Thy light can clear the darkest eyes, And make the haughtiest scorner wise.

340. L. M. DODDRIDGE.

The wise choice.
1 BESET with snares on ev'ry hand,

In life's uncertain path I stand :
Father Divine ! diffuse thy light,

To guide my doubtful footsteps right. 2 Engage this frail, this wav'ring heart,

Wisely to choose the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day,

For joys that never fade away.
3 Then let the wildest storms arise;

Let tempests mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwreck shall I fear,

But all my treasures with me bear. 4 If thou, my Father ! still be nigh,

Cheerful I live, and joyful die :
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thousand worlds in thee.

341. C. M. DODDRIDGE. Seeking first the kingdom of God. 1 NOW let a true ambition rise,

And ardour fire our breast,
To reign in worlds above the skies,

In heav'nly glories drest.
2 Behold JEHOVAH's royal hand

A radiant crown display,

Whose gems with vivid lustre shine,

While suns and stars decay.
3 No more I seek for transient good,

Nor longer call it mine :
I spring to seize superior joys

İmmortal and divine. 4 Ye hearts, with youthful vigour warm,

The glorious prize pursue ;
Nor shall ye want the goods of earth,

While heav'n is kept in view.

PART XII.

The Christian Character.

342. C. M. LIVERPOOL COLLECTION.

The duties of piety.
1 MY soul, before thy Maker bow;

His wondrous works admire,
Till rev'rence and religious awe,

Thine inmost thoughts inspire. 2 With humble trust dismiss thy cares,

And on his love depend;
Leave him to manage thine affairs,

To him thyself commend.
3 Let high esteem affection raise,

Devotion warm thy breast;
Let thankful love excite thy praise ;

In him alone be blest.
4 To him thy solemn homage pay;

His constant aid implore ;
Give thanks for mercies ev'ry day,

And thus prepare for more.
5 Without reserve to him submit;

All his commands fulfil;
Acknowledge all his actions fit;

Nor e'er oppose his will.

343. L. M. DODDRIDGE.

Faith in the invisible GOD. 1 ETERNAL and immortal King!

Thy peerless splendors none can bear;
But darkness veils seraphic eyes,

When God with all his glory 's there. 2 Yet faith can pierce the awful gloom; The great

Invisible can see;
And with its tremblings mingle joy,

In fix'd regards, great God! to thee. 3 Then ev'ry tempting form of sin,

Aw'd by thy presence, disappears ;
And all the glowing raptur'd soul

The likeness it contemplates, wears. 4 O ever conscious to my heart !

Witness to its supreme desire ;
Behold it presses on to thee,

For it hath caught the heav'nly fire. 5 This one petition would it urge,

To bear thee ever in its sight:
In life, in death, in worlds unknown,
Its only portion and delight.

344. L. M. DODDRIDGE. God's name the encouragement of faith. | SING to the Lord, who loud proclaims

His various and his saving names ;
O may they not be heard alone,
But by our sure experience known !

2 Let great JEHOVAH be ador'd,

Th' eternal, all-sufficient LORD;
He, thro' the world, most high confess'd,

By whom 'twas form’d, and is possess'd. 3 Awake, our noblest pow'rs, to bless

The God of Abram, God of peace;
Now by a dearer title known,

Father and God of Christ his Son.
4 Thro' ev'ry age his gracious ear
Is

open to his servants' pray’r; Nor can one humble soul complain,

That it hath sought its God in vain. 5 What unbelieving heart shall dare

In whispers to suggest a fear,
While still he owns his ancient name,

The same his pow'r, his love the same? 6 To thee our souls in faith arise,

To thee we lift expecting eyes,
And boldly thro’ the desert tread;
For God will guard where God shall lead.

345.. C.M. WATTS.

Trust in God. 1 THY judgments, LORD! are deep and

high; Unsearchable thy deeds : Thy glory spreads beyond the sky,

And all our praise exceeds.