3.

"What have I gain'd by fin, he faid,
But hunger, fhame, and fear;
My father's houfe abounds with bread,
While I am ftarving here.

4 I'll go and tell him all I've done,
And fall before his face;
Unworthy to be call'd his fon,
I'll feek a fervant's place."
His father faw him coming back,
He faw, and ran, and fmil'd;

And threw his arms around the neck
Of his rebellious child.

6" Father, I've finn'd-but O forgive !"
"I've heard enough, he faid;
Rejoice my houfe, my fon's alive,
For whom I mourn'd as dead;

7 Now let the fatted calf be flain,
And spread the news around;
My fon was dead, but lives again,
Was loft, but now is found."
9 'Tis thus the Lord his love reveals,
To call poor finners home;
More than a father's love he feels,
And welcomes all that come.

CV. The Rich Man and LAZARUS

I

A

Chap. xvi. 19.-25.

Worldling spent each day

In luxury and state;

While a believer lay,

A beggar at his gate:

Think not the Lord's appointment ftrange, Death made a great and lafting change.

2 Death brought the faint release

From want, difeafe, and fcorn;
And to the land of peace,

His foul, by angels borne,

In Abraham's bofom fafely plac'd,
Enjoys an everlasting feaft.

3 The rich man alfo dy'd,
And in a moment fell

From all his pomp and pride
Into the flames of hell:
The beggar's bliss from far beheld,
His foul with double anguish fill’d.
4 "O Abra'm fend, he cries,
(But his request was vain)
The beggar from the skies
To mitigate my pain!
One drop of water I intreat,

To foothe my tongue's tormenting heat."

5 Let all who worldly pelf
And worldly fpirits have,
Obferve, each for himself,
The anfwer Abra'm gave:
"Remember thou waft fill'd with good,
While the poor beggar pin'd for food.

6 Neglected at thy door,

With tears he begg'd his bread;
But now he weeps no more,
His griefs and pains are fled :
His joys eternally will flow,
While thine expire in endless woe."
7 Lord, make us truly wife,
To choose thy people's lot,
And earthly joys defpife,
Which foon will be forgot:
The greateft evil we can fear,
Is to poffefs our portion here!

CVI. The

1

CVI. The Importunate Widow*.
Chap. xviii. 1.-7.

OUR Lord, who knows full well
The heart of ev'ry faint,

Invites us by a parable,

To pray and never faint.

2

3

4

He bows his gracious ear,

We never plead in vain;

Yet we must wait till he appear;

And pray, and pray again.

Tho' unbelief fuggeft,

Why fhould we longer wait?
He bids us never give him rest,
But be importunate.

'Twas thus a widow poor,
Without fupport or friend,
Befet the unjust judge's door,
And gain'd, at last, her end.

6

Nor God, nor man, did he regard,

Yet he efpous'd her cause.

She urg'd him day and night,
Would no denial take;

At length he faid, "I'll do her right,

*

For my own quiet's fake."

7

And thall not Jefus hear

His chofen when they cry?

Yes, tho' he may a while forbear,

He'll help them from on high.

3 His nature, truth, and love, Engage him on their fide;

When they are griev'd, his bowels move, And can they be deny'd?

E 6

Book II. Hymn 60.

9 Then

9

Then let us earnest be,

I

And never faint in pray'r;

He loves our importunity,

And makes our caufe his care.

CVII. ZACCHEUS. Chap. xix. 1.-6.

Accheus climb'd the tree,

And thought himself unknown:

But how furpris'd was he

When Jefus call'd him down!

The Lord beheld him, tho' conceal'd,
And by a word his pow'r reveal'd.

2

Wonder and joy at once

Were painted in his face;

"Does he my name pronounce,
And does he know my cafe?

Will Jefus deign with me to dine?
Lord, I, with all I have, am thine."
3 Thus where the gospel's preach'd,
And finners come to hear,

The hearts of fome are reach'd
Before they are aware:

The word directly fpeaks to them,
And feems to point them out by name.

4 'Tis curiofity

Oft brings them in the way,

Only the man to fee,

And hear what he can fay;

But how the finner ftarts to find
The preacher knows his inmoft mind.
5 - His long-forgotten faults

Are brought again in view,
And all his fecret thoughts
Reveal'd in public too:

Tho' compafs'd with a croud about,

The fearching word has found him out.

6 While

6 While thus diftreffing pain
And forrow fills his heart,
He hears a voice again,
That bids his fears depart.
Then like Zaccheus he is bleft,
And Jefus deigns to be his gueft.

CVIII. The Believer's Danger, Safety, and Duty Chap xxii. 31. 32.

SIMON, beware! (the Saviour faid),
Satan, your fubtle foe,
Already has his eafures laid-

Your foul to overthrow.

2 He wants to fift you all as wheat,
And thinks his vict'ry fure;
But I his malice will defeat,
My pray'r fhall faith fecure."
3 Believers, tremble and rejoice,
Your help and danger view;
This warning has to you a voice,
This promife fpeaks to you.

4 Satan beholds with jealous eye,
Your privilege and joy;
He's always watchful, always nigh,
To tear and to destroy.

5

But Jefus lives to intercede,

That faith may still prevail;

He will fupport in time of need,
And Satan's art shall fail..

6 Yet let us not the warning flight,
But watchful ftill be found;
Tho' faith cannot be flain in fight,
It may receive a wound.

7 While