Sun, and moon, and stars decay-
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise, my soul, and haste away

To seats prepar'd above.

2 Rivers to the ocean run,

Nor stay in all their course:
Fires ascending seek the sun,
Both speed them to their source;
So a soul that's born of God,
Pants to view his glorious face;
Upward tends to his abode,

To rest in his embrace.

3 Fly me riches, fly me cares,
While I that coast explore
Flatt'ring world, with all thy snares,
Solicit me no more.

Pilgrims fix not here their home,
Strangers tarry but a night;
When the last dear morn is come,
They'll rise to joyful light..

4 Cease, ye pilgrims, cease to mourn,
Press onward to the prize;
Soon the Saviour will return,
Triumphant in the skies:

There we'll join the heav'nly train,
Welcom'd to partake the bliss;
Fly from sorrow and from pain,
To realms of endless peace.

HYMN 278.

L. M.

GIBBONS.

1

Rising to God.

W let our souls, on wings sublime, Rise from the vanities of time; Draw back the parting veil, and see The glories of eternity.

2 Born by a new celestial birth,
Why should we grovel here on earth?
Why grasp at transitory toys,
So near to heaven's eternal joys?

3 Shall aught beguile us on the road,
When we are walking back to God?
For, strangers, into life we come,
And dying is but going home.

4 Welcome, sweet hour of full discharge,
That sets our longing souls at large;
Unbinds our chains, breaks up our cell,
And gives us with our God to dwell.

5 To dwell with God, to feel his love,
Is the full heav'n enjoy'd above;
And the sweet expectation now
Is the young dawn of heav'n below.

1

WORSHIP.

HYMN 279. C. M.

FA

Private devotion.

DODDRIDGE.

Matt. vi. 6.

ATHER Divine, thy piercing eye
Sees thro' the darkest night

In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart-discerning sight.

2 There may thy piercing eye survey
My solemn homage paid,
With ev'ry morning's dawning ray,
And ev'ry evening's shade.

3 Oh, let thy own celestial fire
The incense still inflame;
While my warm vows to thee aspire,
Thro' my Redeemer's name.

4 So shall the visits of thy love
My soul in secret bless;

So shalt thou deign in worlds above,
Thy suppliant to confess.

HYMN 280. L. M.

RETURN, my roving heart, return,

And chase these shadowy forms no

more;

Seek out some solitude to mourn,

And thy forsaken God implore.

2 Wisdom and pleasure dwell at home : Retir'd and silent seek them there: This is the way to overcome

The way to break the tempter's snare. 30 thou, great God, whose piercing eye Distinctly marks each deep recess, In these sequester'd hours draw nigh, And with thy presence fill the place. 4 Thro' all the windings of my heart, My search let heav'nly wisdom guide, And still its radiant beams impart, Till all be search'd and purify'd. 5 Then, with the visits of thy love, Vouchsafe my inmost soul to cheer; Till ev'ry grace shall join to prove, That God hath fix'd his dwelling there. WILLIAMS.

1

HYMN 281. C. M.

W Be my vain wishes still'd;

HILST thee I seek, protecting Power!

And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be fill'd.

2 Thy love the pow'r of thought bestow'd,
To thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mercy o'er my life has flow'd;
That mercy I adore.

3 In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand Í see!

Each blessing to my soul most dear,
Because conferr'd by thee.

4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.

5 When gladness wings my favor'd hour, Thy love my thoughts shall fill; Resign'd, when storms of sorrow low'r, My soul shall meet thy will.

6 My lifted eye, without a tear,

1

The gath'ring storm shall see; My steadfast heart shall know no fear; That heart will rest on thee.

A

HYMN 282. C. M.

COWPER.

1F From strife and tumult far

NAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With pray'r and praise agree:
And seem by thy sweet bounty made,
For those who follow thee.

3 Then if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh, with what peace and joy and love, She there communes with God!

4 There, like the nightingale, she pours Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,
Nor thirsts for human praise