While God allots my share of time,
Within his gospel's favour'd clime.
2 Shall I receive this grace in vain?
Shall I my great vocation stain?
Away, ye works in darkness wrought!
Away, each sensual, earthly thought!
3 My soul, I charge thee to excel
In thinking right and acting well;
Deep let thy searching pow'rs engage,
Unbiass'd, in the sacred page.
4 Heighten the force of good desire;
To deeds of shining worth aspire;
More firm in fortitude, despise
The world's seducing vanities.
5 Strong, and more strong, thy passions rule,
Advancing still in virtue's school;
Contending still, with noble strife,
To imitate thy Saviour's life.
Life, Death, Judgment, and a Future State.
629. C. M. EXETER COLLECTION.
The last account.
1 THE time draws near, when thou, my soul!
Thy last account must give;
When thy whole life shall be survey'd,
By him who bade thee live.
2 How many talents, O my GOD!
Hast thou bestow'd on me!
But yet how few can there be found
Devoted, LORD! to thee!
3 My health, my time, my worldly store,
And thy more precious word
The talents are, for which I must
Account to thee, my LORD.
4 Much of my time, alas! I 've lost,
And much have I mispent ;
How careless of my grand concern!
On trifles how intent!
5 O may the slothful servant's doom,
My holy care excite;
Each talent may I well improve,
And in thy work delight!
630. C. M. P. HOUGHTON.
The re-union of the virtuous after death. 1 BLEST hour, when virtuous friends shall
Their earthly sorrows o'er;
And with celestial welcome greet,
On an immortal shore!
2 The parent finds his long-lost child;
Brothers on brothers gaze;
The tear of resignation mild
Is changed to joy and praise.
3 Each tender tie, dissolv'd with pain,
With endless bliss is crown'd;
All that was dead revives again;
All that was lost, is found.
4 And while remembrance, lingʼring still,
Draws joy from sorrowing hours;
New prospects rise, new pleasures fill
The soul's expanding pow'rs.
5 Congenial minds, arrayed in light,
High thoughts shall interchange;
Nor cease with ever-new delight,
On wings of love to range.
6 Their Father marks the gen'rous flame, And looks complacent down;
The smile that owns their filial claim
Is their immortal crown.
L. M. DABNEY'S COLLECTION. Jesus Christ the image of the unseen GOD. 1 THOU, LORD, by mortal eyes unseen, And by thine offspring here unknown, To manifest thyself to men,
Hast set thine image in thy Son.
2 As the bright sun's meridian blaze
O'erwhelms and pains our feeble sight,
But cheers us with his softer rays,
When shining with reflected light;
3 So in thy Son, thy pow'r divine,
Thy wisdom, justice, truth, and love,
With mild and pleasing lustre shine,
Reflected from thy throne above.
4 Though they who granted not his claim
Contemptuous turn'd away their face;
Yet those who trusted in his name,
Beheld in him thy truth and grace.
5 0 thou! at whose almighty word,
Fair light at first from darkness shone,
Teach us to know our glorious Lord,
And trace the Father in the Son.
6 While we thine image there display'd,
With love and admiration view,
Form us in likeness to our Head,
That we may bear thine image too.
632. L. M. EXETER COLLECTION. Contemplation of the character of Jesus. 1 WITH warm delight and grateful joy Let all our best affections move,
When we on Christ our thoughts employ, On him whom though unseen we love. 2 How bright a pattern, and how pure, Hath he in all things kindly giv'n To make our path of duty sure, And guide our wand'ring steps to heav'n! 3 In all he did, with joy we view The lofty purpose of his soul; Man's earth-born passions to subdue, And all the pow'r of sin control. 4 Father of all! his God and ours! Accept the humble, fervent praise, Which, with our souls' united pow'rs, For thy rich grace through him, we raise.
633. L. M. EXETER COLLECTION.
"See how he loved!"
I "SEE how he lov'd !" exclaim'd the Jews,
When Jesus over Laz'rus wept;
My grateful heart the words shall use,
While on his life my eye is kept.
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