Sure it consists in this alone,
That God, my Maker, may be known;
So known that I may love him still,
And form my actions by his will;
That he may bless me while I live,
And, when I die, my soul receive;
To dwell for ever in his sight,
In perfect knowledge and delight
27. The Example of Christ.
JESUS Christ, my Lord and Saviour,
Once became a child like me ;-
Oh, that in my whole behaviour,
He my pattern still might be.
All my nature is unholy,
Pride and passion dwell within; But the Lord was meek and lowly, And was never known to sin.
While I'm often vainly trying
Some new pleasure to possess,
He was always self denying,-
Patient in his worst distress.
Lord, assist a feeble creature ;
Guide me by thy word of truth; Condescend, to-be my teacher,
Through my childhood and my youth.
Often I shall be forgetful
Of the lessons thou hast taught,
Idle, passionate, and fretful,
Or indulging foolish thought.
Then permit me not to harden
In my sin, and be content;
But bestow a gracious pardon,
And assist me to repent.
28. Not ashamed of Christ.
OH Jesus! shall there ever be,
A mortal man asham'd of thee!
Asham'd of thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days
Asham'd of Jesus! sooner far
Let evening blush to own a star;
He sheds the beams of light divine,
O'er this benighted soul of mine.
Asham'd of Jesus! just as soon
Let midnight be asham'd of noon;
'Tis midnight with my soul, till He,
Bright morning star, bid darkness flee.
Asham'd of Jesus! that dear friend,
On whom my hopes of heaven depend!
No; when I blush, be this my shame,
That I no more revere his name.
Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may,
When I've no guilt to wash away;
No tear to wipe, no joy to crave,
No fears to quell, no soul to save.
Till then-nor is my boasting vain-
Till then I boast a Saviour slain.
And O! may this my portion be,
That Christ is not asham'd of me!
29. Praise for Creation and Providence.
I SING th' almighty pow'r of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordain'd
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at his command,
And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the Lord,
That fill'd the earth with food;
He form'd the creatures with his word,
And then pronounced them good.
Lord, how thy wonders are display'd
Where'r I turn mine eye!
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!
There's not a plant or flow'r below,
But makes thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne.
Creatures (as num'rous as they be)
Are subject to thy care;
There's not a place where we can flee,
But God is present there.
In heav'n he shines with beams of love,
With wrath in hell beneath!
"Tis on his earth I stand or move,
And 'tis his air I breathe.
His hand is my perpetual guard;
He keeps me with his eye;
Why should I then forget the Lord;
Who is for ever nigh?
30. Glory to God.
To God the Father, and the Son.
And Holy Spirit, three in one,
Be endless glory given;
Let all below, with all above,
Join in this rapturous song of love,
The melody of heaven.
1. Repentance.-Part 1.
O THOU, whose tender mercy hears
Contrition's humble cry;
Whose hand, indulgent, wipes the tears
From sorrow's weeping eye;
See, low before thy throne of grace,
Us, wretched wanderers, mourn ;
Thyself hast bid us seek thy face,
Thyself hast said, "Return.”
O! shine on each benighted heart!
With beams of mercy shine!
And let thy Spirit's aid impart
A taste of joys divine!
2, Repentance.-Part 2,
O THAT I could indeed repent!
O that I could in truth believe! Thou, by thy voice, the marble rent, The rock in sunder thou didst cleave!
Thou, by thy two-edg'd sword,
My soul and spirit part;
Strike, with the hammer of thy word,
And break my subborn heart!
Saviour, Lord, and Prince of Peace,
The double grace bestow;
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