Thy Son has bought them with his blood,
To draw us near to thee.
4 I wait for thy salvation, Lord;-
With strong desires I wait;
My soul, invited by thy word,
Stands watching at thy gate.

5 In God the Lord let Israel trust;—
O sinners, seek his face;
The Lord is good, as well as just,
And plenteous is his grace.

232

L. M.

Departures from God deplored.

WE all, O Lord, have gone astray, And wandered from thy heavenly way: The wilds of sin our feet have trod, Far from the paths of thee our God. 2 Hear us, great Shepherd of thy sheep! Our wanderings heal-our footsteps keep: We seek thy sheltering fold again; Nor shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain. 3 Teach us to know and love thy way; And grant, to life's remotest day, By thine unerring guidance led, Our willing feet thy paths may tread.

233

C. M.

Praise to God, the Saviour.

MY Saviour, my almighty Friend,
When I begin thy praise,
Where will the growing numbers end,
The numbers of thy grace?

2 Thou art my everlasting trust;
Thy goodness I adore;

And since I knew thy graces first,
I speak thy glories more.

3 My feet shall travel all the length
Of the celestial road,

And march, with courage in thy strength,
To see my Father, God.

4 When I am filled with sore distress
For some surprising sin,

I'll plead thy perfect righteousness,
And mention none but thine.

5 How will my lips rejoice to tell
The victories of my King!

My soul, redeemed from sin and hell,
Shall thy salvation sing.

234

C. P. M.

Trusting in Christ for Pardon.

O THOU that hear'st the prayer of faith,
Wilt thou not save a soul from death,
That casts itself on thee?

I have no refuge of my own,
But fly to what my Lord hath done
And suffered once for me.

2 Slain in the guilty sinner's stead,
His spotless righteousness I plead,
And his availing blood:

That righteousness my robe shall be,
That merit shall atone for me,
And bring me near to God.

3 Then save me from eternal death,
The spirit of adoption breathe,
His consolations send:

By him some word of life impart,
And sweetly whisper to my heart,
'Thy Maker is thy Friend.'

4 The king of terrors then would be
A welcome messenger to me,
To bid me come away:

Unclogged by earth, or earthly things,
I'd mount, I'd fly, with eager wings,
To everlasting day.

235

L. M.

Trusting in Christ for Pardon.

HERE, at thy cross, my gracious Lord,
I lay my soul beneath thy love;
Oh, cleanse me with atoning blood,

Nor let me from thy feet remove.

2 Should worlds conspire to drive me hence,
Unmoved and firm this heart should lie:
Resolved-for that's my last defence-
If I must perish, here to die.

3 But speak, O Lord, and calm my fear;
Am I not safe beneath thy shade?
Thy vengeance will not strike me here,
Nor Satan dare my soul invade.

4 Yes-I'm secure beneath thy blood,
And all my foes shall lose their aim;
Hosanna to my Saviour God,

And loudest praises to his name.

236

S. M.

Folly of envying the Prosperity of Sinners.

SURE there's a righteous God,

Nor is religion vain;

Though men of vice may boast aloud,
And men of grace complain.

2 I saw the wicked rise,

And felt my heart repine,

While haughty fools, with scornful eyes, In robes of honor shine.

3 Thy word with light and power
Does my mistake amend;

I viewed the sinner's life before,
But here I learn his end.

4 On what a slippery steep

The thoughtless wretches go!
And oh! that dreadful, fiery deep
That waits their fall below!

5 Lord, at thy feet I bow;

My thoughts no more repine;
I call my God my portion now,
And all my powers are thine.

237

C. M.

God the Portion of the Soul.
MY God! the spring of all my joys,
The life of my delights,
The glory of my brightest days,
And comfort of my nights,-

2 In darkest shades, if thou appear,
My dawning is begun;

Thou art my soul's bright morning star,
And thou my rising sun.

3 The opening heavens around me shine With beams of sacred bliss,

While Jesus shows his mercy mine,,
And whispers, I am his!

4 My soul would leave this heavy clay
At that transporting word,

And run with joy the shining way
To meet my dearest Lord.

238

S. M.

God the Portion of the Soul.

MY God-my life-my love,
To thee-to thee I call;
I cannot live, if thou remove,
For thou art all in all.
2 Nor earth-nor all the sky
Can one delight afford,
No-not a drop of real joy,
Without thy presence, Lord.

3 Thou art the sea of love,

Where all my pleasures roll;
The circle, where my passions move,
And centre of my soul.

ETERNAL Source of joys divine,
To thee my soul aspires;

Oh! could I say, 'The Lord is mine!' 'Tis all my soul desires.

2 My hope, my trust, my life, my Lord, Assure me of thy love;

Oh! speak the kind, transporting word, And bid my fears remove :

3 Then shall my thankful powers rejoice, And triumph in my God,

Till heavenly rapture tune my voice
To spread thy praise abroad.

240

C. M.

True Happiness to be found only in God.

IN vain I trace creation o'er,

In search of solid rest;

The whole creation is too poor,

To make me truly blest.