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3 'Tis faith that changes all the heart;
'Tis faith that works by love,
That bids all sinful joys depart,
And lifts the thoughts above.

4 "Tis faith that conquers earth and hell
By a celestial power;

This is the grace that shall prevail
In the decisive hour.

380

L. M.

A living and a dead Faith.

COWPER.

1 THE Lord receives his highest praise
From humble minds and hearts sincere ;
While all the loud professor says
Offends the righteous Judge's ear.

2 To walk as children of the day,

To mark the precepts' holy light, To wage the warfare, watch and pray, Show who are pleasing in his sight. 3 With golden bells, the priestly vest, And rich pomegranates, bordered round, The need of holiness expressed,

And called for fruit as well as sound.

4 Easy indeed it were to reach

A mansion in the courts above,
If swelling words and fluent speech
Might serve instead of faith and love.
5 But none shall gain the blissful place,
Or God's unclouded glory see,
Who talks of free and sovereign grace,
Unless that grace has made him free.

381

C. M.

SALISBURY COL.

The Power of Faith.

1 FAITH adds new charms to earthly bliss,
And saves us from its snares;
Its aid in every duty brings,
And softens all our cares.

2 It quells the raging flames of sin,
And lights the sacred fire
Of love to God and heavenly things,
And feeds the pure desire.

3 The wounded conscience knows its power
The healing balm to give;
That balm the saddest heart can cheer,
And make the dying live.

4 Wide it unveils celestial worlds,
Where deathless pleasures reign,
And bids us seek our portion there,
Nor bids us seek in vain.

5 On that bright prospect may we rest,
Till this frail body dies;

And then, on faith's triumphant wings,
To endless glory rise.

382

L. M.

Religion vain without Love.

WATTS.

1 HAD I the tongues of Greeks and Jews, And nobler speech than angels use,

If love be absent, I am found,

Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.

2 Were I inspired to preach and tell
All that is done in heaven and hell,
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
3 Should I distribute all my store
To feed the cravings of the poor,
Or give my body to the flame,
To gain a martyr's glorious name, -
4 If love to God and love to men
Be absent, all my hopes are vain;
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal,
The works of love can e'er fulfil.

383

C. M.

Love to God.

WATTS.

1 HAPPY the heart where graces reign,
Where love inspires the breast;
Love is the brightest of the train,
And strengthens all the rest.

2 Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain,
And all in vain our fear ;

Our stubborn sins will fight and reign,
If love be absent there.

3 This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease;
"Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet realms of bliss.

4 Before we quite forsake our clay,
Or leave this dark abode,

The wings of love bear us away,
To see our smiling God.

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1 DO not I love thee, O my Lord?
Behold my heart, and see;
And turn each worthless idol out,
That dares to rival thee.

2 Is not thy name melodious still
To my attentive ear?

DODDRIDGE.

Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior's voice to hear?

3 Hast thou a lamb, in all thy flock,
I would disdain to feed?

Hast thou a foe, before whose face
I fear thy cause to plead?

4 Would not my heart pour forth its blood In honor of thy name,

And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp the immortal flame?

5 Thou know'st I love thee, dearest Lord; But, O, I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love thee more.

385

L. M.

WATTS.

Love to God and our Neighbor.

1 THUS saith the first, the great command,

"Let all thy inward powers unite To love thy Maker and thy God With utmost vigor and delight.

-

2 "Then shall thy neighbor next in place Share thine affections and esteem; And let thy kindness to thyself

Measure and rule thy love to him."
3 This is the sense that Moses spoke;
This did the prophets preach and prove;
For want of this the law is broke,

And the whole law's fulfilled by love.
4 But, O, how base our passions are!
How cold our charity and zeal!
Lord, fill our souls with heavenly fire,
Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.

386

C. M.

Charity.

WATTS.

1 LET Pharisees of high esteem
Their faith and zeal declare,-
All their religion is a dream,
If love be wanting there.

2 Love suffers long with patient eye,
Nor is provoked in haste;
She lets the present injury die,
And long forgets the past.

3 She nor desires nor seeks to know
The scandals of the time,

Nor looks with pride on those below,
Nor envies those that climb.

4 Love is the grace that keeps her power
In all the realms above;

There faith and hope are known no more,
But saints forever love.

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