With care against assaults provides,
And rules as on a throne.
3 But Jesus, stronger far than he,
In his appointed hour,
Appears to set his people free
From the usurper's pow'r.
4 "This heart I bought with blood," he cries,
"And now it shall be mine;"
His voice the strong man arm'd dismays;
He knows he must resign.
5 In spite of unbelief and pride,
And self and Satan's art,
The gates of brass fly open wide,
And Jesus wins the heart.
HYMN 364. S. M.
1B of Satan's rage I fell
ENEATH the pois'nous dart
How narrowly my feet escap'd
The snares of death and hell!
2 Darkness, and shame, and grief
Oppress'd my gloomy mind;
I look'd around me for relief,
But no relief could find.
3 At length, to God I cry'd;
He heard my plaintive sigh;
He heard, and instantly he sent
Salvation from on high.
4 Oh, may I ne'er forget The mercy of my God!
Nor ever want a tongue to spread
His loudest praise abroad
Bartimeus. Mark x. 48.
ERCY, O thou son of David!"
Thus the blind Bartim'us pray'd
"Others by thy word are saved,
Now to me afford thine aid."
2 Many for his crying chid him, But he call'd the louder still; Till the gracious Saviour bid him,' "Come, and ask me what you will.” 3 Money was not what he wanted, Tho' by begging us'd to live; But he ask'd, and Jesus granted Alms which none but he could give. 4 "Lord, remove this grievous blindness, "Let my eyes behold the day!" Straight he saw, and won by kindness, Follow'd Jesus in the way.
5,Oh! methinks, I hear him praising, Publishing to all around;
"Friends, is not my case amazing?
What a Saviour I have found!
6"Oh! that all the blind but knew him,
And would be advis'd by me!
Surely they would hasten to him,
He would cause them all to see."
HYMN 366. L. M
The happy change.
Isine bych of fancied good we range;
N sin by blinded passions led,
The paths of disappointment tread,
To nothing fix'd-but love of change.
2 But, when the Holy Ghost imparts
A knowledge of the Saviour's love;
Our wand'ring, weary, restless hearts,
Are then renew'd, no more to rove.
3 Now a new principle takes place,
Which guides and animates the will;
This love, another name for grace,
Constrains to good and bars from ill.
4 By love's pure light we soon perceive
Our noblest bliss and proper end;
And gladly ev'ry idol leave,
To love and serve our Lord and Friend.
HYMN 367. C. P. M.
'Α WAK'D by Sinai's awful sound,
My soul in bonds of guilt I found,
And knew not where to go;
Eternal truth did loud proclaim,
"The sinner must be born again,
Or sink to endless wo."
2 When to the law I trembling fled, It pour'd its curses on my head, I no relief could find;
This fearful truth increas'd my pain,
"The sinner must be born again,"
And whelm'd my tortur'd mind.
3 Again did Sinai's thunders roll,
And guilt lay heavy on my soul,
A vast, oppressive load;
Alas, I read, and saw it plain,
"The sinner must be born again,"
Or drink the wrath of God.
4 The saints I heard with rapture tell,
How Jesus conquer'd Death and Hell,
And broke the fowler's snare;
Yet, when I found this truth remain,
"The sinner must be born again,"
I sunk in deep despair.
5 But while I thus in anguish lay,
The gracious Saviour pass'd this way,
And felt his pity move;
The sinner, by his justice slain,
Now by his grace is born again,
And sings redeeming love.
HYMN 368. C. M.
The Prodigal. Luke xv. 11-24.
HANKLESS-the Prodigal receives
The bounty of his Sire,
Rejoicing only in the hope
To have his own desire.
2 And far from home, in climes of vice, He joins the heedless throng;
Begins in pleasure to rejoice,
And chants the mirthful song.
3 But lo, the famine coming on,
Now dies the song profane;—
The youth beholds his substance gone,
And begs the husk in vain.
4 The terrors of the world to come
Have struck his pleasures dead-
And far from God-and far from home,
His every friend has fled.
1HE Prodigal, with streaming eyes,
From folly just awake,
Reviews his wand'rings with surprise;
His heart begins to break.
2 I starve, he cries, nor can I bear
The famine in this land;
While servants of my Father share
The bounty of his hand.
3 With deep repentance I'll return
And seek my Father's face;
Unworthy to be call'd a son,
I'll ask a servant's place.
4 Far off He saw him slowly move,
In pensive silence mourn;
The Father ran with arms of love
To welcome his return.
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