No. 50.

The Christian's Blessedness.

St. Luke, vi. 20—26.

WHO shall that heavenly crown possess, Which Jesus died to gain;

And clothed in robes of righteousness, With him for ever reign?

Shall He who here a kingdom sought,
Inherit a heavenly crown?

Earth was the treasure that he sought,
His prize is earth alone.

Shall they who revel at earthly feasts,
On heavenly manna feed?
Not such are Christ's invited guests,
For whom his table's spread.

He bids all those who hunger now,
Who here but weep and grieve;
These shall his heavenly treasures know,
For they his word receive.

The dweller in that humble cot,
Who scarce may food procure,
Envies not kings their earthly lot,
Through faith, his bread is sure.

And he whom scoffers scorn and hate,
And mock with cruel jest,
Is well content e'en thus to wait,
Secure of heavenly rest.

And joys far more than earth can give, E'en now do these obtain;

To Christ they die; in Christ they live; He is their endless gain.

They joy his sorrows here to share,

Content like him to be;

His path to tread, his cross to bear

In all humility.

One grief alone they deeply feel,

That they so little love;

That sin so oft their heart will steal
From things that are above.

O blessed Lord, if thou be mine,
All else I'll count but loss;

Nor ever at thy will repine,
Which bids me bear the cross.

No. 51.

The Great Debt.

St. Luke, vii. 41–43.

THERE is a debt which each man owes,

And none may ever pay;
For larger still it hourly grows,

And heavier day by day.

There's not a child e'er draws its breath,
But must that burden bear;
There's not a saint e'er slept in death,
But owned his fullest share.

Unnumbered gifts did God bestow,
And blessings from above;
Unbounded then the debt we owe,
Obedience, praise, and love.

And how did man this tribute give?
Through unbelief he fell,

And lost for ever the right to live,—
The inheritor of hell.

He lost for ever the strength and power,

God's purpose to fulfil;

Nay more, in that sad fatal hour

He lost too e'en the will.

But if man's sinfulness was great,
God's love abounded more;
And He who did at first create,
Would now to grace restore.

His only Son he freely gave;
That Son as freely came,

Man's sinful soul from death to save,
And make it free from blame.

The debt of love, obedience, praise,
None else, as man, could pay;
The soul from guilt and death to raise,
His blood the only way.

And now to all the debt's forgiven,

If only we believe

That Christ alone can give us Heaven,

And to his merits cleave,

Whose grace shall give us hearts to love,

And strength to do his will;

And with his heavenly things above
Our inmost soul shall fill.

No. 52.

Faith and Humility.

St. Luke, viii. 42-48.

SEE the crowd around him throng,
As bent on good he moves along;
Some his healing wonders seek,
Some but wish to hear him speak;
Some the look and features scan

Of one who seemeth more than man;
All are eager to behold

One so good, so wise and bold.

But some, where'er his steps are bent,
Still follow him with ill intent,
Their subtle poisons to infuse,
And mar the truth which they refuse;
His claims to be the Christ deny,
Unskilled in ancient prophecy;
And e'en by Satan's art pretend
His miracles attain their end.

The haughty Pharisee is near,

Who scorns to learn, yet waits to hear
If ought in his discourse be found

On which some factious charge to ground;