No. 25.

The Ten Virgins.

St. Matt. xxv. 1-13.

GRACE is a lamp that's given to each
Whom God vouchsafes to call;
Lest, travelling on the road to Heaven,
Their footsteps slide or fall.

And each too has a cruse of oil
From whence his lamp to feed ;

The Word of God that vessel is,
Enough for all his need.

And prayer the key that draws thereout

For each his daily share;

For though the vessel open stands,

It flows but after prayer.

And thus we start, a pilgrim band,
Each furnished for the way;

But soon some difference marks our steps,
Betrayed from day to day.

The lamps of some burn bright and clear,
For prayer the oil renews;

But some grow dim, and some are quenched,
Who still that oil refuse.

And thus we journey on through life,
While lasts our day of grace;
And all at length lie down to sleep,
When closed our Christian race.

But, lo! at night a cry is heard :
"Behold the Bridegroom's near;
Go forth and meet him with your lamps,
Let them be bright and clear."

Then those whose lamps were filled with oil
When they lay down to rest,

Arose and trimmed them, and went forth
To join the marriage feast.

But those whose lamps had long been quenched,
Could now no oil obtain ;

In vain they cry to those who had,
And of their fault complain.

And vainly on the Lord they call,
And mourn their doleful lot;
Who justly answers them in wrath :
"Depart, I know you not."

Give me, O Lord, the grace to watch,
That when thou com'st to me,

My lamp may still be burning bright,
With oil supplied by thee.

No. 26.

The Box of Ointment.

St. Matt. xxvi. 6-13.

OH! for like precious faith with thine,
Blest handmaid of the Lord;

Who, taught of Christ in things divine,
Didst see in him all glories shine,
And in his blessed Word.

And therefore didst thyself deny
Thy worldly substance all;

That Jesus' need thou mightst supply,
And in his great necessity,

Prepare his burial.

The odour of that incense sweet
That thou didst freely pour,
Of thy deep love was emblem meet
Which all would lay at Jesu's feet,
And wish that it were more.

For thou didst gladly make thee poor,
So Jesus thou mightst own;
And therefore shall thy fame endure
So long as Gospel truth is sure,

And through the world be known.

Yet of the jewels on thy brow
The least is worldly fame;
And even that did Christ bestow,
Bidding the world thy faith to know,
And righteous deed proclaim.

Oh! that my faith like thine might be, Ever to give the best;

Content, so Christ may honoured be, Here to meet scorn and poverty Amongst the last and least.

No. 27.

The Crucifixion.

St. Matt. xxvii. 27-54.

OH! full of shame to sinful man,
Yet full of comfort too;

Shame that should bow the head to earth
So sad a scene to view.

To see the stripes, O blessed Lord,
That thou didst bear for me;
The crown of thorns, the buffetings,
Th' insulting mockery.

To view upon the cross, thy brow
Bedewed with bloody sweat;

Thy pierced hands and feet, with blood,
Like slaughtered victim, wet.

To see thy pain and burning thirst,

Thy dreadful agony;

To hear thee with thy voice complain,
God had forsaken thee.