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X.

"When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”—Ps. lxi. 2.

SOUL of our souls, and safeguard of the world!
Sustain-Thou only canst-the sick of heart;
Restore their languid spirits, and recall
Their lost affections unto Thee and Thine! -

*

He thus continued-lifting up his eyes
To heaven-How beautiful this dome of sky,
And the vast hills, in fluctuation fixed

At Thy command, how awful! Shall the soul,
Human and rational, report of Thee

Even less than these?

-Come labour, when the worn-out frame requires
Perpetual sabbath; come disease and want;
And sad exclusion through decay of sense;
But leave me unabated trust in Thee—
And let Thy favour to the end of life,
Inspire me with ability to seek

Repose and hope among eternal things!

XI.

"A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench."-Matt. xii. 20.

How oft we fear and falter by the way,
While fancy paints with clouds the future sky,
Till mortals think they have on earth no stay,
And none to wipe the tear from sorrow's eye.
But fear not, timid soul, for God will give
Thee strength thy cross to bear-to tread the
vale.-

He gives e'en birds a wintry robe t' outlive
Each blast of winter's drear and chilling gale,
Or else directs their flight to summer fields,
Where flowers droop not-fade not, nor winters
freeze,

Where summer bland in purer friendship yields
A safe retreat among her woodland trees;—
And so He gives us strength our cross to bear,
And watches o'er us with a Father's care.

XII.

"Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name."-John xii. 27, 28.

LOWLY and solemn be
Thy children's cry to Thee,
Father divine!

A hymn of suppliant breath,
Owning that life and death
Alike are Thine!

O Father! in that hour,

When earth all succouring power

Shall disavow;

When spear, and shield, and crown,
In faintness are cast down,

Sustain us, Thou!

By him who bowed to take
The death-cup for our sake,
The thorn, the rod;

From whom the last dismay

Was not to pass away;
Aid us, O God!

L

Tremblers beside the grave,

We call on Thee to save,
Father divine!

Hear, hear our suppliant breath,
Keep us in life and death,
Thine, only Thine!

XIII.

"There appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him."-Luke xxii. 43.

FATHER! that in the olive shade,
When the dark hour came on,
Didst, with a breath of heavenly aid,
Strengthen Thy Son.

O, by the anguish of that night
Send us down blest relief;

Or to the chastened, let Thy might
Hallow this grief!

And thou, that when the starry sky

Saw the dread strife begun,

Didst teach adoring faith to cry,

Thy will be done;

By thy meek spirit, thou of all,

That e'er have mourned the chief,

Thou Saviour! if the stroke must fall,

Hallow this grief!

XIV.

"In the world ye shall have tribulation; but he of good cheer, I have overcome the world."-John xvi. 33.

WHEN the spark of life is waning,

Weep not for me!

When the languid eye is straining,

Weep not for me!

When the feeble pulse is ceasing,
Start not at its swift decreasing,
"T is the fetter'd soul's releasing.

Weep not for me!

When the pangs of death assail me,

Weep not for me!

Christ is mine-he cannot fail me.

Weep not for me!

Yes, though sin and doubt endeavour

From his love my soul to sever,

Jesus is my strength for ever.

Weep not for me!

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