IV. JEHOVAH-NISSI.-THE LORD MY BANNER. Exod. xvii. 15. By whom was David taught And laid the Gittite low? Nor sword nor spear the stripling took, 'Twas Israel's God and King Ye feeble saints, your strength endures, Who ordered Gideon forth To storm the invaders' camp, A pitcher and a lamp? The trumpets made his coming known, And all the host was overthrown. No drop remains of all the curse, The guilty, but returning soul. Peace by such means so dearly bought, What rebel could have hoped to see? Peace, by his injured Sovereign wrought, His Sovereign fastened to a tree. Now, Lord, thy feeble worm prepare! For strife with earth and hell begins; Confirm and gird me for the war; They hate the soul that hates his sins. Let them in horrid league agree! They may assault, they may distress; But cannot quench thy love to me, Nor rob me of the Lord my peace. VI. WISDOM. Prov. viii. 22-31. "ERE God had built the mountains, "When, like a tent to dwell in, He wrought by weight and measure, And mine the sons of men." Thus Wisdom's words discover Of our unworthy race! And couldst thou be delighted Unfathomable wonder, And mystery divine! The Voice that speaks in thunder, Says, "Sinner, I am thine !" VII. VANITY OF THE WORLD. GOD gives his mercies to be spent ; Your hoard will do your soul no good; Gold is a blessing only lent, Repaid by giving others food. The world's esteem is but a bribe, The joy that vain amusements give, Defended by a thousand stings. 'Tis thus the world rewards the fools O fearful thought! be timely wise; VIII. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE I WILL praise thee every day Here, in the fair Gospel-field, Jesus is become at length Praise ye, then, his glorious name, Publish his exalted fame! Still his worth your praise exceeds; Raise again the joyful sound, IX. THE CONTRITE HEART. THE Lord will happiness divine I hear, but seem to hear in vain, If aught is felt, 'tis only pain, I sometimes think myself inclined Averse to all that's good. My best desires are faint and few, Thy saints are comforted, I know, Oh make this heart rejoice or ache; X. THE FUTURE PEACE AND HEAR what God the Lord hath spoken: Shall no more perplex your ways: You shall name your walls Salvation, And your gates shall all be Praise. "There, like streams that feed the garden, Hear the voice of war again. "Ye no more your suns descending, Waning moons no more shall see; But, your griefs for ever ending, Find eternal noon in me: God shall rise, and shining o'er ye, Change to day the gloom of night; He, the Lord, shall be your glory, God your everlasting light.' XI. JEHOVAH OUR RIGHT- My God, how perfect are thy ways! And slides into my prayer, When I would speak what thou hast done I cannot make thy mercies known, Divine desire, that holy flame This heart, a fountain of vile thoughts, How does it overflow, While self upon the surface floats, Still bubbling from below! Let others in the gaudy dress Of fancied merit shine; The Lord shall be my righteousness, The Lord for ever mine. XII. EPHRAIM REPENTING. My God, till I received thy stroke, 66 My grace, a flowing stream, proceeds "My truth the great design ensures, "Yet not unsought, or unimplored, I'll put a praying spirit there. "From the first breath of life divine, XIV. JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH. Ezek. xlviii. 35. "As birds their infant brood protect, And spread their wings to shelter them, (Thus saith the Lord to his elect,) So will I guard Jerusalem." And what then is Jerusalem, This darling object of his care? Where is its worth in God's esteem? Who built it? who inhabits there? Jehovah founded it in blood, The blood of his incarnate Son; There dwell the saints, once foes to God, The sinners whom he calls his own. There, though besieged on every side, Yet much beloved, and guarded well, From age to age they have defied The utmost force of earth and hell. Let earth repent, and hell despair, This city has a sure defence; Her name is called "The Lord is there," And who has power to drive him thence? XV. PRAISE FOR THE FOUNTAIN OPENED.-Zech. xiii. I. THERE is a fountain filled with blood The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day; And there have I, as vile as he, Washed all my sins away. Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save; When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lies silent in the grave. Lord, I believe thou hast prepared For me a blood-bought free reward, 'Tis strung and tuned for endless years, XVI. THE SOWER. Matt. xiii. 3. And scatter blessings round. The seed that finds a stony soil Soon withered, scorched, and dead. But not the fruitful ear. The beaten path and highway side But where the Lord of grace and power Father of mercies, we have need XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. THY mansion is the Christian's heart, And leave the consecrated door. Devoted as it is to thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; They steal away my joys from me, And rob my Saviour of his praise. There, too, a sharp designing trade Sin, Satan, and the World maintain; Nor cease to press me, and persuade To part with ease, and purchase pain. I know them, and I hate their din; Am weary of the bustling crowd; But while their voice is heard within, I cannot serve thee as I would. Oh for the joy thy presence gives, What peace shall reign when thou art here! Thy presence makes this den of thieves Á calm delightful house of prayer. And if thou make thy temple shine, I give thee what was thine before. XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? HARK, my soul! it is the Lord; "I delivered thee when bound, "Can a woman's tender care "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint; Yet I love thee and adore, Oh! for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT. Phil. iv. 11. In vain by reason and by rule "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "Then how canst thou complain? How light thy troubles here, if weighed With everlasting pain! "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 |