8 Against me earth and hell combine; But on my side is pow'r divine; JESUS is all, and he is mine.

XLVII. C. The Hidden Life.

1 To tell the Saviour all my wants,
How pleasing is the task!

Nor less to praise him when he grants
Beyond what I can ask.

2 My lab'ring spirit vainly seeks
To tell but half the joy;

With how much tenderness he speaks,
And helps me to reply.

3 Nor were it wise, nor should I choose
Such secrets to declare ;

Like precious wines, their taste they lose
Expos'd to open air...

4. But this with boldness I proclaim,
Nor care if thousands hear,
Sweet is the ointment of his name,
Not life is half so dear.

5 And can you frown, my former friends, Who knew what once I was;

And blame the song that thus commends
The man who bore the cross?

6 Trust me, I draw the likeness true,
And not as fancy paints;

Such honour may he give to you,
For such have all his saints.

XLVIII. Joy and Peace in believing.

1 SOMETIMES a light surprises
The Christian while he sings;
It is the Lord who rises

With healing in his wings :
When comforts are declining,
He grants the soul again
A season of clear shining,
To cheer it after rain.

2 In holy contemplation,
We sweetly then pursue
The theme of God's salvation,

And find it ever new :

Set free from present sorrow,
We cheerfully can say,
E'en let th' unknown to-morrow*
Bring with it what it may..

3 It can bring with it nothing

But he will bear us through;

Who gives the lilies clothing,
Will clothe his people too :
Beneath the spreading heavens,
No creature but is fed;

And he who feeds the ravens,
Will give his children bread.

4. Though vine nor fig-tree neither Their wonted fruit shall bear,

Though all the field should wither,

Nor flocks nor herds be there :

* Matth. vi. 34.

Yet God the same abiding,

His praise shall tune my voice; For while in him confiding,

I cannot but rejoice*.

XLIX. C. True Pleasures.

1 LORD, my soul with pleasure springs,
When Jesus' name I hear;

And when God the Spirit brings
The word of promise near :
Beauties, too, in holiness,

Still delighted I perceive;
Nor have words that can express
The joys thy precepts give.

2 Cloth'd in sanctity and

grace,

How sweet it is to see

Those who love thee as they pass,

Or when they wait on thee! Pleasant too, to sit and tell

What we owe to love divine;
Till our bosoms grateful swell,
And eyes begin to shine.

3 Those the comforts I possess,
Which God shall still increase,
All his ways are pleasantness,
And all his paths are peace t.
Nothing Jesus did or spoke,
Henceforth let me ever slight;
For I love his easy yoke,

And find his burden light‡.

* Habakkuk iii. 17, 18. † Prov. iii. 17. Matt. xi. 30.

L. C. The Christian.

1 HONOUR and happiness unite

To make the Christian's name a praise : How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!

2 A kingly character he bears,

No change his priestly office knows ;
Unfading is the crown he wears,
His joys can never reach a close.

3 Adorn'd with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face;

His robe is of th' ethereal dye,
His steps are dignity and grace.

4. Inferior honours he disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth;
The King of kings himself maintains
Th' expenses of his heav'nly birth.

5 The noblest creature seen below,
Ordain'd to fill a throne above;
God gives him all he can bestow,
His kingdom of eternal love!

6 My soul is ravish'd at the thought!
Methinks from earth I see him rise;
Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies!

LI. C. Lively Hope and gracious Fear.

1 I was a grov'ling creature once,
And basely cleav'd to earth;
I wanted spirit to renounce
The clod that gave me birth.

2 But God has breath'd upon a worm,

And sent me, from above,

Wings, such as clothe an angel's form,
The wings of joy and love.

3 With these to Pisgah's top I fly,
And there delighted stand,
To view beneath a shining sky,
The spacious promis'd land.

4 The Lord of all the vast domain
Has promis'd it to me;

The length and breadth of all the plain,
As far as faith can see.

5 How glorious is my privilege!
To thee for help I call;

I stand upon a mountain's edge,
Oh save me, lest I fall!

6 Though much exalted in the Lord,
My strength is not my own;
Then let me tremble at his word,

And none shall cast me down.

1 YES! since God himself has said it,

On the promise I rely :

His good word demands my credit,
What can unbelief reply?

He is strong and can fulfil;

He is truth, and therefore will.

2 As to all the doubts and questions
Which my spirit often grieve,
These are Satan's sly suggestions,
And I need no answer give:
He would fain destroy my hope,
But the promise bears it up.