5 O may our hearts confess her
And find a sweet relief,
To brighten every gloomy hour,
And soften every grief!
HYMN 363. C. M.. [#]
Early Religion.
1 A YOUTH devoted to the Lord
Is pleasing in his eyes;
A flower when offered in the bud
Is no vain sacrifice.
2 It saves us from a thousand fears,
To mind religion young;
With joy it crowns succeeding years,
And renders virtue strong.
3 To thee, almighty God, to thee,
Our hearts we now resign;
"Twill please us to look back and see
That our whole lives were thine.
4 We'll do thy work, we'll speak thy praise,
While we have life and breath;
Thus we're prepared for longer days,
Or fit for early death.
HYMN 364. L. M. [# or b]
Benefits of Religion.
1 O WHAT a lovely thing to see
A man of kind and prudent heart, Whose thoughts, and lips and life agree To act a wise and useful part!
2 When envy, strife and war begin, And rage in little angry souls, Mark how the sons of peace come in,
And gently quench the kindling coals.
3 Their minds are humble, mild and meek;
No wrath, no furious passions rise;
No malice moves their lips to speak,
Nor pride nor scorn exalts their eyes.
4 Their lives are prudence mixed with love;
Good works employ and bless their day;
They join the serpent with the dove,
But cast the deadly sting away.
5 Such was the Saviour of mankind;
Such were the pleasures he pursued;
His mien was gentle and refined,
Tender his soul, divinely good.
HYMN 365. L. P. M. [#]
Strong religious Confidence.
1 God is our Refuge in distress,
A present Help when dangers press;
In him undaunted we'll confide,
Though earth were from her centre tossed,
And mountains in the ocean lost,
Torn piece-meal by the roaring tide.
2 He that has God his Guardian made Shall under his almighty shade
Secure and undisturbed abide : Thus to my soul of him I'll say, He is my Fortress, and my Stay, My God, in whom I will confide.
3 His tender love and watchful care
Shall free me from the fowler's snare,
And from all noisome pestilence;
He over me his wings shall spread,
And cover mine unguarded head;
His truth shall be my strong defence.
HYMN 366. L. M. [#]
Blessedness of the Christian Life.
1 BLEST are the men of broken heart,
Who mourn for sin with inward smart :
Divine compassion freely flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.
2 Blest are the meek, who stand afar
From rage and passion, noise and war;
God will secure their happy state,
And plead their cause against the great.
3 Blest are the men of peaceful life,
Who quench the coals of growing strife;
They shall be called the heirs of bliss,
The sons of God, the God of peace.
4 Blest are the souls that thirst for grace,
Hunger and long for righteousness;
They shall be well supplied, and fed
With living streams and living bread.
5 Blest are the faithful, who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus' sake;
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord;
Glory and joy are their reward.
HYMN 367. C. M. [#]
Religion a Source of Happiness.
10 HAPPY is the man, who hears
Instruction's faithful voice;
And who celestial wisdom makes
His early, only choice.
2 Her treasures are of more esteem
Than east or west unfold;
And her rewards more precious are
Than all their mines of gold.
3 She guides the young with innocence
In pleasure's path to tread ;
A crown of glory she bestows
Upon the hoary head.
4 According as her labours rise,
So her rewards increase;
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
And all her paths are peace.
HYMN 368. S. M.
Christian Watchfulness.
1 YE servants of the Lord,
Each in your office wait,
Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.
2 Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins, as in his sight;
For holy is his name.
3 Watch! 'tis your Lord's command;
And while we speak he's near:
Mark the first signal of his hand,
And ready all appear.
4 O happy servant he,
In such a posture found!
He shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honour crowned.
HYMN 369. S. M. [#]
Sonship by Grace.
1 BEHOLD what wondrous grace
The Father hath bestowed
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them sons of God.
2 'Tis no surprising thing
That we should be unknown;
The Jewish world knew not their King,
God's everlasting Son.
3 Nor doth it yet appear
How great we must be made;
But, when we see our Saviour here,
We shall be like our Head.
4 A hope so much divine
May trials well endure ;
May cleanse our souls from every sin,
As Christ the Lord is pure.
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