7 I pity all that worldlings talk
Of pleasures that will quickly end:
Be this my choice, O Lord, to walk
With thee, my Guide, my Guard, my Friend.
1 How hurtful was the choice of Lot,
Who took up his abode
(Because it was a fruitful spot)
With them who fear'd not God!
2 A pris'ner he was quickly made,
Bereav'd of all his store;
And, but for Abraham's timely aid,
He had return'd no more.
3 Yet still he seem'd resolv'd to stay,
As if it were his rest:
Although their sins from day to day*
His righteous soul distress'd.
4 Awhile he stay'd with anxious mind,
Expos'd to scorn and strife;
At last he left his all behind,
And fled to save his life.
5 In vain his sons-in-law he warn'd,
They thought he told his dreams;
His daughters, too, of them had learn'd,
And perish'd in the flames.
6 His wife escap'd a little way,
But died for looking back :
Does not her case to pilgrims say,
"Beware of growing slack?"
7 Yea, Lot himself could ling'ring stand,
Though vengeance was in view,
'Twas mercy pluck'd him by the hand, Or he had perish'd too.
8 The doom of Sodom will be ours,
If to the earth we cleave:
Lord, quicken all our drowsy powers,
To flee to thee and live.
1 THE saints should never be dismay'd,
Nor sink in hopeless fear;
For, when they least expect his aid,
The Saviour will appear.
2 This Abraham found, he rais'd the knife,
God saw, and said, "Forbear!
Yon ram shall yield his meaner life—
Behold the victim there.'
8 Once David seem'd Saul's certain prey;
But hark! the foe's at hand; *
Saul turns his arms another way,
To save th' invaded land.
4 When Jonah sunk beneath the wave,
He thought to rise no more; †
But God prepar'd a fish to save,
And bear him to the shore.
5 Blest proofs of power and grace divine,
That meet us in his word!
May every deep-felt care of mine
Be trusted with the Lord.
6 Wait for his seasonable aid,
And though it tarry, wait:
The promise may be long delay'd,
But cannot come too late.
VII. The Lord will provide. 1 THOUGH troubles assail, And dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail,
And foes all unite:
Yet one thing secures us,
Whatever betide,
The Scripture assures us
The Lord will provide.
2 The birds without barn
Or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn
To trust for our bread:
His saints what is fitting
Shall ne'er be denied,
So long as 'tis written,
The Lord will provide.
3 We may, like the ships,
By tempests be tost
On perilous deeps,
But cannot be lost:
Though Satan enrages
The wind and the tide,
The promise engages
The Lord will provide.
4 His call we obey,
Like Abra'm of old,
Not knowing our way,
But faith makes us bold:
For, though we are strangers,
We have a good guide,
And trust, in all dangers,
The Lord will provide.
5 When Satan appears
To stop up our path,
And fill us with fears,
We triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us,
Though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise,
The Lord will provide.
6 He tells us we're weak,
Our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek
We ne'er shall obtain;
But when such suggestions
Our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions-
The Lord will provide.
7 No strength of our own
Or goodness we claim;
Yet since we have known
The Saviour's great name,
In this our strong tower
For safety we hide,
The Lord is our power,
The Lord will provide.
8 When life sinks apace,
And death is in view,
This word of his grace
Shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting
With Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting,
The Lord will provide.
VIII. Esau. Chap. xxv. Heb. xii. 16.
1 POOR Esau repented too late,
That once he his birthright despis'd,
And sold, for a morsel of meat,
What could not too highly be priz'd:
How great was his anguish when told,
The blessing he sought to obtain
Was gone with the birthright he sold,
And none could recall it again!
2 He stands as a warning to all,
Wherever the gospel shall come;
O hasten and yield to the call,
While yet for repentance there's room!
Your season will quickly be past;
Then hear and obey it to-day,
Lest, when you seek mercy at last,
The Saviour should frown you away.
3 What is it the world can propose?
A morsel of meat at the best!
For this are you willing to lose
A share in the joys of the blest?
Its pleasures will speedily end,
Its favour and praise are but breath;
And what can its profits befriend
Your soul in the moments of death?
4 If Jesus, for these, you despise,
And sin to the Saviour prefer;
In vain your entreaties and cries,
When summon'd to stand at his bar:
How will you his presence abide,
What anguish will torture your heart!
The saints all enthron'd by his side,
And you be compell'd to depart.
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