Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint: Oh for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT.-Phil. iv. 11. FIERCE passions discompose the mind, But calm content and peace we find, In vain by reason and by rule For none but in the Saviour's school Since at his feet my soul has sat, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, Compare thy griefs with mine; Think what my love for thee endured, And thou wilt not repine. ""Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell. "In life my grace shall strength supply, At death thou still shalt find me nigh, Thus I, who once my wretched days Taught in my Saviour's school of grace Have learnt to be content. XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. Heb. iv. 2. ISRAEL, in ancient days, Not only had a view But learn'd the Gospel too; The types and figures were a glass The paschal sacrifice, And blood-besprinkled door,* Seen with enlighten'd eyes, And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood, To reconcile an angry God. The Lamb, the Dove, set forth Should be the soul's defence; For he who can for sin atone, Must have no failings of his own. Exod. xii. 13. † Lev. xii. 6. The scape-goat on his head* Was to be seen no more Dipt in his fellow's blood, The living bird went free ;† The type well understood, Express'd the sinner's plea; Described a guilty soul enlarged, And by a Saviour's death discharged. Jesus, I love to trace, Throughout the sacred page, O grant that I may faithful be XXI. SARDIS.-Rev. iii. 1-6. "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, "All thy works and ways I search, "Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; *Lev. xvi. 21. † Lev. xiv. 51-53. Let thy timely care revive, And strengthen what remains: "Yet I number now in thee XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING ON THE YOUNG. BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth The gift of saving grace; Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Of pure and heavenly root; But fairest in the youngest shows, And yields the sweetest fruit. Ye careless ones, O hear betimes True, you are young, but there's a stone Or half the crimes which you have done Would rob you of your rest. For you the public prayer is made, Oh! join the public prayer! We pray that you may early prove XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH. SIN has undone our wretched race, But Jesus has restored, And brought the sinner face to face With his forgiving Lord. This we repeat, from year to year, Blessings upon the rising race! We feel for your unhappy state, We see, though you perceive it not, |