Persecution profitable to Saints....Matt. x. 21.
1 FEAR not, ye little chosen flock,
You're safe in Christ th' eternal rock;
You are the purchase of his blood,
Lov'd, and redeem'd, and call'd of God.
2 Tho' earth and hell against you rage,
He for your souls will still engage,
To prove the work is all divine,
He'll make your graces brighter shine. 3 When devils roar, it oft does prove A time of sov'reign, special love; And sinners at thy footstool fall, To crown the Saviour Lord of all. 4 Ye chosen flock, go on to pray, Grace shall be equal to your day: He will his glorious truth defend, And prove your everlasting friend. 470. L. M. Peacock. Stephen's Death....Acts vi. 15. ch. vii. 56-59. 1 WHAT tender pity, love, and care, For suff'ring saints doth Jesus bear; While they his glorious name confess, 'Midst persecution and distress.
2 Tho' by th' oppressor's rod they smart, See the Redeemer still impart
His consolations all divine,
With cheerful beams their faces shine.
3 Thus Stephen, the first martyr, dies,
To truth a joyful sacrifice;
To vindicate the cause of God,
He seals the gospel with his blood.
4 Lo! on his countenance appears
Such radiance as an angel wears
Reflected rays of glory bright,
Meet the spectator's wond'rous sight.
5 Not death, with all its dread array,
His heaven-born soul could c'er dismay;
Jesus, the saint expiring, cheers,
And to his raptur'd sight appears.
6 "Behold," he cries, "heaven's gates expand;
"Exalted see, at God's right hand,
"The Son of man, with glory crown'd,
"And the bright seraphim around."
7 Thus would the view of Jesu's face,
Each fear disarm, each terror chase;
Thus blest- with joy, we yield our breath,
Triumphing o'er the monster, death.
471. C. M. Gibbons.
Final Perseverance....1 Peter i. 5.
1 THE intercession of our Lord
His people's safety prove,
And to the end he loves the souls
Who' first he deign'd to love!
2 "Father," he cries, in his last hours,
My brethren I commend
"To thy protection, from the snares
"Of death and hell defend.
₤3 "O sanctify them by thy word,
"Unite them all to thee;
"Till gather'd home by death, at length
"They thy salvation see.]
4 "Father, 'tis my desire that all
"Whom thou to me hast giv❜n,
"Behold my glory, and enjoy
"With me, an endless heaven."
5 Thus Jesus pray'd, nor shall his pray'rs
Be blown away, and lost;
Christians, rejoice, your landing's sure
On the celestial coast.
472. L. M. Steele.
Poor in Spirit....Matt. v. 3.
1 YE humble souls, complain no more;
Let faith survey your future store;
How happy, how divinely blest,
The sacred word of truth attest!
2 When conscious grief laments sincere,
And pours the penitential tear;
Hope points to your dejected eyes,
The bright reversion in the skies.
3 In vain the sons of wealth and pride
Despise your lot, your hopes deride:
In vain they boast their little stores;
Trifles are theirs, a kingdom yours.---
[4 A kingdom of immense delight,
Where health, and peace, and joy unite;
Where undeclining pleasures rise,
And ev'ry wish hath full supplies.
5 A kingdom which can ne'er decay,
While time sweeps earthly thrones away:
The state which pow'r and truth sustain,
Unmov'd for ever must remain.
6 There shall your eyes with rapture view
The glorious friend that dy'd for you :
That dy'd to ransom, dy'd to raise,
To crowns of joy and songs of praise.]
7 Jesus, to thee I breathe my prayer!
Reveal, confirm my int'rest there:
Whate'er my humble lot below,
This, this my soul desires to know!
8. O let me hear that voice divine,
Pronounce the glorious blessing mine;
POWER OF GOD...PRAISE...PRAYER. 473 474 475
Euroll'd among thy happy poor,
My largest wishes ask no more.
473. I.. M. Elliott.
Power of God....Jer. xxxii. 27....Rom. viii. 32.
1 IS any thing too hard for God?
What wont be for his children do?
Dear in his sight is Jesu's blood,
And dear the purchase of it too.
2 Believe, and ask whate'er thou wilt,
Believing ask, thou shalt obtain;
For, lo! Immanuel's blood was spilt,
Because thou shouldst not ask in vain.
474. L. M. Dobell.
Praise.
1 WHILE here on earth I'm call'd to stay,
I'll praise my God from day to day;
Jesus hath wash'd away my sin,
And made my soul complete in him.
2 When I am brought before his throne,
I'll sing the wonders he hath done;
And join with all the ransom'd race,
To praise the riches of his grace.
3 Thro' all eternity I'll view
My Jesus and admire him too;
Praise shall attune my warbling tongue,
And grace, free grace, be all my song,
475. L. M. Godwin, altered.
Lord's Prayer....Matt. vi. 9-13.
1 OUR Father, thron'd in heaven, divine,
To thy great name be praises paid;
Thy kingdom come....let splendor shine,
And thy bright will be still obey'd.
2 Give us our bread from day to day,
And all our wants do thou supply;
With gospel truth feed us, we pray, That we may never faint or die. 3 Extend thy grace, our hearts renew, Our each offence in love forgive, Teach us divine forgiveness too, And freed from evil let us live. 4 For thine's the kingdom, and the pow'r And all the glory waits thy name; Let ev'ry saint thy grace adore, And sound in songs their loud Amen. 476. L. M. Hart.
Pray without ceasing....1 Thes. v. 17. 1 PRAY'R was appointed to convey The blessings God designs to give; Long as they live should christians pray, For only while they pray, they live. 2 The christian's heart his pray'r indites, He speaks as prompted from within; The Spirit his petition writes, And Christ receives, and gives it in. [3 And wilt thou in dead silence lie, When Christ stands waiting for thy pray'r? My soul, thou hast a friend on high; Arise, and try thy interest there.
4 If pains afflict, or wrongs oppressIf cares distract, or fears dismayIf guilt deject---if sin distress,
The remedy's before thee!...pray.]
5 'Tis pray'r supports the soul that's weak, Tho' thought be broken....language lame; Pray, if thou canst, or canst not speak, But pray with faith in Jesu's name.
6 Depend on Christ....thou canst not fail: Make 11 thy wants and wishes known;
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