By a simple word he spoke, LVII. HATRED OF SIN. HOLY Lord God! I love thy truth, But though the poison lurks within, Had I a throne above the rest, Where angels and archangels dweli, One sin, unslain, within my breast, Would make that heaven as dark as hell. The prisoner sent to breathe fresh air, Would mourn were he condemned to wear One link of all his former chain. But, oh no foe invades the bliss, When glory crowns the Christian's head; One view of Jesus as he is Will strike all sin for ever dead. LVIII. THE NEW CONVERT. THE new-born child of gospel grace, Lifts up his blooming branch on high. No fears he feels, he sees no foes, Nor has he learnt to whom he owes But sin soon darts its cruel sting, When Gideon armed his numerous host, And draw our ebbing comforts low, LXV.-PRAISE FOR FAITH. Not heaven itself a richer knows Faith, too, the blood-receiving grace, Till thou thy teaching power apply, Blind to the merits of thy Son, What misery we endure! Yet fly that hand from which alone We could expect a cure. We praise thee, and would praise thee more, To thee our all we owe; The precious Saviour, and the power That makes him precious too. That saved by grace, but not our own, LIX-TRUE AND FALSE COMFORTS. O GOD, whose favourable eye Not such as hypocrites suppose, Intoxicating joys are theirs, Who while they boast their light, Lulled in a soft and fatal sleep, Be mine the comforts that reclaim 'Tis joy enough, my All in All, Thou wilt not let me lower fall, LX. A LIVING AND A DEAD FAITH. THE Lord receives his highest praise From humble minds and hearts sincere ; To walk as children of the day, With golden bells, the priestly vest, And rich pomegranates bordered round, The need of holiness expressed, And called for fruit as well as sound. A mansion in the courts above, LXI.-ABUSE OF THE GOSPEL. Too many, Lord, abuse thy grace And while they boast they see thy face Thy book displays a gracious light The pardon such presume upon, Was it for this, ye lawless tribe, Ah, Lord, know thy chosen few But these, the wretched husks they chew, The liberty our hearts implore Is not to live in sin; But still to wait at wisdom's door, LXII. THE NARROW WAY. WHAT thousands never knew the road, What thousands hate it when 'tis known! None but the chosen tribes of God Will seek or choose it for their own. A thousand ways in ruin end, One only leads to joys on high; |