2 O'erwhelm'd with justest fear, again
To thee for help we call:
Where many mightier have been slain,
By thee unsav'd, we fall.
3 Unless restrain'd by grace we are,
In vain the snare we see:
We see, and rush into the snare
Of blind idolatry.
4 We plunge ourselves in endless woes,
Our helpless infants sell:
Resist the light, and side with those
Who send their babes to hell.
5 Ah! what avails superior light,
Without superior love!
We see the truth, we judge aright,
And wisdom's ways approve.
6 We mark the idolizing throng,
Their cruel fondness blame;
Their children's souls we know they wrong
And we shall do the same.
7 In spite of our resolves, we fear
Our own infirmity;
And tremble at the trial near,
And cry, O God, to thee!
8 We soon shall do what we condemn,
And down the current borne,
With shame confess our nature's stream
Too strong for us to turn.
9 Our only help in danger's hour,
Our only strength thou art;
Above the world and Satan's power,
And greater than our heart.
10 Us from ourselves thou canst secure,
In nature's slippery ways;
And make our feeble footsteps sure,
By thy sufficient grace.
11 If on thy promis'd grace alone
We faithfully depend,
Thou surely wilt preserve thine own,
And keep them to the end.
12 Wilt keep us tenderly discreet,
To guard what thou hast given:
And bring our child with us to meet
At thy right-hand in heaven.
Medway.] HYMN 513.
OW shall I walk my God to please,
And spread content and happiness
O'er all beneath my care?
A pattern to my household give,
And as a guardian angel live,
As Jesu's messenger?
2 The opposite extremes I see,
Remissness and severity,
And know not how to shun
The precipice on either hand,
While in the narrow path I stand,
And dread to venture on.
Shall I through indolence supine,
Neglect, betray my charge divine,-
My delegated power?
The souls I from my Lord receive,
Of whom I an account must give,
At that tremendous hour?
4 Lord over all, and God most high!
Jesus, to thee for help I fly,
For constant power and grace;
That by thy Spirit taught and led,
I may with confidence proceed,
And all thy footsteps trace.
5 O teach me my first lesson now!
That I to thy sweet yoke may bow,
Thine easy service prove;
Lowly and meek in heart I see,
The art of governing like thee,
Is governing by love..
Berstead.] HYMN 514. 6 lines 8's.
OME, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
To whom we for our children cry:
The good desir'd and wanted most,
Out of thy richest grace supply!
The sacred discipline be given,
To train and bring them up for heaven. 2 Answer on them the end of all
Our cares, and pains, and studies here; On them recover'd from their fall, Stamp'd with the humble character! Rais'd by the nature of the Lord, To all their paradise restor❜d.
3 Error and ignorance remove,
Their blindness both of heart and mind: Give them the wisdom from above, Spotless, and peaceable, and kind: In knowledge pure their minds renew; And store with thoughts divinely true. 4 Learning's redundant part and vain. Be here cut off, and cast aside : But let them, Lord, the substance gain, In every solid truth abide; Swiftly acquire, and ne'er forego The knowledge fit for man to know. 5 Unite the pair so long disjoin'd, Knowledge and vital piety: Learning and holiness combin'd, And truth and love let all men see
up to thee we give,
Thine, wholly thine, to die and live.
6 Father, accept them through thy Son,
And ever by thy Spirit guide!
Thy wisdom in their lives be shown,
Thy name confest and glorify'd;
Thy power and love diffus'd abroad;
Till all the earth is fill'd with God.
Adisham.] HYMN 515. L. M.
M wisdom from above!
ASTER supreme, I look to thee
Vested with thy authority,
Endue me with thy patient love :
2 That taught according to thy will,
To rule my family aright,
I may th' appointed charge fulfil,
With all my heart, and all my might.
3 Inferiors, as a sacred trust,
I from the sov'reign Lord receive,
That what is suitable and just,
Impartial I to all may give :
4 O'erlook them with a guardian eye;
From vice and wickedness restrain;
Mistakes and lesser faults pass by,
And govern with a looser rein.
5 The servant faithfully discreet,
Gentle to him, and good, and mild,
Him I would tenderly entreat,
And scarce distinguish from a child.
6 Yet let me not my place forsake,
Th' occasion of his stumbling prove,
The servant to my bosom take,
Or mar him by familiar love.
7 Order, if some invert, confound,
Their Lord's authority betray,
I hearken to the Gospel sound,
And trace the providential way.
3 As far from abjectness as pride,
With condescending dignity:
Jesus, I make thy word my guide,
And keep the post assign'd by thee. 9 O could I emulate the zeal
Thou dost to thy poor servants bear!
The troubles, griefs, and burden feel,
Of souls entrusted to my care!
10 In daily prayer to God commend
The souls whom Christ expir'd to save;
And think how soon my sway may end,
And all be equal in the grave!
Witham.] HYMN 516. 4 8's & 2 6's.
AND my house will serve the Lord:
But first obedient to his word
I must myself appear:
By actions, words. and tempers show,
That I my heavenly Master know,
And serve with heart sincere.
2 I must the fair example set:
From those that on my pleasure wait
The stumbling-block remove;
Their duty by my life explain,
And still in all my works maintain
The dignity of love.
3 Easy to be entreated, mild,
Quickly appeas'd and reconcil'd.
A follower of my God:
A saint indeed I long to be,
And lead my faithful family
In the celestial road.
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