Surely, thought I, my pompous train
Of vows and tears will notice gain.

5 My heart devis'd the way which I suppos'd he'd take;
And when I found delay, was ready to go back,
Had he some painful task enjoin'd,

I to performance seem'd inclin'd.

6 When by his word he spake, "That fountain open'd see; "Twas open'd for thy sake; go wash, and thou art free: Oh! how did my proud heart gainsay,

I fear'd to trust this simple way!

7 At length I trial made, when I had much endur'd; The message I obey'd-I wash'd, and I was cur'd': Sinners, this healing fountain try,

Which cleans'd a wretch so vile as I.

XXXIX. The Borrowed Axe. Chap. vi. 5, 6.

1 THE prophet's sons, in times of old,
Though to appearance poor,
Were rich without possessing gold,
And honour'd though obscure.

2 In peace their daily bread they eat,
By honest labour earn'd;
While daily at Elisha's feet

They grace and wisdom learn'd.

3 The prophet's presence cheer'd their toil,
They watch'd the words he spoke,
Whether they turn'd the furrow'd soil,
Or fell'd the spreading oak.

4 Once, as they listen'd to his theme,
Their conference was stopp'd;
For one beneath the yielding stream
A borrow'd axe had dropp'd.

5" Alas! it was not mine," he said,
"How shall I make it good?"
Elisha heard, and when he pray'd,
The iron swam like wood.

6 If God, in such a small affair,
A miracle performs,

It shows his condescending care
Of poor unworthy worms.

7 Though kings and nations, in his view,
Are but as motes and dust,
His eye and ear are fix'd on you,
Who in his mercy trust.

8 Not one concern of ours is small,
If we belong to him;

To teach us this, the Lord of all
Once made the iron swim..

XL. More with us than with them. Chap. vi. 16.

1 ALAS Elisha's servant cry'd,
When he the Syrian army spy'd:
But he was soon releas'd from care,
In answer to the prophet's pray'r.

2 Straightway he saw, with other eyes,
A greater army from the skies,
A fiery guard around the hill:
Thus are the saints preserved still.
3 When Satan and his host appear,
Like him, of old, I faint and fear;
Like him, by faith, with joy I see
A greater host engag'd for me.

4 The saints espouse my cause by pray'r,
The angels make my soul their care;
Mine is the promise seal'd with blood,
And Jesus lives to make it good.

I. CHRONICLES.

XLI. Faith's Review and Expectation. Chap. xvii. 16, 17,

1 AMAZING grace! (how sweet the sound,)
That sav'd a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

2 "Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;

How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believ'd!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;

"Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures:

He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures,

5 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess, within the vail,

A life of joy and peace.

6 The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.

NEHEMIAH.

XLII. The Joy of the Lord is your Strength. Chap. viii. 10.

1 Joy is a fruit that will not grow

'In nature's barren soil;

All we can boast, till Christ we know,
Is vanity and toil.

2 But where the Lord has planted grace,
And made his glories known,
There fruits of heavenly joy and peace
Are found, and there alone.

3 A bleeding Saviour seen by faith,
A sense of pard’ning love;
A hope that triumphs over death,
Give joys like those above.

4 To take a glimpse within the vail,
To know that God is mine,
Are springs of joy that never fail,
Unspeakable! divine!

5 These are the joys which satisfy
And sanctify the mind;

Which makes the spirit mount on high,
And leave the world behind.

6 No more, believers, mourn your lot;
But if you are the Lord's,
Resign to them that know him not
Such joys as earth affords.

JOB.

XLIII. Oh that I were as in months past! Chap. xxix. 2.

1 SWEET was the time when first I felt
The Saviour's pard'ning blood
Apply'd, to cleanse my soul from guilt,
And bring me home to God.

2 Soon as the morn the light reveal'd,
His praises tun'd my tongue;
And when the ev'ning shades prevail'd,
His love was all my song.

3 In vain the tempter spread his wiles,
The world no more could charm;
I liv'd upon my Saviour's smiles,
And lean'd upon his arm.

4 In pray'r my soul drew near the Lord,
And saw his glory shine;

And when I read his holy word,
I call'd each promise mine.

5 Then to his saints I often spoke
Of what his love had done;
But now my heart is almost broke,
For all my joys are gone.

6 Now when the ev'ning shade prevails,
My soul in darkness mourns ;
And when the morn the light reveals,
No light to me returns.

7 My pray'rs are now a chatt'ring noise,
For Jesus hides his face;

I read, the promise meets my eyes,
But will not reach my case.

Now Satan threatens to prevail,
And make my soul his prey:
Yet, Lord, thy mercies cannot fail,
O come without delay!

XLIV. The Change.*

1 SAVIOUR, shine and cheer my soul,
Bid my dying hopes revive;
Make my wounded spirit whole,
Far away the tempter drive;
Speak the word, and set me free,
Let me live alone to thee.

2 Shall I sigh and pray in vain, Wilt thou still refuse to hear? Wilt thou not return again,

Must I yield to black despair?
Thou hast taught my heart to pray,
Canst thou turn thy face away?

3 Once I thought my mountain strong,
Firmly fix'd no more to move;
Then thy grace was all my song,
Then my soul was fill'd with love;

Those were happy, golden days,
Sweetly spent in prayer and praise.

4 When my friends have said, “Beware,
"Soon or late you'll find a change,"

I could see no cause for fear,

Vain their caution seem'd, and strange

Not a cloud obscur'd my sky,

Could I think a tempest nigh?

3 Little then myself I knew,

Little thought of Satan's pow'r :
Now I find their words were true,

Now I feel the stormy hour!

Sin has put my joys to flight,

Sin has chang'd my day to night.

*Book iii. Hymn 34. and Book iii. Hymn 86.

6 Satan asks and mocks my wo,
"Boaster, where is now your God?"
Silence, Lord, this cruel foe,

Let him know I'm bought with blood:
Tell him, since I know thy name,

Though I change, thou art the same.

PSALMS.

XLV. Pleading for mercy. Psalm.vi.

1 IN mercy, not in wrath, rebuke
Thy feeble worm, my God!
My spirit dreads thine angry look,
And trembles at thy rod.

2 Have mercy, Lord, for I am weak,
Regard my heavy groans;
O let thy voice of comfort speak,
And heal my broken bones!

8 By day, my busy beating head
Is fill'd with anxious fears;
By night, upon my restless bed,
I weep a flood of tears.

4 Thus I sit desolate and mourn,

Mine eyes grow dull with grief:
How long, my Lord, ere thou return,
And bring my soul relief?

5 O come and show thy pow'r to save,
And spare my fainting breath;
For who can praise thee in the grave,
Or sing thy name in death?

6 Satan, my cruel, envious foe,

Insults me in my pain;

He smiles to see me brought so low,
And tells me hope is vain.

7 But hence, thou enemy, depart,
Nor tempt me to despair;

My Saviour comes to cheer my heart,

The Lord has heard my pray'r.

XLVI. None upon earth I desire beside thee. Psalm lxxiii. 25

1 How tedious and tasteless the hours,

When Jesus no longer I see;

Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and sweet flow'rs,

Have lost all their sweetness with me;

The midsummer sun shines but dim,

The fields strive in vain to look gay:

But when I am happy in him,
December's as pleasant as May.