202. C. M. CHRISTIAN PSALMIST. The Seed of the Word. 1 LORD of the harvest, God of grace, 2 May no vain thoughts, those birds of prey, Defraud us of our gain; Nor anxious cares, those baleful thorns, 3 Ne'er may our hearts be like the rock, Which, scorched with heat, becomes by noon 4 Let not the joys thy gospel gives A transient rapture prove; Nor may the world by smiles and frowns 5 But may our hearts, like fertile soil, So shall our fair and ripened fruits 203. C. M. BP. HEBER. The Sced of the Word. 10 GOD, by whom the seed is given, By whom the harvest blest; Whose word, like manna showered from heaven, Is planted in our breast; 2 Preserve it from the passing feet, 3 Though buried deep, or thinly strewn, The hope in earthly furrows sown 204. C. M. WATTS. Supplication for a Blessing on the Word. 1 LONG have I sat beneath the sound Of thy salvation, Lord; But still how weak my faith is found, 2 How cold and feeble is my love! How low my hope of joys above! 3 Great God, thy sovereign power impart And make me learn thy grace. 4 Show my forgetful feet the way There knowledge grows without decay, 180 CHRIST AND CHRISTIANITY. 205. C. M. WATTS. Message of John the Baptist. 1 JOHN was the prophet of the Lord, The herald which the Prince of Peace 2 He makes the great salvation known, 3"Behold the Lamb of God," he cries, I saw the Spirit o'er his head 4 "Be every vale exalted high, The proud must stoop, and humble souls 5"The heathen realms with Israel's land 6 "Behold the Morning Star arise, He marks the path that leads to peace, 206. 11s. M. DRUMMOND. Prepare ye the Way of the Lord. 1 A VOICE from the desert comes awful and shrill ; The Lord is advancing! prepare ye the way ! The word of Jehovah he comes to fulfil, And o'er the dark world pour the splendor of day. 2 Bring down the proud mountain, though towering to heaven, And be the low valley exalted on high: The rough path and crooked be made smooth and even, For, Zion! your King, your Redeemer is nigh. 3 The beams of salvation his progress illume; The lone dreary wilderness sings of her Lord; The rose and the myrtle there suddenly bloom, And the olive of peace spreads its branches abroad. 207. C. M. CHRISTIAN PSALMIST. Christ's Coming foretold. 1 BEHOLD my servant; see him rise Him have I chosen, and in him 2 On him, in rich effusion poured, My truths and judgment he shall show 3 Gentle and still shall be his voice; No threats from him proceed; The smoking flax shall he not quench, Nor break the bruised reed. 4 The feeble spark to flames he'll raise; The weak will not despise ; Judgment he shall bring forth to truth, And make the fallen rise. 5 The progress of his zeal and power Till foreign lands and distant isles 208. C. M. SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS. The Day-Spring from on High. Ps. 130. 1 GREAT God, wert thou extreme to mark The deeds we do amiss, Before thy presence who could stand, Thy love surpasseth thought; 2 Thy servants in the temple watched And chosen saints far off beheld |