Whose blood of matchless worth Should be the soul's defence;
For he who can for sin atone, Must have no failings of his own.
The scape-goat on his head 1
The people's trespass bore, And, to the desert led,
Was to be seen no more:
In him our Surety seem'd to say, Behold, I bear your sins away."
Dipt in his fellow's blood,
The living bird went free; 2 The type, well understood, Express'd the sinner's plea ;
Described a guilty soul enlarged, And by a Saviour's death discharged.
Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of thy grace,
The same in every age!
O grant that I may faithful be
To clearer light vouchsafed to me !
XXI. SARDIS.-REV. iii. 1-6.
1 "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, And write what he declares, He whose Spirit, and whose word, Upholds the seven stars :
1 Leviticus xvi. 21.-2 Leviticus xiv. 51-53.
"All thy works and ways I search, Find thy zeal and love decay'd: Thou art call'd a living church, But thou art cold and dead.
2" Watch, remember, seek, and strive; Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive,
And strengthen what remains : Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend, Former times to mind recall; Lest my sudden stroke descend, And smite thee once for all.
3 "Yet I number now in thee A few that are upright; These my Father's face shall see, And walk with me in white. When in judgment I appear, They for mine shall be confest; Let my faithful servants hear, And woe be to the rest!"
XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING ON THE YOUNG.
1 BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth
The gift of saving grace;
And let the seed of sacred truth
Fall in a fruitful place.
2 Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Of pure and heavenly root;
But fairest in the youngest shows,
And yields the sweetest fruit.
3 Ye careless ones, O hear betimes The voice of sovereign love! Your youth is stain'd with many crimes, But mercy reigns above.
4 True, you are young, but there's a stone Within the youngest breast;
Or half the crimes which you have done Would rob you of your rest.
5 For you the public prayer is made, Oh! join the public prayer! For you the secret tear is shed, Oh! shed yourselves a tear!
6 We pray that you may early prove The Spirit's power to teach;
You cannot be too young to love That Jesus whom we preach.
XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH.
1 SIN has undone our wretched race,
But Jesus has restored,
And brought the sinner face to face With his forgiving Lord.
2 This we repeat, from year to year, And press upon our youth; Lord, give them an attentive ear, Lord, save them by thy truth!
3 Blessings upon the rising race! Make this a happy hour, According to thy richest grace, And thine almighty power.
4 We feel for your unhappy state (May you regard it too),
And would awhile ourselves forget,
5 We see, though you perceive it not, The approaching awful doom; Oh, tremble at the solemn thought, And flee the wrath to come!
6 Dear Saviour, let this new-born year Spread an alarm abroad;
And cry in every careless ear, "Prepare to meet thy God!"
XXIV. PRAYER FOR CHILDREN.
1 GRACIOUS Lord, our children see: By thy mercy we are free;
But shall these, alas! remain Subjects still of Satan's reign?
Israel's young ones, when of old Pharaoh threaten'd to withhold,1 Then thy messenger said, “No ; Let the children also go."
2 When the angel of the Lord, Drawing forth his dreadful sword, Slew, with an avenging hand, All the first-born of the land;2 Then thy people's doors he pass'd, Where the bloody sign was placed; Hear us, now, upon our knees,
Plead the blood of Christ for these!
3 Lord, we tremble, for we know How the fierce malicious foe, Wheeling round his watchful flight, Keeps them ever in his sight: Spread thy pinions, King of kings! Hide them safe beneath thy wings; Lest the ravenous bird of prey Stoop, and bear the brood away.
1 My song shall bless the Lord of all, My praise shall climb to his abode ; Thee, Saviour, by that name I call, The great Supreme, the mighty God.
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