1.

And bless those wounds, which, thro' our hearts, Prepare a way for thee.

TH

HYMN 448. L. M.

On the death of a parent.

HOUGH nature's voice you must obey, Think, while your swelling griefs o'erflow, That hand, which takes your joys away, That sov'reign hand can heal your wo. 2. And, while your mournful thoughts deplore The parent gone, remov'd the friend! With hearts resign'd, his grace adore, On whom your nobler hopes depend.

3. Does he not bid his children come

Through death's dark shades to realms of light? Yet, when he calls them to their home

Shall fond survivors mourn their flight?

4. His word here let your souls rely-
Immortal consolation gives:
Your heav'nly Father cannot die,
Th' eternal Friend for ever lives.
5. O be that best of friends your trust;
On his almighty arm recline.
He, when your comforts sink in dust,
Can give you comforts more divine.
HYMN 449. L. M.

1.

The Orphan's prayer.

hear me, Lord! on thee I call,
And prostrate at thy footstool fall;
Propitious in my cause appear,

And bow to my request thine ear.

2. Look down, my only hope! look down;
Behold me, but without a frown:
And ne'er to my desiring eye
Thy presence, heav'nly Lord! deny.
3. O let me, on thy aid reclin'd,
Thee still my great salvation find;
Nor leave me helpless and forlorn,
The absence of thy grace to mourn.

Y

4. Though, doom'd the orphan's lot to bear,
No father's kind concern I share,
Nor o'er me wakes a mother's eye
My wants attentive to supply

5. Adopted by thy care, in thee

The Parent and the Friend I see;
And, nourish'd by thy fost'ring hand,
Within thy courts secure I stand.

8. FOR THE YOUNG, AND OLD

1.

HYMN 450. L. M.

Youth instructed.

CHILDREN, in years and knowledge young,
parents' hope, your parents' joy!

Attend the counsels of my tongue:
Let pious thoughts your minds employ.
2. If you desire a length of days,

And peace to crown your mortal state:
Restrain your feet from wicked ways,
Your lips from slander and deceit.
3. The eyes of God regard his saints;
His ears are open to their cries:
He sets his frowning face against
The sons violence and lies.

4. To humble souls and broken hearts,
God with his grace is ever nigh:
Pardon and hope his love imparts,
When men in deep contrition lie.

HYMN 451. c. M.

1. HAPPY is he, whose early years

Receive instruction well;

Who hates the sinner's path, and fears
The road that leads to hell.

2. 'Tis easier work, if we begin
To serve the Lord betimes;
While sinners who grow old in sin,
Are harden'd by their crimes.

3. It saves us from a thousand snares,
To mind religion young;

With joy it crowns succeeding years,
And makes our virtue strong.

4. To thee, almighty God! to thee
Our hearts we now resign:

'Twill please us, to look back and see, That our whole lives were thine!

5. Let the sweet work of pray'r and praise Employ our daily breath:

Thus we're prepar'd for future days,
Or fit for early death.

HYMN 452. L. M.

1. NOW, in the heat of youthful blood, Remember your Creator, God.

Behold, the months come hast'ning on,.
When you shall say, " my joys are gone."
2. God from on high beholds your thoughts;
His book records your secret faults:
The works of darkness men have done
Must all appear before the sun.
3. Behold, the aged sinner goes,
Laden with guilt and heavy woes,
Down to the regions of the dead,
With bitt'rest curses on his head.
4. The dust returns to dust again ;
The soul in agonies of pain,

Ascends to God, not there to dwell,
But hears her doom, and sinks to hell.
5. God of the young! turn off their eyes
From earth's alluring vanities;
And let the warnings of thy word
Awake their souls to fear the Lord!

HYMN 453. s. M.

WITH humble heart and tongue,
My God! to thee I pray :

Q let me learn, whilst I am young,
How I may cleanse my way.

2. Make an unguarded youth

The object of thy care;

Help me to choose the path of truth, And fly from ev'ry snare. 3. My heart, to folly prone, Inspire with love divine; Unite it to thyself alone,

And make me wholly thine. 4. O let thy word of grace

My warmest thoughts employ;
Be this, through all my foll'wing days,
My treasure and my joy.

5. To what thy laws impart

Be my whole will inclin'd;

O let them dwell within my heart,
And sanctify my mind.

6. May thy young servant learn,
By these to cleanse his way;
And may I here the path discern
That leads to endless day.

HYMN 454. c. M.

Prayer of the aged.

1. MY God, my everlasting hope!
live upon thy truth;

Thy hands have held my childhood up,
And strengthen'd all my youth.

2. My frame was fashion'd by thy pow'r, And shows thy skill divine;

And from my mother's painful hour,
I've been entirely thine.

3. Still has my life new wonders seen,
In each revolving year:
Behold, my days that yet remain,
I trust them to thy care.

4. Cast me not off, when strength declines, When hoary hairs arise:

And round me let thy glory shine,
Whene'er thy servant dies.

1.

HYMN 455 c. M.

ETERNAL Sire, enthron'd on high!
Whom heav'nly hosts adore,

Who yet to suppliant dust art nigh:
Thy presence I implore.

2. Wilt thou forsake my hoary hairs,
And leave my fainting heart?
Who shall sustain my sinking years,
If God, my strength, depart?
3. O guide me down the steep of age,
And keep my passions cool;
Teach me to scan the sacred page,
And practise ev'ry rule.

4. Let me thy pow'r and truth proclaim
To the surviving age;
And leave a savour of thy name,
When I shall quit the stage.

5. That solemn day is hast'ning on;
My frame must soon decay.

My friends, my youth's companions gone,
Can I expect to stay?

6. My God! O smooth the mortal hour;
On thee my hope depends.
Support me with almighty pow'r,
While dust to dust descends.

7. Then let my soul, O gracious God!
Ascend to realms of day;

And in that sacred blest abode
Its endless anthems pay.

XXVI.

THE TROUBLES OF LIFE.

HYMN 456. p. M.

1. PRAISE to God, immortal praise
For the love that crowns our days:
Bounteous source of ev'ry joy!
Let thy praise our tongues employ.