. 199. L. M. MRS STEELE.

Light and comfort from the scriptures. 1 TO Gon, its Source, my soul aspires; Come, LORD! and fill my vast desires: Be thou my portion; here I rest, Since of my utmost wish possest. 2 O! let thy sacred word impart Its gen'rous influence to my heart; With pow'r, and light, and love divine, Assure my soul that thou art mine. 3 The blissful word, with joy replete, Shall bid my gloomy fears retreat; And heav'n-born hope, serenely bright, Shine cheerful through this mortal night. 4 Then shall my joyful spirit rise On wings of faith above the skies; And when these transient scenes are o'er, And this vain world shall tempt no more; 5 O! may I reach the blissful plains, Where thy unclouded glory reigns; And dwell for ever near thy throne, In joys to mortal thought unknown.

200. L. M. DODDRIDGE. Scripture teachings, and their happy conse

quences.
1 BRIGHT Source of intellectual rays!
Father of spirits and of grace!

O dart, with energy unknown,
Celestial beamings from thy throne.

2 Thy sacred book we would survey,
Enlighten'd with that heav'nly day;
And seek thine influence with the word,
To teach our souls to know the LORD.

3 So shall our children learn the road,
That leads them to their fathers' GOD;
And, form'd by lessons so divine,

Shall infant minds with knowledge shine. 4 So shall the haughtiest soul submit, With children plac'd at Jesus' feet; The noisy swell of pride shall cease, And thy sweet voice be heard in peace.

201. C. M. COWPER.

The light and glory of the world. 1 WHAT glory gilds the sacred page, Majestic like the sun!

It gives a light to ev'ry age;

It gives, but borrows none.

2 The hand that gave it, still supplies
His gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

3 Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heav'nly day.

4 My soul rejoices to pursue
The paths of truth and love;

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Till glory break upon my view
In brighter worlds above.

202. C. M. WATTS.

Delight in scripture.

1 O HOW I love thy holy law!
'Tis daily my delight;

And thence my meditations draw
Divine advice by night.

2 How doth thy word my heart engage!
How well employ my tongue!
And, in my tiresome pilgrimage,
Yield me a heav'nly song.

3 Am I a stranger, or at home,
"Tis a divine repast;

Not honey, dropping from the comb,
So much allures the taste.

4 No treasures so enrich the mind;
Nor shall thy word be sold,
For loads of silver well refin'd,
Nor heaps of choicest gold.

5 When nature sinks, and spirits droop,
Thy promises of grace

Are pillars to support my hope;
And there I write thy praise.

203. C. M.

Reason a divine gift.

1 WHAT heav'nly wisdom has bestow'd,

O! let not man despise;

Reason's a gift our praise demands;
It lifts us to the skies.

2 How could we know or value truth
Without this beam of light?
Or conscience feel of right and wrong,
Or in God's praise delight?
3 For reason and for conscience too,
Accept our praise, O LORD!
May this be pure, and that be clear,
And both embrace thy word.

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204. S. M. SCOTT.

The right and duty of private judgment.

IMPOSTURE shrinks from light,
And dreads the curious eye;

But sacred truths the test invite,
They bid us search and try.

O may we still maintain

A meek inquiring mind;

Assur'd we shall not search in vain,
But hidden treasures find.

With understanding blest,
Created to be free,

Our faith on man we dare not rest,
Subject to none but thee.

LORD! give the light we need;
With soundest knowledge fill;
From noxious error guard our creed,
From prejudice our will.

205. L. M. MERRICK.

Religion without superstition.

1 FAR hence each superstition vain,
Wild offspring of the human brain !
The truths that fill thy hallow'd page,
My happier choice, great Gon! engage.
2 O, ever faithful to thy word,

Do thou thy vital strength afford ;
Thy help impart, Eternal Sire!
Nor let my hope in shame expire.
3 Sustain❜d by thy almighty aid,
What danger shall my soul invade ?
Nor errors cloud, nor arts of sin
My soul from thy obedience win.