But where the Lord of grace and power How plenteous is the golden store Father of mercies, we have need Let the same hand that gives the seed XVII. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. Mark xi. 17. THY mansion is the Christian's heart, And leave the consecrated door. Devoted as it is to thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; They steal away my joys from me, And rob my Saviour of his praise. There, too, a sharp designing trade Sin, Satan, and the world maintain ; Am weary of the bustling crowd; Oh! for the joy thy presence gives, And if thou make thy temple shine, XVIII. LOVEST THOU ME? John xxi. 16. HARK, my soul! it is the Lord : Say, poor sinner, lovest thou me ? "I deliver'd thee when bound, And when bleeding, heal'd thy wound; "Can a woman's tender care Cease towards the child she bare? Yet will I remember thee. "Mine is an unchanging love, Higher than the heights above; "Thou shalt see my glory soon, When the work of grace is done; Partner of my throne shalt be:— Say, poor sinner, lovest thou me?" Lord, it is my chief complaint, That my love is weak and faint: Yet I love thee and adore: Oh! for grace to love thee more! XIX. CONTENTMENT. Phil. iv. 11. FIERCE passions discompose the mind, In vain by reason and by rule For none but in the Saviour's school Since at his feet my soul has sat, "Art thou a sinner, soul?" he said, "Then how canst thou complain? How light thy troubles here, if weigh'd With everlasting pain! "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, ""Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou soon shalt leave this wretched spot, And rise with me to dwell. "In life my grace shall strength supply, Proportion'd to thy day; At death thou still shalt find me nigh, Thus I, who once my wretched days Taught in my Saviour's school of grace, Have learnt to be content. XX. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. Heb. iv. 2. ISRAEL, in ancient days, Not only had a view Of Sinai in a blaze, But learn'd the Gospel too; The types and figures were a glass, The paschal sacrifice, And blood-besprinkled door,* *Exod. xii. 13. Seen with enlighten'd eyes, And once applied with power, The Lamb, the Dove, set forth Whose blood of matchless worth For he who can for sin atone, The scape-goat on his head + Was to be seen no more: In him our Surety seem'd to say, 66 Dipt in his fellow's blood, The living bird went free; ‡ Described a guilty soul enlarged, Throughout the sacred page, The same in every age! O grant that I may faithful be To clearer light vouchsafed to me! * Lev. xii. 6. + Lev. xvi. 21. Lev. xiv. 51-53. |