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372

Parliament.

8.8. 6.

Prayer for grace for our rulers.
Gen. xviii, 26. 2 Sam. xxiii, 3.

1 LORD God of hosts! who dost fulfil
In heaven and earth thy sov'reign will-
For heaven and earth are thine-
The councils of our nation bless
With wisdom, truth, and righteousness,
With light and love divine.

2 Whate'er they plan, whate'er decree,
Oh! may they lift their eyes to Thee
For thine Almighty aid;

Free them from sin's corrupting sway;
Teach them to show the heavenly way,
Where humbler men may tread.

3 Oh! be it ever their design

To make thy grace, thy glory shine,
And stay the realm on Thee;
Thy church from error to defend,
Until its light to heaven ascend,
And spread from sea to sea.

4 When Thou in terror risest forth
To sweep the wicked from the earth
With dread resistless stroke,

O'er Britain stretch thy sheltering arm;
Her Tower of refuge in the storm;
Her everlasting Rock!

Humiliation.

373

Bowing beneath the rod.

C. M.

Jer. xxxi, 18. Joel ii, 12. Jonah iii, 8-10.

1 SEE, gracious God! before thy throne
Thy mourning people bend!
"Tis on thy sovereign grace alone
Our humble hopes depend.

2 Tremendous judgments from thy hand
Thy dreadful power display;

Yet mercy spares this guilty land,
And still we live to pray.

3 Great God! and why is Britain spar'd,
Ungrateful as we are?

Oh! make thine awful warnings heard,
While mercy cries:-Forbear!

4 O turn us, turn us, mighty Lord!
Bestow thy cheering grace!
Then shall our hearts obey thy word,
And humbly seek thy face.

5 Then, should insulting foes invade,
We shall not sink in fear;
Secure of never-failing aid,
If God, our God, be near.

374

Thanksgiving.

L. M.

God, the Giver of victory.

2 Chron. xxxii, 8. Esth. ix, 22. Ps. xx, 7.

1 WHILE nations, fired with mutual rage,
In fierce contention warfare wage,

God reigns on heaven's eternal throne,
And makes their wills subserve his own.

2 On horses some their hope repose;
Some urge the chariot on their foes;
But we such feeble trust disclaim;
Our trust is in Jehovah's name.

3 The God, whom heaven and earth obey,
Did shield us in the dreadful day;
The God of battles o'er our head
His own victorious banner spread.

4 The God of battles-Thee we own;
The vict'ry, Lord! is thine alone;
To Thee our grateful hearts we raise,
And own thy hand, and sing thy praise.

5 Oh! when we praise, and when we pray,
Do Thou, whom heaven and earth obey,
Accept the praise. confirm the pray'r,
And make our safety still thy care!

375

L. M.

Dedication of the heart to God.

Ps. lvii, 7; lxi, 8; cxvi, 18.

1 OH! HAPPY day, that fix'd my choice On Thee, my Saviour and my God! Well may this glowing heart rejoice, And tell its raptures all abroad. 2 Oh! happy bond, that seals my vows To Him, who merits all my love! Let cheerful anthems fill his house, While to that sacred shrine I move. 3 Now rest, my long-divided heart, Fix'd on this blissful centre, rest: With ashes who would grudge to part, When call'd on angels' bread to feast. 4 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, That vow renew'd shall daily hear,

Till in life's latest hour I bow,

And bless in death a bond so dear,

Funerals.

376

L. M.

The passing-bell.

Deut. xxxii, 29. 1 Sam. xx, 3. Heb. ii, 14, 15,
OFT as the bell with solemn toll
Speaks the departure of a soul,
Let each one ask himself:-Am I
Prepared, should I be call'd to die?

GG

2 Only this frail and fleeting breath
Preserves me from the jaws of death;
Soon as it fails, at once I'm gone,
And plunged into a world unknown.
3 Lord Jesus! help me now to flee,
And seek my hope alone in Thee;
Apply thy blood, thy Spirit give,
Subdue my sin, and let me live.

4 Then, when the solemn bell I hear,
If saved from guilt, I need not fear;
Nor would the thought distressing be-
Perhaps it next may toll for me.

5 Rather my spirit would rejoice,
And long, and wish, to hear thy voice;
Glad when it bids me earth resign,
Secure of heaven, if Thou art mine.

377

Sorrowing, not as those without hope.

2 Sam. xii, 23. 1 Thess. iv, 13-17.

1 WHY do we mourn departed friends,
Or shake at death's alarms?

"Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
To call them to his arms.

C. M.

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