HYMN LX.

A rational defence of the Gospel.

SHALL atheists dare insult the cross
Of our Redeemer God?
Shall infidels reproach his laws,
Or trample on his blood?

What if he choose mysterious ways,
To cleanse us from our faults?
May not the works of sov'reign grace
Transcend our feeble thoughts?

What if the gospel bids us fight
With flesh, and self, and sin?
The prize is most divinely bright,
Which we are call'd to win.

What if the foolish and the poor,
His glorious grace partake?
This but confirms his truth the more,
For so the prophets spake.

Do some that own his sacred name,
Indulge their souls in sin?

Jesus should never bear the blame,
His laws are pure and clean.

Then let our faith grow firm and strong,

Our lips profess his word;

Nor blush, nor fear to walk among,
The men that love the Lord.

HYMN LXI.

Retirement.

FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by thy sweet bounty made,
For those who follow thee.

There if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

Oh! with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God.

There, like the nightingale, she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,

Nor thirsts for human praise.

Author and guardian of my life,
Sweet source of life divine,
And (all harmonious names in one)
My Saviour, thou art mine!

What thanks I owe thee, and what love,
A boundless, endless store,

Shall echo through the realms above,
When time shall be no more.

HYMN EXII.

The wicked driven away in his wickedness.

CAN life in them deserve the name,
Who only live to prove,

For what poor joys they can disclaim
An endless life above?

Who much diseas'd, yet nothing feel;
Much menac'd, nothing dread;
Have wounds which only God can heal,
Yet never ask his aid!

Who deem his house an useless place,
Faith, want of common sense;

And ardor in the Christian race,

A hypocrite's pretence !

If scorn of God's commands, impress'd
On word and deed, imply

The better part of man unbless'd
With life that cannot die ;

Such want it;-and that want uncur'd,
Till man resigns his breath,
Speaks him a criminal, assur'd
Of everlasting death.

Sad period to a pleasant course!

Yet so will God repay

Sabbaths profan'd without remorse,
And mercy cast away.

HYMN LXIII.

Man fading and reviving. Isa. xl. 6—8. THE morning flowers display their sweets, And gay their silken leaves unfold, As careless of the noon-tide heats, As fearless of the ev'ning cold. Nipt by the wind's unkindly blast, Parch'd by the sun's directer ray, The momentary glories waste,

The short-liv'd beauties die away.
So blooms the human face divine,
When youth its pride of beauty shows:
Fairer than spring the colours shine,
And sweeter than the virgin rose.

Or worn by slowly rolling years,
Or broke by sickness in a day,
The fading glory disappears,

The short-liv'd beauties die away.)
Yet these, new rising from the tomb,
With lustre brighter far shall shine;
Revive with ever-during bloom,

Safe from diseases and decline.

Let sickness blast, let death devour,
If heaven shall recompense our pains;
Perish the grass, and fade the flower,
If firm the word of God remains.

HYMN LXIV.

Providence.

WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost

In wonder, love, and praise!

Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redress'd;
When in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.

To all my weak complaints and cries
Thy mercy lent an ear,

Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd
To form themselves in prayer.

Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd,
Before my infant heart conceiv'd

From whence those comforts flow'd.

When in the slipp'ry path of youth
With heedless steps I ran ;
Thine arm unseen convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.

Through hidden dangers, toils and death,
It clear'd my dubious way;

And through the pleasing snares of vice, More to be fear'd than they.