2.

Happy the man within whose breast
These hallow'd flames serenely glow;
Content and peace there take their rest,
And bloom on his unclouded brow.

3.

Yet oft do false delusive fires

Shoot forth in pleasure's dangerous shade; But soon the treacherous flame expires, And the poor victim's phantoms fade.

4.

Revenge and mad ambition's sway,
And bloated pride and sordid care,
These the wild fires that lead astray,
To pain and sorrow and despair.

5.

Great source of power, and life and light,
Beam on each sad benighted soul:
O guide our erring steps aright,
That we may reach the heavenly goal.

442. c. M.

COTTON.

The contemplation of heavenly joys.

1.

THIS is the day the Lord of life
Ascended to the skies:

My soul pursue the lofty theme,
And to the heavens arise.

2.

Let no vain care divert thy mind
From the cœlestial road,

Nor all the honours of the earth
Detain my soul from God.

3.

Think on the splendours of that place,
The joys that are on high;
Nor meanly rest contented here
With worlds beneath the sky.

4.

Heaven is the birth-place of the saints,
To heaven their souls ascend;
The Almighty owns his favourite race
As Father and as Friend.

5.

O may these lovely titles prove
My comfort and defence,

When the sick couch shall be my lot,
And death shall call me hence!

443. C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Devout aspirations.

1.

UNITE, my roving thoughts, unite
In silence soft and sweet:
And thou, my soul, in reverence bow
At thy dread Sovereign's feet.

2.

Jehovah's awful voice is heard,
Yet gladly I attend;
For lo! the everlasting God
Proclaims himself my friend.

3.

Behold his wise, his perfect law,
Which noblest freedom gives:
O may it all our souls refine,
And sanctify our lives!

4.

Not with a transient glance survey'd,
And in an hour forgot;

But deep inscribed on every heart,
To reign o'er every thought.

5.

Thus, gracious God, our feeble souls
Shall pass victorious on,
As the first dawning light improves
To all the blaze of noon.

444. L. M.

[Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength. Mark xii. 30.]

1.

"THUS shalt thou love the almighty Lord, "With all thy heart and soul and mind:" So speaks to man that sacred word For counsel and reproof design'd.

2.

"With all thy heart,"—each idol thing
To God must all the sway resign;
Nor o'er thy breast a shadow fling
To darken that pure love of thine.

3.

"With all thy mind,"-each varied power,
Creative fancy, musings high,

And thoughts that glance behind, before,
These must religion sanctify.

4.

"With soul and strength,"-thy days of ease, While vigour nerves each youthful limb, And hope and joy, and health and peace, All must be freely brought to Him.

5.

O Power supreme, in whom we move,
Vouchsafe thy servants in their day,
The mind to adore, the heart to love,
And strength to serve thee while they may.
445.

C. M.

LIVERPOOL COLLECTION.

The love and fear of God our support under

affliction.

1.

LORD, how resplendent shines thy grace
Through sorrow's darkest sky,
To those who humbly seek thy face,
And on thy love rely!

2.

If wealth take wings and flee away
They still have stores divine;
A treasure that shall ne'er decay,
A pure exhaustless mine.

3.

When death has slain their earthly joys,
Not hopeless they deplore;
They look to those eternal skies.

Where friends shall part no more.

4.

And when with conscious guilt opprest,
They own their sins to thee;

Thou dost revive the fainting breast
With pardon full and free.

5.

O Lord, to thee our hearts we'll bring, Fixt in thy love and fear:

Then shall our sorrows lose their sting, And dry be every tear.

446. S. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Trust in God.

1.

How gentle God's commands!

How kind his precepts are! Come, cast your burthens on the Lord, And trust his constant care.

2.

While Providence supports,
Let saints securely dwell;

That hand which bears all nature up,
Shall guide his children well.

3.

Why should this anxious load Press down your weary mind? Haste to your heavenly Father's throne, And sweet refreshment find.

447. P. M.

BOWRING.

Prayer to the God of mercy.

1.

FATHER! whose benignant ear
Ever to the prayers attending
Of the humble worshiper;
Whether from thy house ascending,