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6. WISDOM. Prov. viii. 22-31.

RE God had built the mountains,

Or raised the fruitful hills;
Before he fill'd the fountains
That feed the running rills;
In me, from everlasting,

The wonderful I AM

Found pleasures never wasting,
And WISDOM is my name.

When, like a tent to dwell in,
He spread the skies abroad,
And fwathed about the fwelling
Of Ocean's mighty flood;

He wrought by weight and measure,
And I was with him then:
Myself the Father's pleasure,
And mine, the fons of men.

Thus Wisdom's words discover
Thy glory and thy grace,
Thou everlasting lover

Of our unworthy race!
Thy gracious eye survey'd us
Ere ftars were seen above;
In wisdom thou haft made us,
And died for us in love.

Ard couldst thou be delighted
With creatures fuch as we,

Who, when we faw thee, flighted,

And nail'd thee to a tree?
Unfathomable wonder,

And mystery divine!

The voice that speaks in thunder,
Says, "Sinner, I am thine!"

7. VANITY OF THE WORLD.

OD gives his mercies to be spent ;
Your hoard will do your foul no good;
Gold is a bleffing only lent,

Repaid by giving others food.

The world's esteem is but a bribe,

To buy their peace you fell your own;

The flave of a vainglorious tribe,

Who hate you while they make you known.

The joy that vain amusements give,
Oh! fad conclufion that it brings!
The honey of a crowded hive,
Defended by a thousand stings.

'Tis thus the world rewards the fools
That live upon her treacherous fmiles:
She leads them blindfold by her rules,
And ruins all whom the beguiles.

down

God knows the thousands who go
From pleasure into endless woe;
And with a long despairing groan
Blafpheme their Maker as they go.

O fearful thought! be timely wife;
Delight but in a Saviour's charms,
And God fhall take you to the skies,
Embraced in everlasting arms.

8. O LORD, I WILL PRAISE THEE. Ifaiah xii. 1.

WILL praise thee every day
Now thine anger's turn'd away!
Comfortable thoughts arise

From the bleeding facrifice.

Here, in the fair gofpel-field,

Wells of free falvation yield
Streams of life, a plenteous ftore,
And my foul fhall thirst no more.

Jefus is become at length
My falvation and my strength;
And his praises shall prolong,
While I live, my pleasant song.

Praise ye, then, his glorious name,
Publifh his exalted fame!

Still his worth your praise exceeds,
Excellent are all his deeds.

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Raise again the joyful found,
Let the nations roll it round!
Zion, fhout, for this is he,

God the Saviour dwells in thee!

9.

THE CONTRITE HEART. Isaiah lvii. 15.

HE Lord will happiness divine

On contrite hearts bestow;

Then tell me, gracious God, is mine A contrite heart or no?

I hear, but feem to hear in vain,

Infenfible as steel;

If ought is felt, 'tis only pain,
To find I cannot feel.

I fometimes think myself inclined
To love thee, if I could;
But often feel another mind,
Averse to all that's good.

My best defires are faint and few,
I fain would ftrive for more;
But when I cry, "My ftrength renew,"
Seem weaker than before.

Thy faints are comforted, I know,
And love thy house of prayer;
I therefore go where others go,
But find no comfort there.

O make this heart rejoice or ache;
Decide this doubt for me;

And if it be not broken, break,
And heal it if it be.

10. THE FUTURE PEACE AND GLORY OF

THE CHURCH. Ifaiah ix. 15-20.

EAR what God the Lord hath spoken,
"O my people, faint and few,
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,

Fair abodes I build for you;
Thorns of heart-felt tribulation
Shall no more perplex your ways:
You shall name your walls, Salvation,
And your gates fhall all be Praise.

"There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures without end fhall flow ;

For the Lord, your faith rewarding,
All his bounty shall bestow;
Still in undisturb'd poffeffion
Peace and righteousness shall reign;
Never shall you feel oppreffion,
Hear the voice of war again.

"Ye no more your funs descending,
Waning moons no more shall fee;
But, your griefs for ever ending,
Find eternal noon in me:
God shall rife, and fhining o'er ye,
Change to-day the gloom of night;
He, the Lord, shall be your glory,
God
your everlasting light."

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