7 Let all the saints assembled here, Yea, let all heav'n rejoice, That I begin with this new year

To make the Lord my choice.

XXIV. Asking the Way to Zion. Jer. 1. 5.

1 ZION, the city of our God,
How glorious is the place!

The Saviour there has his abode,
And sinners see his face!

2 Firm against ev'ry adverse shock,
Its mighty bulwarks prove;
"Tis built upon the living Rock,
And wall'd around with love.

3 There all the fruits of glory grow,
And joys that never die;

And streams of grace and knowledge flow,
The soul to satisfy.

4 Come, set your faces Zion-ward,

The sacred road inquire;

And let a union to the Lord

Be henceforth your desire.

5 The Gospel shines to give you light,
No longer, then, delay;

The Spirit waits to guide you right,
And Jesus is the way.

6 O Lord, regard thy people's pray'r,
Thy promise now fulfil;

And young and old by grace prepare
To dwell on Zion's hill.

XXV. We were Pharaoh's Bondmen. Deut. vi. 20-23.

1 BENEATH the tyrant Satan's yoke,
Our souls were long opprest;
Till grace our galling fetters broke,
And gave the weary rest.

2 Jesus, in that important hour,
His mighty arm made known;
He ransom'd us by price and pow'r,
And claim'd us for his own.

3 Now, freed from bondage, sin, and death,
We walk in wisdom's ways;

And wish to spend our ev'ry breath
In wonder, love, and praise.

4 Ere long, we hope with him to dwell
In yonder world above;
And now we only live to tell

The riches of his love.

5 O might we, ere we hence remove,
Prevail upon our youth

To seek, that they may likewise prove,
His mercy and his truth.

6 Like Simeon, we shall gladly go",

When Jesus calls us home;

If they are left a seed below,

To serve him in our room.

7 Lord, hear our pray'r, indulge our hope,
On these thy Spirit pour,

That they may take our story up,
When we can speak no more.

Luke, ii, 29.

XXVI. Travailling in Birth for Souls. Gal. iv. 19.

1 WHAT Contradictions meet

In ministers' employ!

It is a bitter sweet,

A sorrow full of joy :
No other post affords a place
For equal honour or disgrace!

2 Who can describe the pain
Which faithful preachers feel,
Constrain'd to speak in vain,
To hearts as hard as steel!
Or who can tell the pleasures felt,
When stubborn hearts begin to melt!

3 The Saviour's dying love,
The soul's amazing worth,
Their utmost efforts move,

And draw their bowels forth:

They pray and strive, their rest departs,
Till Christ be form'd in sinners' hearts.

4 If some small hope appear,

They still are not content;
But with a jealous fear,

They watch for the event:

Too oft they find their hopes deceiv'd,
Then how their inmost souls are griev'd!

5 But when their pains succeed,
And from the tender blade
The rip'ning ears proceed,
Their toils are overpaid:

No harvest-joy can equal theirs,
To find the fruit of all their cares.

6 On what has now been sown,
Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;
The pow'r is thine alone,

To make it spring and grow:
Do thou the gracious harvest raise,

And thou alone shalt have the praise.

XXVII. We are Ambassadors for Christ. 2 Cor. v. 20.

1 THY message by the preacher seal,
And let thy pow'r be known,
That ev'ry sinner here may feel
The word is not his own.

2 Amongst the foremost of the throng,
Who dare thee to thy face,
He in rebellion stood too long,
And fought against thy grace.

3 But grace prevail'd, he mercy found,
And now by thee is sent,
To tell his fellow-rebels round,
And call them to repent.

4 In Jesus, God is reconcil'd,
The worst may be forgiv'n;
Come, and he'll own you as a child,
And make you heir of heav'n.

5 Oh! may the word of Gospel truth
Your chief desires engage!

And Jesus be your guide in youth,
Your joy in hoary age.

6 Perhaps the year that's now begun
May prove to some their last;

The sands of life may soon be run,
grace be past.

The day of

7 Think, if you slight this embassy,
And will not warning take,

When Jesus in the clouds you see,
What answer will you make?

XXVIII. Paul's farewel Charge. Acts, xx. 26, 27.

1 WHEN Paul was parted from his friends
It was a weeping day;

But Jesus made them all amends,
And wip'd their tears away.

2 Ere long they met again with joy,
Secure no more to part,

Where praises ev'ry tongue employ,
And pleasure fills each heart.

3 Thus all the preachers of his grace
Their children soon shall meet;
Together see their Saviour's face,
And worship at his feet.

4 But they who heard the word in vain,
Though oft and plainly warn'd,
Will tremble, when they meet again
The ministers they scorn'd.

5 On your own heads your blood will fall,
If any perish here;

The preachers who have told you all,
Shall stand approv'd and dear.

6 Yet, Lord, to save themselves alone,
Is not their utmost view;

Oh! hear their pray'r, thy message own,
And save their hearers too.