Shew me what I have to do;
Ev'ry hour my ftrength renew:
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people's death.
XXXIII. Another. L. M.
F Solomon for wisdom pray'd,
The Lord before had made him wife. Elfe he another choice had made,
And ask'd for what the worldlings prize.
Thus he invites his people ftill,
He first inftructs them how to choose
Then bids them afk whate'er they will,
Affur'd that he will not refufe.
[Our wishes would our ruin prove,
Coul we our wretched choice obtain :
Before we feel the Saviour's love,
Kindle our love to him again.
But when our hearts perceive his worth,
Defires, till then unknown, take place;
Our fpirits cleave no more to earth,
But pant for holiness and grace!]
And doft thou fay, "Afk what thou wilt ?"
Lord, I would feize the golden hour:
pray to be releas'd from guilt,
And freed from fin and fatan's pow'r.
More of thy prefence, Lord, impart ;
More of thine image let me bear':
Erest thy throne within my heart,
And reign without a rival there.
Give me to read my pardon feal'd,
And from thy joy to draw my strength;
To have thy boundless love reveal'd
In all its height, and breadth, and length.
Grant thefe requests, I ask no more,
But to thy care the reft refign;
Sick or in health, or ich, or poor,
All fhall be well, if thou art mine.
DEHOLD the throne of !
grace
The promife calls me near;
There Jefus fhews a fmiling face,
And waits to anfwer pray'r.
[That rich atoning blood,
Which fprinkled round I fee,
Provides for thofe, who come to God,
An all-prevailing plea.
My foul, ask what thou wilt,
Thou canit not be too bold;
Since his own blood for thee he fpilt,
What else can he withhold?
Beyond thy utmost wants, His love and pow'r can blefs; To praying fouls he always grants More than they can exprefs.]
Since 'tis the Lord's command,
My mouth I open wide;
Lord, open thou thy bounteous hand,
That I may be fupply'd.
Thine image, Lord, bestow, Thy prefence and thy love; I ask to ferve thee here below, And reign with thee above.
Teach me to live by faith,
Conform my will to thine;
Let me victorious be in death,
And then in glory fhine.
If thou these bleffings give,
And wilt my portion be;
Chearful the world's poor toys I leave,
To them who know not thee.
XXXV. The Importunate Widow. S. M.
UR Lord, who knows full well
The heart of ev'ry faint,
Invites us by a parable,
To pray and never faint.
He bows his gracious ear,
We never plead in vain;
Yet we mult wait, till he appear,
And pray, and pray again.
'Twas thus a widow poor,
Without fupport or friend,
Befet the unjust judge's door,
And gain'd at last her end.
And fhall not Jefus hear
His chofen when they cry?
Yes, tho' he may awhile forbear,
He'll help them from on high.
His nature, truth and love,
Engage him on their fide;
When they are griev'd, his bowels move,
And can they be deny'd?
Then let us earnest be,
And never faint in pray'r;
He loves our importunity,
And makes our caufe his care.
XXXVI. Power of Prayer. Sevens.
themselves, as weak as worms,
How can poor believers ftand,
When temptations, foes, and ftorms,
Prefs them clofe on ev'ry hand?
Weak, indeed, they feel they are,
But they know the throne of grace;
And the God, who anfwers pray'r,
Helps them, when they feek his face.
Hezekiah, on his knees,
Proud Affyria's host subdu'd;
And when fmitten with difeale,
Had his life by pray'r renew'd.
Peter, tho' confin'd and chain'd,
Pray'r prevail'd and brought him out :
When Elijah pray'd, it rain'd,
After three long years of drought.
We can likewife witness bear,
That the Lord is ftill the fame;
Tho' we fear'd he would not hear,
Suddenly deliv'rance came,
For the wonders he has wrought,
Let us now our praises give;
And by fweet experience taught,
Call upon him while we live.
XXXVII. Another. C. M.
EE, Lord, before thy throne of
A wretched wand'rer mourn;
Haft thou not bid me feek thy face;
Haft thou not faid, Return?
And hall my guilty fears prevail
To drive me from thy feet?
O let not this dear refuge fail,
This only fafe retreat!
O fhine on this benighted heart,
With beams of mercy fhine!
And let thy healing voice impart
A taste of joys divine.
JESU, our Saviour, Brother, Friend,
whom we caft our ev'ry care;
On whom for all things we depend;
Infpire, and then accept our pray'r.
Fill ev'ry foul with humble fear,
Our utter helpleffness reveal :
Satan and fin are always near,
Thee may we always nearer feel.
XXXIX. The Chriftian's Wants. S. M.
TESU, my ftrength, my hope,
On thee I cast my care;
With humble confidence look up,`
And know thou hearest pray'r.
I want an heart to pray,
To pray, and never ceale;
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