6 Then shall new lustre break
Through horror's darkest gloom,
And lead you to unchanging light
In a celestial home.

161

Compassion for Sinners.

L. M.

ARISE, my tend'rest thoughts, arise; To torrents melt my streaming eyes; And thou, my heart, with anguish feel Those evils, which thou canst not heal:

2 See human nature sunk in shame;

See scandals pour'd on Jesus' name;
The Father wounded through the son;
The world abus'd; the soul undone.

3 See the short course of vain delight
Closing in everlasting night;

In flames, that no abatement know,
Though briny tears for ever flow.

4 My God, I feel the mournful scene;
My bowels yearn o'er dying men ;
And fain my pity would reclaim,

And snatch the fire-brands from the flame.

5 But feeble my compassion proves,

And can but weep, where most it loves:

Thy own all-saving arm employ,
And turn these drops of grief to joy.

162 Against following the Multitude to evil. C. M.

LORD, when iniquities abound,

And growing crimes appear;

We view the deluge rising round
With sorrow, and with fear.

2 Yet when its waves most fiercely beat,
And spread destruction wide,
Thy spirit can a standard raise
To stem the roaring tide.

3 May thy triumphant arm awake
Thy secret cause to plead;
And let the multitude confess,
That thou art God indeed.

4 Their hearts shall in a moment turn,
Like water, by thy hand;
One word shall bow their stubborn necks
To own thy high command.

5 Our feeble souls at least support,
And there thy pow'r display;

Then multitudes shall strive in vain
To draw us from thy way.

163

Improvement of Time.

P. M.

COME, let us anew

Our journey pursue,

Roll round with the year,

And never stand still till our Master appear.

2

3

His adorable will

Let us gladly fulfil;

And our talents improve,

By the patience of hope, and the labour of love.

Our life is a dream,

Our time, as a stream,
Glides swiftly away,

And the fugitive moments refuses to stay;
The arrow is flown,

The moment is gone;

The millennial year

Rushes on to our view, and eternity's near.

O that each in the day

Of his coming may say,

"I have fought my way through,

I have finish'd the work that thou gav'st me to do !"

O that each from his Lord

May receive the glad word;

"Well and faithfully done;

Enter into my joy, and sit down on my throne."

164

I

Backsliding and Repentance.

LONG to be blest with the sight Of him, who does heaven impart ; Of him, who was once my delight, The pleasure and joy of my heart;

P. M.

;

Whose mercy and love I refus'd,
And caused his anger to rise
Whose goodness I lately abus'd,
And dared the wrath of the skies.

2 O why did I wander from thee,
Whom once I professed to love?
I promis'd how faithful I'd be,
That from thee I never would rove;
But soon I forgot all my vows,
And all the displays of thy grace;
Yea, trifles before thee I choose,
And wander'd from Jesus's way.

3 How deeply distressing it is!

How great is my anguish and smart! My folly has spoil'd me of bliss,

Has caused my Lord to depart; With shame I acknowledge my sin,

Which caus'd thee to hide thy lov'd face;
Which grieved the witness within;
And tore from me pleasure and peace.

4 To thee; whose compassion and love!
To sinners is even the same;
Whose bowels with sympathy move;
Whose nature agrees with thy name;
Jehovah thou sin-pard'ning God,

To thee I look up through thy son;
I plead his atonement by blood,
And hang on what Jesus hath done.

5 Dear Lord, to my sorrowful heart,
Declare the remission of sin;
And to me thy spirit impart,

To dwell as the witness within:
My backsliding spirit restore,
And unto thy servant draw near;
That what I've experienc'd before
Of mercy, again may appear.

6 One smile can restore all my joys;
Bring heaven again to my mind;
One frown from thy face can destroy,
And leave me to darkness consign'd:
Thy sov'reign compassion display,
In saving my soul by thy grace ;
Then me to thy heaven convey,
Thy mercy and goodness to praise.

FOR a closer walk with God,

A calm and heav'nly frame!
A light to shine upon the road,
That leads me to the Lamb!

2 Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord ?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

3 What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd!
How sweet their mem❜ry still!

C. M.