HYMNS FOR PRIVATE MEDITATION. ONE FOR EVERY FRIDAY IN THE YEAR, (OR OTHER DAY.) WITH A DOZEN SUPPLEMENTARY PIECES. Many of the following hymns are only suited to particular cases, and are not intended for the generality of persons to pore over, in order to work upon their feelings. This is a dangerous practice, and by all means to be checked, especially in the young, as having a direct tendency to blunt the feelings and harden the heart, any unnatural excitement being followed by corresponding depression. There cannot be a more mischievous practice than for persons religiously disposed, especially if much alone, to make the hymn book a book of constant reading, as by the continual exeitement it produces, the mind soon loses its tone and becomes unfit for any exertion. Some hymns are exempt from this tendency, such as the Morning and Evening Hymn, most of the Psalms, and the hymns selected for family worship. These are of a domestic nature and soothing tendency; they calm the passions, pacify the mind, and bring it into a proper frame for real devotion by some thought cold). They bring a man down from soaring in the clouds to his proper place as a member of society, and of a family, reminding him of the more simple and common duties of lomestic life, which, after all, are the very work appointed for him to do. 1 GOD of our lives! thy various praise Thy hand directs our fleeting days, 2 To thee shall annual incense rise, While annual mercies from the skies, 3 In every scene of life thy care, And constant as thy favours are, 4 Still may thy love, in every scene, And let the same compassion deign 5 If mercy smile, let mercy bring 384. Spending the day in the fear of God. 1 THRICE happy souls, who born from heaven, 2 So may our eyes with holy zeal 3 'Midst hourly cares, may love present And while the world our hands employs, 4 As sanctified to noblest ends, We'll seek the shelter of thy wings, 6 As different scenes of life arise, + Prevent, i. e. Go before, or be beforehand with. 7 At night we lean our weary heads And safely folded in thine arms, 385.Caution against self-complacency, and what is alled worldly prudence, or in other words, covetousness and selfishness. 1 MUST all the charms of nature then Can hell demand, can heaven condemn, 2 The man who sought the ways of truth, And thought he wanted nothing new! 3 But mark the change! thus spake the Lord, "Come part with earth for heaven to-day;" The youth, astonish'd at the word, In silent sadness went his way! 4 Poor virtues which he boasted so, Let Christ, and grace, and glory go, 5 Ah! foolish choice of treasures here, Must this base world be bought so dear? 386. Encouragement to persevere. 1 REJOICE believer in the Lord, 2 Though many foes beset your road, Your life is hid with Christ in God, 3 Weak as you are, you shall not faint, 4 Though sometimes unperceived by sense, 5 As surely as he overcame, And triumph'd once for you; 1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God, Transported with the view I'm lost 2 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul 3 When in the slippery paths of youth, Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe, 4 When worn by sickness, oft hast thou 5 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts Nor is the least a cheerful heart, 6 Through every period of my life, 7 Through all eternity to thee, 388. Filial Obedience. 1 GREAT son of David and my Lord! 2 Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal, 1 AWAKE ye saints and raise your eyes, 2 On all the wings of Time it flies, 3 Sorrow and pain, and every care, |