Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood Till all the ransomed church of God E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Then in a nobler, sweeter song When this poor lisping, stammering tongue Lord, I believe thou hast prepared For me a blood-bought free reward, 'Tis strung and tuned for endless years, To sound in God the Father's ears XVI. THE SOWER Matt. xiii. 3 YE sons of earth, prepare the plough, The seed that finds a stony soil Soon withered, scorched, and dead. The thorny ground is sure to balk The beaten path and highway side But where the Lord of grace and power Let the same hand that gives the seed XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER THY mansion is the Christian's heart, And leave the consecrated door. A thievish swarm frequents the place; There, too, a sharp designing trade Sin, Satan, and the World maintain; Oh for the joy thy presence gives, What peace shall reign when thou art here! And if thou make thy temple shine, The gold and silver are not mine; XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? HARK, my soul! it is the Lord; "I delivered thee when bound, And, when bleeding, healed thy wound, "Can a woman's tender care "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory soon, Lord, it is my chief complaint Oh! for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT Phil. iv. II FIERCE passions discompose the mind, In vain by reason and by rule Since at his feet my soul has sate, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, ""Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell. "In life my grace shall strength supply, Proportioned to thy day; At death thou still shalt find me nigh, Thus I, who once my wretched days Have learned to be content. XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL Heb. iv. 2 ISRAEL in ancient days Not only had a view But learned the Gospel too; The paschal sacrifice And blood-besprinkled door, Seen with enlightened eyes, And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood To reconcile an angry God. The Lamb, the Dove, set forth His perfect innocence, Whose blood of matchless worth Should be the soul's defence; For he who can for sin atone "Watch, remember, seek, and strive, Exert thy former pains; Let thy timely care revive, And strengthen what remains ; Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend, Former times to mind recall, Lest my sudden stroke descend "Yet I number now in thee |