Page images
PDF
EPUB
[blocks in formation]

1 DO not I love thee, O my Lord?
Behold my heart, and see;

And turn each worthless idol out,
That dares to rival thee.

2 Is not thy name melodious still
To my attentive ear?

DODDRIDGE.

Doth not each pulse with pleasure bound
My Savior's voice to hear?

3 Hast thou a lamb, in all thy flock,
I would disdain to feed?

Hast thou a foe, before whose face
I fear thy cause to plead ?

4 Would not my heart pour forth its blood In honor of thy name,

And challenge the cold hand of death
To damp the immortal flame?

5 Thou know'st I love thee, dearest Lord; But, O, I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love thee more.

385

L. M.

Love to God and our Neighbor.

WATTS.

1 THUS saith the first, the great command,
"Let all thy inward powers unite

To love thy Maker and thy God
With utmost vigor and delight.

2 "Then shall thy neighbor next in place Share thine affections and esteem; And let thy kindness to thyself

Measure and rule thy love to him."
3 This is the sense that Moses spoke;
This did the prophets preach and prove;
For want of this the law is broke,

And the whole law's fulfilled by love.
4 But, O, how base our passions are!
How cold our charity and zeal!
Lord, fill our souls with heavenly fire,
Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.

386

C. M.

Charity.

WATTS.

1 LET Pharisees of high esteem
Their faith and zeal declare,
All their religion is a dream,

If love be wanting there.

2 Love suffers long with patient eye,
Nor is provoked in haste;
She lets the present injury die,
And long forgets the past.

3 She nor desires nor seeks to know
The scandals of the time,

Nor looks with pride on those below,
Nor envies those that climb.

4 Love is the grace that keeps her power
In all the realms above;

There faith and hope are known no more,
But saints forever love.

387

S. M.

WATTS.

Communion of Saints. Ps. 133.

1 BLEST are the sons of

peace,

Whose hearts and hopes are one, Whose kind designs to serve and please Through all their actions run.

2 Blest is the pious house

Where zeal and friendship meet; Their songs of praise, their mingled vows, Make their communion sweet.

3 Thus, when on Aaron's head

They poured the rich perfume,
The oil through all his raiment spread,
And pleasure filled the room.

4 Thus, on the heavenly hills,

The saints are blest above,

Where joy like morning dew distils,
And all the air is love.

388

S. M.

S PRINCE'S N. E. VERS.

OF PSALMS.

Brotherly Love. Ps. 133.

1 BEHOLD, how good it is,

And what a joy to see,

When brethren with each other dwell

In love and unity!

2 'Tis like the precious oil

They poured on Aaron's head,

Which down his hair and garment flowed,
And fragrant odors spread.

3 Or as refreshing dew

On Hermon's mount distils;
Or like the pearly drops that shine
On Zion's joyful hills.

4 For there the Lord commands,
And doth his blessing give —
The foretaste of that blessedness
Which shall forever live.

389

C. M.

Doddridge.

Christian Sympathy.

1 HAIL, everlasting Prince of Peace!
Hail, Governor divine!

How gracious is thy sceptre's sway!
What gentle laws are thine!

2 His tender heart with love o'erflowed;
Love spoke in every breath;
Vigorous it reigned through all his life,
And triumphed in his death.

3 All these united charms he shows

Our frozen souls to move,

This proof of love to him demands.
That we each other love.

4 O, be the sacred law fulfilled
In every act and thought,
Each angry passion far removed,
Each selfish view forgot!

5 Be thou, my heart, dilated wide
By thy Redeemer's grace,
And in one grasp of fervent love

All earth and heaven embrace.

[blocks in formation]

1 GREAT Author of all nature's frame,
Holy and reverend is thy name;
Against thee who shall lift his hand?
Before thy terrors who can stand?

SCOTT.

2 But blest are they, O gracious Lord,
Who fear thy name, and keep thy word;
Thy wisdom guides, thy power defends
Their life, till life its journey ends.

30 that my soul, with awful sense
Of thy transcendent excellence,
May close the day, the day begin,
Watchful against each darling sin.
4 Never, O never from my heart,

May this great principle depart,
But act, with unabating power,
Within me to my latest hour!

391

C. M.

EXETER COL.

Fortitude founded on godly Fear.

1 BLEST is the man who fears the Lord; His well-established mind,

In every varying scene of life,
Shall true composure find.

2 Oft through the deep and stormy sea
The heavenly footsteps lie;

But on a glorious world beyond

His faith can fix its eye.

« PreviousContinue »