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2 His honour is engag'd to save
The meanest of his sheep;
All that his heavenly Father gave,
His hands securely keep.

3 Why do I then indulge my fears,
Suspicions and complaints?
Is he a God, and shall his grace
Grow weary of his saints ?

4 Yea', though a mother of her child
E'en might forgetful prove;
Yet Zion's graven on the palms
Of everlasting love.

320. The Security of the Believer. 8-7-7.

But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel; for, behold, I will save thee from afar off.-JER. xlvi. 27.

1 ISRA'L shall obtain a pardon :

(Thus the Lord proclaims his love): He shall be a water'd garden :

Isra'l shall no more remove:
He shall come from distant lands;
Thus my sov'reign purpose stands.

2 O my servant Jacob, fear not :

I have call'd thee; thou art mine :
Tho' my glory yet appear not;
I will come, thy light shall shine :

1 See Isaiah xlix. 14 to 16.

Object of my love and care,
I will save thee from afar.

3 Though I make an end of others:
Fear thou not, but trust in me;
Greater than the love of mothers,
Is the love I bear to thee:
Tho' all other nations fall,
Jacob shall survive them all.

4 Yet thou shalt not be unpunish'd,
Thou shalt know that I am God:
Though beloved, yet admonish'd,
Thou shalt feel the chast'ning rod;
But thy night shall soon be past;
And the day shall dawn at last.

5 When thy foes are all brought under;
When I gather all thy seed:
Then shalt thou be fill'd with wonder,
Then shalt thou rejoice indeed :
All thy warfare then shall cease;
All thy children shall have peace.

321. The Security of the Believer. L.M.

As thy days, so shall thy strength be.-Deut.
xxxiii. 25.

1 AFFLICTED saint, to Christ draw near,
Thy Saviour's gracious promise hear;
His faithful word declares to thee,
That as thy days, thy strength shall be.

2 Let not thy heart despond and say,
"How shall I stand the trying day ?"
He has engag'd by firm decree,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be.
3 Thy faith is weak, thy foes are strong;
And, if the conflict should be long,
Thy Lord will make the tempter flee;
For as thy days, thy strength shall be.
4 Should persecution rage and flame,
Still trust in thy Redeemer's name;
In fiery trials thou shalt see,

That as thy days, thy strength shall be. 5 When thou art call'd to bear the cross, Or sore affliction, pain, or loss,

Or deep distress, or poverty,

Still as thy days, thy strength shall be. 6 When ghastly death appears in view, Christ's presence shall thy fears subdue; He comes to set thy spirit free,

And, as thy days, thy strength shall be.

322. Encouraged to trust in Christ. 8—7—4. What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?-MARK iv. 41.

1 WHY those fears? behold 'tis Jesus

Holds the helm and guides the ship:
Spread the sails, and catch the breezes
Sent to waft us through the deep,
To the regions

Where the mourners cease to weep.

2 Could we stay where death is hov'ring;
Could we rest on such a shore?
No, the awful truth discov'ring,
We could linger there no more:
We forsake it;

Leaving all we lov'd before.

3 Though the shore we hope to land on,
Only by report is known;
Yet we freely all abandon,
Led by that report alone;
And with Jesus,

Through the trackless deep move on.

[4 Led by that we brave the ocean;
Led by that the storms defy :
Calm amidst tumultuous motion,
Knowing that our Lord is nigh.
Waves obey him,

And the storms before him fly.]
5 Render'd safe by his protection,
We shall pass the wat'ry waste;
Trusting to his wise direction,
We shall gain the port at last;
And with wonder

Think on toils and dangers past.
[6 O! what pleasures there await us!
There the tempests cease to roar:
There it is that those who hate us
Can molest our peace no more.
Trouble ceases

On that tranquil happy shore.]

323. Victory secured to the Believer. C.M.

Blessed be the Lord my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: my goodness, and my fortress; my high tower and my deliverer; my shield, &c.-Ps. cxliv. 1, 2.

1 FOR ever blessed be the Lord,
My Saviour and my shield;

He sends his Spirit with his Word,
To arm me for the field.

2 When sin and hell their force unite,
He makes my soul his care,
Instructs me to the heav'nly fight,
And guards me through the war.

3 A friend and helper so divine
Does my weak courage raise;
He makes the glorious vict'ry mine,
And his shall be the praise.

1

324. The Backslider Returning. C.M.

Return, ye backsliding children, and 1 will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our GOD.-JEREMIAH iii. 22.

1 How oft, alas! this wretched heart
Has wander'd from the Lord;
How oft my roving thoughts depart,
Forgetful of his word!

1 The Hymns to the end of the Section relate to Christian

Experience.

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