4[To his cross for refuge flying,

355

Arm thee for the strife within;
There from thy Redeemer dying
Learn the sinfulness of sin:

Cleansed, and wash'd, and freely pardon'd,
By his matchless love and pow'r;
Hear Him say-no longer harden'd-
"Go in peace, and sin no more."]

L. M.

Seeking for the sweet pastures. Song of Sol. i, 7, 8. 1 Cor. xi, 26. 1 THOU, whom my soul admires above All earthly joy, and earthly love! Tell me, dear Shepherd! let me know Where doth thy sweetest pasture grow. 2 Where is the shadow of that rock, That from the sun defends thy flock? Fain would I feed among thy sheep, Among them rest, among them sleep. 3 The footsteps of thy flock I see; Thy sweetest pastures here they be; A wondrous feast thy love prepares, Bought with thy wounds, and groans, and tears. 4 His dearest flesh He makes my food, And bids me drink his richest blood; Here, to this feast, my soul will come, 'Till my Beloved lead me home.

356

C. M.

Grateful remembrance of Christ's death.

Song of Sol. i, 4.

1 Cor. xi, 23-25.

1 IF HUMAN kindness meets return,
And owns the grateful tie;

If tender thoughts within us burn
To feel a friend is nigh;

2 Oh! shall not warmer accents tell
The gratitude we owe

To Him, who died our fears to quell,
Our more than orphan's woe?

3 While yet his anguish'd soul survey'd
Those pangs He would not flee,
What love his latest words display'd,
66 Meet, and remember Me."

4 Remember Thee! thy death, thy shame, Our sinful hearts to share!

O memory! leave no other name
But his recorded there!

357

Welcoming new Communicants.

Gen. xxiv, 31.

1 COME in, beloved in the Lord!
Enter in Jesu's precious name;
We welcome you with one accord,
And trust our Saviour does the same.

L. M.

2. Those joys which earth can not afford
We hope in fellowship to prove,
Join'd in one spirit to our Lord,
Together bound in mutual love.

3 And, while we pass this vale of tears,
We'll make our joys and sorrows known,
We'll share each other's hopes and fears,
And count a brother's cares our own.
4 Once more our welcome we repeat,
Receive assurance of our love;
Oh! may we all together meet
Around the throne of God above!

Old Year.

358

Grateful remembrance of past mercies.
Ps. lxv, 11. Acts xxvi, 22.

L. M.

Rev. vii, 10.

1 OUR Helper, God! we bless thy name, Whose power and grace are still the same; The tokens of thy friendly care

Commence, and crown, and close the year. 2 Amidst ten thousand snares we stand, Supported by thy guardian hand; And mark, when we regard our ways, Ten thousand monuments of praise,

3 Thus far thine arm hath led us on;
Thus far we make thy mercy known;
And, while we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.
4 Our grateful souls, on Jordan's shore,
Would raise one sacred anthem more;
Then sing, in brighter courts above,
Unceasing strains of grateful love.

359

Travellers to the grave.

Job vii, 6. Ps. xc, 12. Isa. xxxviii, 12.
1 THEE We adore, Eternal Name!
And humbly own to Thee,
How feeble is our mortal frame!
What dying worms are we!
2[Our wasting lives grow shorter still,
As months and days increase;
And every beating pulse we tell
Leaves but the number less.]

3 The year rolls round, and steals away
The breath that first it gave;
Whate'er we do, where'er we be,
We're travelling to the grave.

4 Great God! on what a slender thread
Hang everlasting things!

Th' eternal state of all the dead
Upon life's feeble strings!

C. M.

5 Infinite joy, or endless woe,
Attends on every breath;

And yet how unconcern'd we go
Upon the brink of death!

6 Waken, O Lord! our drowsy sense
To walk this dang'rous road;
And, if our souls be hurried hence,
May they be found with God!

360

L. M.

The current of time gliding onwards to eternity.

Job xiv, 10-12.

Ps. xc, 4-6.

1 GOD of eternity! from Thee

Did infant time his being draw;

Eph. v, 16.

Moments, and days, and months, and years, Revolve by thine unvaried law.

2 Silent and slow they glide away; Steady and strong the current flows; Lost in eternity's wide sea

The boundless ocean whence it rose.

3 With it the thoughtless sons of men Before the rapid stream are borne On to that fathomless abyss,

Whence not one soul can e'er return.