When they are griev'd, his bowels move,
And can they be deny'd?
Then let us earnest be,
And never faint in pray'r;
He loves our importunity,
And makes our caufe his care.
XXXVI. Power of Prayer. Sevens.
IN themselves, as weak as worms,
How can poor believers ftand,
When temptations, foes, and ftorms,
Prefs them close on ev'ry hand?
Weak, indeed, they feel they are,
But they know the throne of grace;
And the God, who anfwers pray'r,
Helps them, when they feek his face.
Hezekiah, on his knees,
Proud Affyria's hoft fubdu'd;
And when fmitten with difeafe,
Had his life by pray'r renew'd.
Peter, tho' confin'd and chain'd,
Pray'r prevail'd and brought him out :
When Elijah pray'd, it rain'd,
After three long years of drought.
We can likewife witnefs bear,
That the Lord is ftill the fame ;
Tho' we fear'd he would not hear,
Suddenly deliv'rance came,
For the wonders he has wrought,
Let us now our praises give;
And by fweet experience taught,
Call upon him while we live.
EE, Lord, before thy throne of
A wretched wand'rer mourn;
Haft thou not bid me feek thy face;
Haft thou not faid, Return?
And hall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this dear refuge fail,
This only fafe retreat !
O fhine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy fhine!
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.
ESU, our Saviour, Brother, Friend,
On whom we caft our ev'ry care;
On whom for all things we depend;
Infpire, and then accept our pray'r.
Fill ev'ry foul with humble fear,
Our utter helplessness reveal :
Satan and fin are always near,
Thee may we always nearer feel.
XXXIX. The Chriflian's Wants. S. M.
TESU, my ftrength, my hope,
On thee I cait my care;
With humble confidence look up,
And know thou hearest pray'r.
I want an heart to pray,
To pray, and never ceafe;
Never to murmur at thy ftay,
Or with my fuff'rings lefs.
I want a fober inind,
A felf-renouncing will,
That tramples down, and cafts behind,
The baits of pleafing ill.
I want a godly fear,
A quick difcerning eye,
That looks to thee, when fin is near,
And fees the tempter fly.
I want a true regard,
A fingle fteady aim,
(Unmov'd by threat'ning or reward)
To thee and thy great name.
I want a juft concern
For thine immortal praise;
pure defire that all may learn
And glorify thy grace.
I want, with all my heart,
Thy pleasure to fulfil;
To know myself, and what thou art,
And what thy perfect will.
I want, I know not what
I want my wants to fee:
I want-alas! what want I not,
When thou art not with me!
XL. Refuge in Trouble. C. M.
EAR Refuge of my weary soul, On thee, when forrows rife ; On thee, when waves of trouble roll, My fainting hope relies.
To thee, I tell each rifing grief,
For thou alone can't heal;
Thy word can bring a fweet relief,
For ev'ry pain I feel.
Haft thou not bid me leek thy face?
And fhall 1 feek in vain?
And can the ear of fov'reign grace
Be deaf when I complain?
No; still the ear of fov'reign grace
Attends the mourner's pray'r;
O may I ever find access
To breathe my forrows there.
Thy mercy-feat is
Here let my foul retreat;
With humble hope attend thy will,
And wait beneath thy feet.
XLI. Mary's Choice.
ESET with fnares on ev'ry hand,
In life's uncertain path I ftand;
Saviour divine! diffute thy light,
To guide my doubtful footsteps right.
Engage this roving, treach'rous heart,
Great God, to choose the better part;
To fcorn the trifles of a day,
For joys that none can take away.
Then let the wildeft ftorms arife ;
Let tempetts mingle earth and skies;
No fatal hipwreck fhall I fear,
But all my treafures with me bear.
If thou, my Jefus, ftill art nigh,
Chearful I live, and chearful die :
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find ten thoufand worlds in thee.
XLII. Chriff's condefcending Regard to
little Children. C. M.
SEE Ifrael's gentle thepherd stand
With all-engaging charms;
Hark how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms.
"Permit them to approach (he cries)
"Nor fcorn their humble name;
"For 'twas to blefs fuch fouls as thefe,
"The Lord of angels came."
We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful, that we ourselves are thine;
Thine let our offspring be.
Ye little flock, with pleasure hear:
Ye children, feek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The bleffings of his grace.
If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian-care we truft;
That care fhall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their duft.
XLIII. Faith. S. M.
AITH-'tis a precious grace,
Where'er it is beftow'd;
It boasts of a celeftial birth,
And is the gift of God!-
Jefus it owns a King,
An all-atoning Priest;
It claims no merit of its own,
But looks for all in Chrift.
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