185

8. 7. Children of pious Parents

warned. WASABOURN. 1“CHILDREN of the kingdom straying

In the path that leads to death, God, his sacred truth displaying,

Claims the homage of your faith;
Born amidst a Christian nation,

You profess to seek his face,
Yet are far from his salvation,

Strangers to converting grace. 2 Though perhaps your parents gave you

To the God whom they adore,
Their religion cannot save you,

You, his favour“must implore,
But if mercy now despising,

From their God you turn away,
Mercies will against you rising,

Seal your doom another day.
3 Shall not offer'd grace allure you?

Shall not judgment rouse your fears?
O what refuge can'secure you,

When eternity is near!
Now behold the great salvation,

Freely offer'd to your choice;
Come, accept its invitation,

Hear, O hear its warning voice!

F

CHRISTIAN.

186
C. M. Afflictions Sanctified.

TOPLADY. I WHEN languor and disease invade

This trembling house of clay, 'Tis sweet to look beyond our cage,

And long to fly away.
2 Sweet to look inward and attend

The whispers of his love;
Sweet to look upward to the place

Where Jesus pleads above.
3 Sweet to reflect, how grace divine

My sins on Jesas laid;
Sweet to remember, that his blood,

My debt of suff'ring paid.
4 Sweet on his faithfulness to rest,

Whose love can never end;
Swect on his covenant of grace,

Tor all things to depend.

5 Sweet in the confidence of faith,

To trust his firm decrees ;
Sweet to be passive in his hands,

And know no will but his.
6 If such the sweetness of the streams,

What must the fountain be,
Where saints and angels draw their bliss

Immediately from thee?
*187
7's.
The same.

CowPER, I'TIS my happiness below,

Not to live without the cross,
But the Saviour's pow'r to know,

Sanctifying ev'ry loss.
2 Trials must and will befall;

But with humble faith to see,
Love inscrib’d upon them all,

This is happiness to me.
3 Trials make the promise sweet;

Trials give new life to prayer;
Trials bring me to his feet,

Lay me low, and keep me there.
4 Did I meet no trials here,

No chastisements by the way:
Might I not, with reason, fear
I should prove a cast-away.

1

5 Others may escape the rod,

Sunk in earthly vain delight;
But the true-born child of God,
Must not, would not, if he migbt.

188

8. 7. 7. Afflictions needful. KELLY.

1 TRUE, no chastuing for the present

Bringeth joy, but causeth grief,
Pain has nothing in it pleasant :
But the saints obtain relief,

Knowing that the Father sends

Ev'ry rod, and good intends. 2 In affliction's darkest season,

When their trials sharpest prove, Saints may smile, for they have reason To confess their father's love;

All is needful, nothing vain;

Present loss is future gain.
3 Trials prove and strengthen patience,

Trials purge the dross away,
Trials sweeten expectations
Of a bright and glorious day ;

When from sin and suff'ring freed.
Saints shall gain their rest indeed.

4 Trials thus, though often bitter,

Yet are needful in their place ;
Rend'ring ev'ry promise sweeter,
Adding strength to ev'ry grace;

Thus whatever grief they bring,
Blessed fruits from trials spring.

189
L. M. Prayer in affliction.

CowPER.
1
THE
HE billows swell, the winds are high,

Clouds overcast my wintry sky;
Out of the depths to thee I call,

My fears are great, my strength is small. 2 O Lord, the pilot's part perform, And guide and guard me through the

storm;
Defend me from each threat’ning ill,

Controul the waves, say, “Peace, be still 3 Amidst the roaring of the sea,

My soul still hangs her hope on thee;
Thy constant love, thy faithful care,
Is all that saves me from despair.