336

WH

The dead and the living

L. M.

HERE are the dead?-In heaven or hell
Their disembodied spirits dwell;

Their perish'd forms, in bonds of clay,
Reserved until the judgment-day.

2 Where are the living?-On the ground
Where prayer is heard and mercy found;
Where, in the compass of a span,

The mortal makes the' immortal man.
3 Then, timely warn'd, let us begin
To follow Christ and flee from sin;
Daily grow up in him our Head,
Lord of the living and the dead.

337

Warnings from the grave.

C. M.

ENEATH our feet, and o'er our head,
Is

Bis equal warning given;

Beneath us lie the countless dead,

Above us is the heaven.

2 Death rides on every passing breeze, And lurks in every flower;

Each season has its own disease,—

Its peril every hour.

3 Our eyes have seen the rosy light
Of youth's soft cheek decay,
And fate descend in sudden night
On manhood's middle day.

4 Our eyes have seen the steps of age
Halt feebly to the tomb;

And shall earth still our hearts engage,
And dreams of days to come?

5 Turn, mortal, turn; thy danger know:
Where'er thy foot can tread,

The earth rings hollow from below,
And warns thee by her dead.

6 Turn, mortal, turn; thy soul apply
To truths divinely given:
The dead who underneath thee lie,
Shall live for hell or heaven.

338

VAIN

Sin kills beyond the tomb.

C. M.

AIN man, thy fond pursuits forbear;
Repent, thine end is nigh;

Death, at the farthest, can't be far:
O think before thou die.

2 Reflect, thou hast a soul to save;
Thy sins, how high they mount!
What are thy hopes beyond the grave?
How stands that dark account?

3 Death enters, and there's no defence;
His time there's none can tell;
He'll in a moment call thee hence,
To heaven, or down to hell.

4 Thy flesh (perhaps thy greatest care) Shall into dust consume;

But, ah! destruction stops not there;
Sin kills beyond the tomb.

339

TERR

Fear of hell.

C. M.

ERRIBLE thought! shall I alone,
Who may be saved, shall I,

Of all, alas! whom I have known,
Through sin forever die?

2 While all my old companions dear,
With whom I once did live,

Joyful at God's right hand appear,
A blessing to receive :-

3 Shall I, amidst a ghastly band,
Dragg'd to the judgment-seat,
Far on the left with horror stand,
My fearful doom to meet?

4 Ah! no;--I still may turn and live,
For still his wrath delays;
He now vouchsafes a kind reprieve,
And offers me his grace.

5 I will accept his offers now-
From every sin depart-
Perform my oft-repeated vow,
And render him my heart.

6 I will improve what I receive,
The grace through Jesus given;
Sure, if with God on earth I live,
To live with God in heaven.

340

6th P. M. 6 lines 78.

What sin hath done.

HEARTS of stone, relent, relent!

Break, by Jesus' cross subdued;

See his body mangled, rent,

Stain'd and cover'd with his blood! Sinful soul, what hast thou done? Crucified the' eternal Son.

2 Yes, thy sins have done the deed; Driven the nails that fix'd him there, Crown'd with thorns his sacred head; Plunged into his side the spear;

Made his soul a sacrifice,

While for sinful man he dies.

3 Wilt thou let him bleed in vain? Still to death thy Lord pursue? Open all his wounds again,

And the shameful cross renew? No; with all my sins I'll part; Saviour, take my broken heart.

298

C. M.

He waiteth to be gracious.

HY ceaseless, unexhausted love,
Unmerited and free,

THY

Delights our evil to remove,

And help our misery.

2 Thou waitest to be gracious still; Thou dost with sinners bear;

That, saved, we may thy goodness feel, And all thy grace declare.

3 Thy goodness and thy truth to me, To every soul, abound;

A vast, unfathomable sea,

Where all our thoughts are drown'd. 4 Its streams the whole creation reach, So plenteous is the store; Enough for all, enough for each, Enough forever more.

5 Faithful, O Lord, thy mercies are,— A rock that cannot move:

A thousand promises declare

Thy constancy of love.

6 Throughout the universe it reigns,
Unalterably sure;

And while the truth of God remains,
His goodness must endure.

299

SINN

Universal redemption.

L. M.

INNERS, obey the heavenly call; Your prison doors stand open wide: Go forth, for Christ hath ransom'd all, For every soul of man hath died. 2 'Tis his the drooping soul to raise; To rescue all by sin oppress'd; To clothe them with the robes of praise, And give their weary spirits rest.

3 To help their grov'ling unbelief;
Beauty for ashes to confer;
The oil of joy for abject grief;
Triumphant joy for sad despair.

4 To make them trees of righteousness,--
The planting of the Lord below;
To spread the honour of his grace,
And on to full perfection go.

3d P. M. 4 6s & 2 8s.

The jubilee trumpet.

BLOW ye

LOW ye the trumpet, blow
The gladly-solemn sound;
Let all the nations know,

To earth's remotest bound,
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

2 Jesus, our great High Priest,
Hath full atonement made:
Ye weary spirits, rest;

Ye mournful souls, be glad:

The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

3 Extol the Lamb of God,

The all-atoning Lamb;
Redemption in his blood

Throughout the world proclaim :
The year of jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.

4 Ye slaves of sin and hell,
Your liberty receive,
And safe in Jesus dwell,

And blest in Jesus live:

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.