7 'Tis love that human fin forgives, And bids our hopes afpire;

I

And this the grace that ftill furvives,
When faith and hope expire.

CCCXLVI. Com. Met. BARBAULD.

The Character and Reward of Chriftian Charity.

BEH

EHOLD where breathing love divine
Our dying Master stands!

His weeping followers gathering round,
Receive his laft commands.

2 From that mild Teacher's parting lips
What tender accents fell!
The gentle leffons which he gave
Became their Author well.

3 "Bleft is the man, whofe foftening heart
"Feels all another's pain;
"To whom the fupplicating eye
"Was never raised in vain :

4"Whose breaft expands with generous warmth "A ftranger's woes to feel; "And bleeds in pity o'er the wound "He wants the power to heal.

5

"He spreads his kind fupporting arms

"To every child of grief;

"His facred bounty largely flows,

"And brings unasked relief.

6" To gentleft offices of love

"His feet are never flow;

"He views thro' mercy's melting eye. "A brother in a foe.

7 "Peace from the bofom of his God, "My peace to him I give ;

"And when he kneels before the throne, "His trembling foul fhall live.

8 "To him protection shall be shown:
"And mercy from above
"Defcend on those, who thus fulfil
"The perfect law of love."

I

2.

3

4

5

CCCXLVII. Long Met. BROWNE.
A Prayer for Love in all its Movements.

GOD, my Saviour, and my King,
Of all I have or hope the spring!
Send down thy spirit from above,
And warm my heart with holy love.

May I from every act abstain,
That hurts or gives another pain;
And every fecret with fupprefs
That would abridge his happiness.

Still may I feel my heart inclined
To act the friend to all mankind ;
Still wish them fafety, health and ease,
Wealth, fame, eternal life and peace.

With pity may my breast o'erflow,
When I behold a wretch in woe;
And bear a sympathizing part,
Whene'er I meet a wounded heart.

And let a fellow's profperous ftate
A fellow joy in me create ;
His virtuous triumph may I join ;
His peace and happiness be mine.

T 2

6 With

With hearty and with forward zeal May I promote my brother's weal; Be pleased to please, whate'er th' event; And griefs, or leffen, or prevent..

And should my neighbour spiteful prove, Still may I vanquish fpite with love; And mercy as I hope to know, That mercy to my fellow fhow.

In all my life may love thus shine, An image fair, tho' faint, of thine : Let me thy humble follower prove, Father of men, great God of love.

CCCXLVIII.

B

Short Metre. SCOTT.

Mercy.

EHOLD a wretch in woe,
A fellow mortal mourns:
My eyes with tears of pity flow,
My heart his fighs returns.

I hear the thirsty cry,

The famished beg for bread:
O let my fpring its ftream fupply,
My hand its bounty fhed.
Lo, the poor debtor fues,

Pale at the penal threat,

A ftarving family he fhews;

Then cancelled be the debt.
And shall not wrath relent,
Touched by this humble ftrain,
"My brother, deeply I repent,
"Nor will offend again?"

5

How elfe, on sprightly wing,
Can hope bear high my prayer

Up to thy throne, my God, my King,
To plead for pardon there?

6 The pitiful and kind

7.

I

Thy pity will repay;

And who forgive on earth, shall find
Forgiveness in thy day.

But juftice lifts her fcale,

And fhakes her rod on high;

Nor prayers, nor fighs, nor tears avail
The fons of cruelty.

CCCXLIX, Long Metre.

M

Meekness.

SCOTT.

ARK, when tempeftuous winds arise,
The wild confufion and uproar,

All ocean mixing with the fkies,
And havock spread along the shore.

2 Not lefs confufion rends the mind
By its own fierce ideas toft;

3

4

Calm reafon is to rage refigned,
And in the whirl of paffion loft.

O felf-tormenting child of pride,
Anger, bred up in hate and ftrife!
Ten thousand ills, by thee fupplied,
Mingle the cup of bitter life.

Happy the meek, whofe gentle breast, Clear as the fummer's evening ray,

Calm as the regions of the blest,
Enjoys on earth celeftial day.

T 3

5 Their

5

6

Their heart no broken friendships fting,
No jars their peaceful tent invade;
They reft beneath affection's wing,
Hoftile to none, of none afraid.

Spirit of grace, all meek and mild,
Defcend on us, our fouls poffefs;
Repel each paffion rude and wild,
And bless us, as we know to bless.

CCCL. Proper Metre,

Contentment.

COTTON.

F folid happiness we prize,
Within our breafts this jewel lies,
Foolish are they who roam :

The world has little to beflow:

From our own felves our joys must flow,
And peace begins at home.

2 We'll therefore relifh, with content,
Whate'er kind Providence has fent,
Nor aim beyond our power;
And if our ftore of wealth be fmall,
With thankful hearts improve it all,
Nor waste the prefent hour.

3 We'll be refigned, when ills betide,
Patient, when favours are denied,
And pleased with what is given;
This is the wife, the virtuous part,
This is that incenfe of the heart,

Whofe fragrance reaches heaven.

4 Thus crowned with peace, thro' life we'll go,
Its checquered paths of joy and woe
With cautious steps we'll tread;