1

596. S.M. DODDRIDGE.

The shortness and uncertainty of life improved.

TO-MORROW, LORD, is thine,
Lodg'd in thy sov'reign hand;

And if its sun arise and shine,
It shines by thy command.
2 The present moment flies,
And bears our lives away:
O make thy servants truly wise,
That they may live to-day.
3 Since on this winged hour
Eternity is hung,

4

Waken by thine almighty pow'r
The aged and the young.

One thing demands our care;
O be it still pursu'd!

Lest, slighted once, the season fair
Should never be renew'd.

597. S. M. DODDRIDGE.

1 YE

2

The watchful Christian.

E servants of the LORD,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of his heav'nly word,
And watchful at his gate.

Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame:

Gird up your loins, as in his sight,
For awful is his name.

3 Watch!

3

4

1

Watch! 'tis your LORD's command; And while we speak, he's near: Mark the first signal of his hand, And ready all appear.

O happy servant he,

In such a posture found!

He shall his LORD with rapture see,
And be with honour crown'd.

598. L.M. WATTS.

The day of mercy and hope.

LIFE is the time to serve the LORD.
The time t' insure the great reward;
And while the lamp holds out to burn,
The greatest sinner may return.

2 Life is the hour that God hath giv'n,.
To fit us for the joys of heav'n;
The day of grace, and mortals may
Secure the blessings of the day.

3 The living know that they must die;
But all the dead forgotten lie;
They have no share in all that's done
Beneath the circuit of the sun.

4 There are no acts of pardon past
In the cold grave to which we haste;
Oblivion, darkness, and despair,
Still reign in gloomy silence there.
5 Then the great work we have to do,
Let us with all our might pursue;
And wisely ev'ry hour employ,
Till faith and hope are lost in joy.
599, L. M.

1

599. L. M. MRS. STEELE.

IN

True and lasting happiness

'N vain my roving thoughts would find A portion worthy of the mind:

On earth my soul can never rest, For earth can never make me blest. 2 Can lasting happiness be found, Where seasons roll their hasty round; And days and hours with rapid flight, Sweep cares and pleasures out of sight? 3 Arise, my thoughts! my heart, arise! Leave this vain world, and seek the skies; There joys for evermore shall läst, When seasons, days, and hours are past. 4 Thy mercy, LORD, to me impart : O raise my thoughtless, wand'ring heart To pleasures perfect and sublime, Unmeasur'd by the wings of time. 5 Let those bright worlds of endless joy, My thoughts, my hopes, my cares employ: No more, ye restless passions! roam: GOD is my bliss, and heav'n my home.

1

600. C.M. DODDRIDGE.

Compassionate intercession for thoughtless sinners.

IN

NDULGENT GOD! with pitying eye
The sons of men survey:

Alas! how thoughtless mortals sport
In sin's destructive way!

2 Ten thousand dangers lurk around, To bear them to the tomb :

Each passing hour may place them where
Repentance cannot come.

3 Reclaim, O LORD! their wand'ring minds
Amus'd by airy dreams;
That heav'nly wisdom may dispel
Theit visionary schemes.

4 Guide and direct them by thy word,
Their dang'rous state to see;
That they may seek and find the path
That leads to heav'n and thee.

601. C. M. EXETER COLL.

I WHE

The wonderful formation of man.

HEN I with curious eyes survey
My complicated frame;

I read on ev'ry part inscrib'd
My great Creator's name.

2. With nicest art, in secret, God
Did ev'ry member write;
And when the model was complete,
My eyes beheld the light.

3 He bade the purple flood of life
In circling streams to flow,
And sent the genial heat around,
Thro' ev'ry part to glow.

4 My heaving lungs, whilst they have pow' To fan the vital flame,

Shall sing thy praises, O my God!
Thy wond'rous skill proclaim.

5 Why was my body form'd erect,

Whilst brutes bow down to earth?
But that my soul should learn to know,
And claim its nobler birth.

6 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.

TE

602. C.M. WATTS.

The vanity of man as mortal.

EACH me the measure of my days,
Thou maker of my frame!

I would survey life's narrow space,
And learn how frail I am.

2 A span is all that we can boast,
A fleeting hour of time:
Man is but vanity and dust,

In all his flow'r and prime.

3 See the vain race of mortals move
Like shadows o'er the plain;
They rage and strive, desire and love,
But all the noise is vain.

4 Some walk in honour's gaudy show;
Some dig for golden ore:

They toil for heirs, they know not who,
And strait are seen no more.

5 What should I wish or wait for, then,
From creatures, earth and dust?

They