2

CXCVI. Departed Saints asleep. Mark v. 39.

WHY flow these torrents of distress?”

The gentle Saviour cries,

"Why are my sleeping saints survey'd
"With unbelieving eyes?

"Death's feeble arm shall never boast,
"A friend of Christ is slain 1

"Nor o'er their meaner part in dust
"A lasting power retain.

3 "I come, on wings of love I come,
"The slumbers to awake;

"My voice shall reach the deepest tomb,
"And all its bonds shall break.

4 "Touch'd by my hand in smiles they rise;
They rise to sleep no more;

"But rob'd with light, and crown'd with joy
"To endless day they soar.

5 Jesus, our faith receives thy word;
And, though fond nature weep,
Grace learns to hail the pious dead,
And emulate their sleep.

6 Our willing souls thy summons wait
With them to rest and praise;

So let thy much-loved presence cheer
These separating days.

CXCVII. The Struggle between Faith and Unbelief. Mark ix. 24.
I JESUS, our soul's delightful choice,

In thee believing we rejoice;
Yet still our joy is mix'd with grief,
While faith contends with unbelief.

2 Thy promises our hearts revive,
And keep our fainting hopes alive;
But guilt, and fears, and sorrows rise,
And hide the promise from our eyes.

30 let not sin and satan boast,

While saints lie mourning in the dust;
Nor see that faith to ruin brought,

Which thy own gracious hand hath wrought.
4 Do thou the dying spark inflame;
Reveal the glories of thy name;

And put all anxious doubts to flight,
As shades dispers'd by opening light.

CXCVIII. Christ's condescending Regard to little Children.

Mark x. 14.

1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand
With all-engaging charms;
Hark how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms!

2" Permit them to approach," he cries,
"Nor scorn their humble name;
"For 'twas to bless such souls as these,
"The Lord of angels came."

3 We bring them, Lord, in thankful hands,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful, that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be.

4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear:
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of his grace.

5 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian-care we trust:
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts,
If weeping o'er their dust.

1

CXCIX. Christian Watchfulness. Mark xiii. 37.

A

WAKE, my drowsy soul, awake,
And view the threatening scene:
Legions of foes encamp around,
And treachery lurks within.

2 'Tis not this mortal life alone
These enemies assail;

All thine eternal hopes are lost,
If their attempts prevail.

3 Now to the work of God awake;
Behold thy master near ;
The various arduous task pursue
With vigour and with fear.

4 The awful register goes on,

The account will surely come,

And opening day, or closing night
May bear me to my doom.

5 Tremendous thought! How deep it strikes!
Yet like a dream it flies,

Till God's own voice the slumbers chase
From these deluded eyes.

CC. The Nativity of Christ. Luke ii. 10—12.

1 HAIL, progeny * divine !

Hail, virgin's wondrous Son!
Who, for that humble shrine,
Didst quit the Almighty's throne:
The Infant-Lord

Our voices sing,
And be the king

Of grace ador'd.

2 Ye princes, disappear,

And boast your crowns no more;
Lay down your sceptres here,
And in the dust adore:

Where Jesus dwells,

The manger bare
In lustre far

Your pomp excels.

3 With Bethlehem's shepherds mild
The angels bow their head;
And round the sacred child
Their guardian-wings they spread;
They knew, that where

Their sovereign lies
In low disguise,

Heaven's court is there.

4 Thither, my soul, repair,
And early homage pay
To thy Redeemer fair,
As on his natal + day:
I kiss thy feet;
And, Lord, would be
A child like thee,
Whom thus I greet.

CCI. The Angel's Song at Christ's Birth. Luke ii. 13, 14.

1 HIGH let us swell our tuneful notes,
And join the angelic throng;

For angels no such love have known
To awake a cheerful song.

2 Good-will to sinful men is shewn,
And peace on earth is given;
For lo, the incarnate Saviour comes
With messages from heaven.

* Offspring.

+ Birth-day.

3 Justice and grace with sweet accord
His rising beams adorn;

Let heaven and earth in concert join,
Now such a child is born.

4 Glory to God in highest strains
In highest worlds be paid;
His glory by our lips proclaim'd,
And by our lives display'd.

5 When shall we reach those blissful realms,
Where Christ exalted reigns,

And learn of the celestial choir,

Their own immortal strains?

CCII. Simeon's Song and Declaration to the Virgin Mary.
Luke ii. 30-35.

I OUR eyes salvation see,
Prepar'd by grace divine :

2

3

4

How wide its splendors are diffus'd!
How bright its glories shine!

Through distant Heathen lands
It darts a vivid * ray,

And to the realms, where Satan reign'd,
Imparts celestial day.

The Israel of the Lord

In Christ their glory boast,

And on the honours of his name

Their whole salvation trust.

By him shall millions rise

To an immortal crown,

And millions, that his grace despise,
Shall sink in ruin down.

5 Our reckoning is begun,

And on the account will go,

Till clos'd in everlasting joy,
Or never-ending woe.

CCIII. Christ's Message. Luke iv. 18, 19.

1 HARK the glad sound! the Saviour comes! The Saviour promis'd long!

Let every heart prepare a throne,
And every voice a song.

2 On him the spirit largely pour'd

Exerts its sacred fire;

* Lively.

LUKE.

Wisdom and might, and zeal and love
His holy breast inspire.

3 He comes the prisoners to release,
In Satan's bondage held;

The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.

4 He comes from thickest films of vice
To clear the mental ray,

And on the eye-balls of the blind
To pour celestial day.

5 He comes the broken heart to bind,
The bleeding soul to cure,
And with the treasures of his grace
To enrich the humble poor.

6 His silver trumpets publish loud
The jubilee of the Lord *;
Our debts are all remitted now,
Our heritage restor❜d.

7 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,
Thy welcome shall proclaim;

And heaven's eternal arches ring
With thy beloved name.

CCIV. The recovered Dæmoniac, an Emblem of a converted Sinner.
Luke viii. 35.

1 JESUS, we own thy saving power,
And thy victorious hand;
Hell's legions tremble at thy feet,
And fly at thy command.

2 O'er souls, by passions uproar fill'd
With anarchy + unknown,

The nobler powers, restor'd by thee,
Ascend their peaceful throne.

3 No more they rend their cloathing off;
No more their wounds repeat;

But gentle and compos'd they wait
Attentive at thy feet.

4 O'er thousands more, where Satan rules,

May we such triumphs see;

And be their rescu'd souls and ours

Devoted, Lord, to thee.

The acceptable year of the Lord, i, e. the year of jubilee, Levit. XXV,

+Confusion and disorder.