God he little thought.
5 He neither would nor could repent,
No true compunction felt;
Till God in mercy Nathan sent,
His stubborn heart to melt.
6 The parable held forth a fact,
Design'd his case to shew;
But though the picture was exact,
Himself he did not know.
7 Thou art the man the prophet said;
That word his slumber broke;
And when he own'd his sin, and pray'd,
The Lord forgiveness spoke.
8 Let those, who think they stand, beware,
For David stood before;
Nor let the fallen soul despair,
For mercy can restore.
XXX.-Is this thy Kindness to thy Friend?
Chap. xvi. 17.
1 POOR, weak, and worthless though I am,
I have a rich Almighty Friend;
Jesus, the Saviour, is his name,
He freely loves, and without end.
2 He ransom'd me from hell with blood,
And by his pow'r my foes controll'd;
He found me wand'ring far from God,
And brought me to his chosen fold.
3 He cheers my heart, my want supplies,
And says that I shall shortly be
Enthron'd with him above the skies ;
Oh! what a friend is Christ to me!
4 But, ah! my inmost spirit mourns,
And well my eyes with tears may swim,
To think of my perverse returns:
I've been a faithless friend to him.
5 Often my gracious Friend I grieve,
Neglect, distrust, and disobey;
And often Satan's lies believe
Sooner than all my Friend can say.
6 He bids me always freely come,
And promises whate'er I ask ;
But I am straiten'd, cold, and dumb,
And count my privilege a task.
7 Before the world, that hates his cause, My treach'rous heart has throbb'd with shame; Loth to forego the world's applause,
'I hardly dare avow his name.
8 Sure, were not 1 most vile and base,
I could not thus my Friend requite;
And were not he the God of grace,
He'd frown, and spurn me from his eight.
XXXI.—Ask what I shall give thee. Chap. iii. 5.
1 COME, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer pray'r;
He himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
2 Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring*;
For his grace and pow'r are such,
None can ever ask too much.
8 With my burden I begin,
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let thy blood for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
4 Lord! I come to thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,
And without a rival reign.
5 As the image in the glass Answers the beholder's face; Thus unto my heart appear,
Print thine own resemblance there.
6 While I am a pilgrim here,
Let thy love my spirit cheer,
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.
7 Shew me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people's death.
1 IF Solomon for wisdom pray'd,
The Lord before had made him wise,
Else he another choice had made,
And ask'd for what the worldings prize.
2 Thus he invites his people still;
He first instructs them how to choose, Then bids them ask whate'er they will, Assur'd that He will not refuse,
3. Our wishes would our ruin prove,
Could we our wretched choice obtain,
Before we feel the Saviour's love
Kindle our love to him again.
4 But, when our hearts perceive his worth,
Desires, till then unknown, take place;
Our spirits cleave no more to earth,
But pant for holiness and grace.
5 And dost thou say, 'Ask what thou wilt!' Lord, I would seize the golden hour;
I pray to be releas'd from guilt,
And freed from sin and Satan's power.
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