2 In vain to hoard it up they try'd, Against to-morrow came; It then bred worms and putrefy'd, And prov'd their sin and shame. 3 Twas daily bread, and would not keep, Faith should not want a hoard or heap, 4 The truths by which the soul is fed, 5 However true, they have no life! They breed the worms of pride and strife, 6 Nor can the best experience past The brightest hope will faint at last, 7 Dear Lord, while we in pray'r are found, Do thou the Manna give; Oh! let it fall on all around, That we may eat and live. XVII. C. Jehovah Nissi,-The Lord my banner. Chap. xvii. 15. 1 By whom was David taught To aim the dreadful blow, When he Goliath fought, And laid the Gittite low? No sword nor spear the stripling took, 2 'Twas Israel's God and King, Ye feeble saints, your strength endures, 3 Who order'd Gideon forth, To storm th' invaders' camp, A pitcher and a lamp"? The trumpets made his coming known, 4 Oh! I have seen the day, When, with a single word, My trust is in the Lord, My soul has quell'd a thousand foes, 5 But unbelief, self-will, Self-righteousness, and pride, My weapon from my side? Yet David's Lord, and Gideon's Friend, Will help his servant to the end. XVIII. The Golden Calf. Chap. xxxii. 4. 31. 1 WHEN Israel heard the fiery law Their hearts seem'd full of holy awe, Judges, vii. 20. 2 Yet, as forgetting all they knew, 3 Yea, Aaron, God's anointed priest, 4 Lord, what is man, and what are we, To recompense thee thus! In their offence our own we see, 5 From Sinai we heard thee speak, While thou art in our view. 6 Some golden calf, or golden dream, Presumes to share the heart with him, Lord, save us from our golden calves, We would no more be thine by halves, LEVITICUS. XIX. The true Aaron. Chap. viii. 7-9. 1 SEE Aaron, God's anointed priest, In robes of mystic meaning drest, 2 The plate of gold which crowns his brows, His holiness describes; His breast displays, in shining rows, The names of all the tribes. 3 With the atoning blood he stands And clouds of incense from his hands 4 Urim and Thummim near his heart, To teach and to adorn. 5 Through him the eye of faith descries, Thus Jesus pleads above the skies, 6 He bears the names of all his saints Deep on his heart engrav'd; Attentive to the state and wants 7 In him a holiness complete, 8 The blood, which as a priest he bears The incense of his prayers and tears 9 In him my weary soul has rest, I read my name upon his breast, NUMBERS. XX. Balaam's Wish". Chap. xxiii. 10. 1 How blest the righteous are 2 "Oh! let me die," said he, "The death the righteous do; "When life is ended, let me be "Found with the faithful few." 3 The force of truth, how great! None but the righteous, whom they hate, 4 But Balaam's wish was vain, 5 He seem'd the Lord to know, 6 May you, my friends, and I, Warning from hence receive; If like the righteous we would die, " Book iii. Hymn 71. |