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In vain with lavish kindness
The gifts of God are strown;
The heathen in his blindness
Bows down to wood and stone.

3 Shall we, whose souls are lighted
By wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! O salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation
Has learnt Messiah's name.

504.

C. M.

MONTGOMERY.

Restoration of Israel.

1 DAUGHTER of Zion, from the dust

Exalt thy fallen head;

Again in thy Redeemer trust,

He calls thee from the dead.

2 Awake, awake! put on thy strength,
Thy beautiful array;

The day of freedom dawns at length,
The Lord's appointed day.

3 Rebuild thy walls, thy bounds enlarge,
And send thy heralds forth;

Say to the south, "Give up thy charge,
And keep not back, O north!"

4 They come, they come ;-thine exiled bands, Where'er they rest or roam,

Have heard thy voice in distant lands,
And hasten to their home.

505. C. M.

WESLEY'S COL.

Relying on God in Time of Trial.

1 FATHER of lights, thy needful aid To us that ask, impart; Mistrustful of ourselves, afraid

Of our own treacherous heart.

2 In spite of our resolves, we fear
Our own infirmity,

And tremble at the trial near,
And cry, O God, to thee!

3 Our only help in danger's hour,
Our only strength thou art!
Above the world, and all its power,
And greater than our heart.

4 If on thy promised grace alone
We faithfully depend,

Thou surely wilt preserve thy own,
And keep them to the end.

506.

C. M.

BP. HEBER.

In Times of Distress and Danger.

1 OH God that madest the earth and sky,

The darkness and the day,

Give ear to this thy family,
And help us when we pray!
For wide the waves of bitterness
Around our vessel roar,

And heavy grows the pilot's heart,
To view the rocky shore!

2 The cross our Master bore for us,
For him we fain would bear;

But mortal strength to weakness turns,
And courage to despair!

Then mercy on our failings, Lord!
Our sinking faith renew!

And when his sorrows visit us,

Oh send his patience too!

507.

L. M.

MRS. STEELE.

Faith in God in Times of Scarcity.

1 SHOULD famine o'er the mourning field
Extend her desolating reign,

Nor spring her blooming beauties yield,
Nor autumn swell the fruitful grain;

2 Should lowing herds, and bleating sheep,
Around their famished master die;
And hope itself despairing weep,
While life deplores its last supply;

3 Amid the dark, the deathful scene,
If I can say, The Lord is mine!
The joy shall triumph o'er the pain,
And glory dawn, though life declinc.

4 The God of my salvation lives;
My nobler life he will sustain;
His word immortal vigor gives,
Nor shall my glorious hopes be vain.

396

508. C. M.

HEGINBOTHAM.

Comfort in Sickness and Death.

1 WHEN sickness shakes the languid frame,
Each dazzling pleasure flies;
Phantoms of bliss no more obscure
Our long-deluded eyes.

2 The tottering frame of mortal life
Shall crumble into dust;

Nature shall faint-but learn, my soul,
On nature's God to trust.

3 The man whose pious heart is fixed
On his all-gracious God,
In every frown may comfort find,
And kiss the chastening rod.

4 Nor him shall death itself alarm;
On heaven his soul relies;

With joy he views his Maker's love,
And with composure dies.

509.

C. M.

EXETER COL.

Wonderful Formation of Man.

1 WHEN I with curious eyes survey
My complicated frame,

I read on every part inscribed
My great Creator's name.

2 Why was my body formed erect,
Whilst brutes bow down to earth,

But that my soul should learn to know
And claim its nobler birth?

3 Author of life, my tongue shall sing
The wonders of my frame;

Long as I breathe, and think, and speak,
I'll praise thy glorious name.

510. 10s. M.

SIR JOHN DAVIES.

Dignity of Human Nature.

1 OH! what is man, great Maker of mankind! That thou to him so great respect dost bear! That thou adorn'st him with so bright a mind, Mak'st him a king, and e'en an angel's peer! 2 Oh! what a lively life, what heavenly power, What spreading virtue, what a sparkling fire, How great, how plentiful, how rich a dower Dost thou within this dying flesh inspire!

3 Nor hast thou given these blessings for a day, Nor made them on the body's life depend: The soul, though made in time, survives for aye; And though it hath beginning, sees no end.

511.

C. M.

ANONYMOUS.

Old Age anticipated.

1 WHEN in the vale of lengthened years
My feeble feet shall tread,
And I survey the various scenes
Through which I have been led;

2 How many mercies will my life
Before my view unfold!

What countless dangers will be past,
What tales of sorrow told!

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