2 True zeal is merciful and mild,
Can pity and forbear;

The false is headstrong, fierce, and wild,
And breathes revenge and war.

3 While zeal for truth the Christian warms, He knows the worth of peace;

But self contends for names and forms,
Its party to increase.

4 Self may its poor reward obtain,
And be applauded here;

But zeal the best applause will gain
When Jesus shall appear.

447

S. M.

C. WESLEY.

Watching, Prayer, and Perseverance.

1 A CHARGE to keep I have,
A God to glorify;

A never-dying soul to save,
And fit it for the sky;
To serve the present age,
My calling to fulfil;

O, may it all my powers engage,

To do my Master's will!

2 Arm me with jealous care,
As in thy sight to live;

And, O, thy servant, Lord, prepare
The strict account to give;

Help me to watch and pray,

And on thyself rely,

Assured, if I my trust betray,
I shall forsaken die.

448

L. M.

EXETER COL.

Steadfastness and Watchfulness implored.

1 GREAT God, my Father and my Friend,
On whom I cast my constant care,
On whom for all things I depend,
To thee I raise my humble prayer.

2 Endue me with a holy fear;

The frailty of my heart reveal;
Sin and its snares are always near;
Thee may I always nearer feel.
30 that to thee my constant mind
May with a steady flame aspire,
Pride in its earliest motions find,
And check the rise of wrong desire!

4 0 that my watchful soul may fly

The first-perceived approach of sin,
Look up to thee when danger's nigh,
And feel thy fear control within!

5 Search, gracious God, my inmost heart;
From guilt and error set me free e;
Thy light, and truth, and peace, impart,
And guide me safe to heaven and thee.

449

C. M.

Christian Watchfulness.

Doddridge.

1 AWAKE, my drowsy soul, awake,
And view the threatening scene;
Legions of foes encamp around,
And treachery lurks within.

2 Now to the work of God awake;
Behold thy Master near;
The various, arduous task pursue,
With vigor and with fear.

3 The awful register goes on;

The account will surely come;
And opening day, or closing night,
May bear me to my doom.

4 Tremendous thought! how deep it strikes! Yet like a dream it flies,

Till God's own voice the slumbers chase
From these deluded eyes.

450

S. M.

The active Christian.

1 YE servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,

Doddridge.

Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.

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

4 O, happy servant he

In such a posture found!

He shall his Lord with rapture see,
And be with honor crowned.

451

L. M.

Vigilance amidst Temptations.

MRS. BARBAuld.

1 AWAKE, my soul; lift up thine eyes;
See where thy foes against thee rise,
In long array, a numerous host;
Awake, my soul, or thou art lost.

2 Thou tread'st upon enchanted ground;
Perils and snares beset thee round;
Beware of all; guard every part,
But most the traitor in thy heart.

3 Come, then, my soul, now learn to wield
The weight of thine immortal shield;
Put on the armor, from above,

Of heavenly truth and heavenly love.

4 The terror and the charm repel,

And powers of earth, and powers of hell;
The Man of Calvary triumphed here;
Why should his faithful followers fear?

452

L. M.

MRS. STEELE.

The Christian's Resolution.

1 AH, wretched souls, who strive in vain, Slaves to the world, and slaves to sin! A nobler toil may I sustain,

A nobler satisfaction win.

2 May I resolve with all my heart,

With all my powers, to serve the Lord,
Nor from his precepts e'er depart,
Whose service is a rich reward.

3 0, be his service all my joy;

Around let my example shine,
Till others love the blest employ,
And join in labors so divine.

4 Be this the purpose of my soul,

My solemn, my determined choice,
To yield to his supreme control,
And in his kind commands rejoice.
5 0, may I never faint nor tire,

Nor, wandering, leave his sacred ways;
Great God, accept my soul's desire,
And give me strength to live thy praise.

453

L. M.

The Light of good Examples.

Doddridge.

1 GREAT Teacher of thy church, we own
Thy precepts all divinely wise:
O, may thy mighty power be shown.
To fix them still before our eyes.

2 Deep on our hearts thy law engrave,

And fill our breasts with heavenly zeal, That, while we trust thy power to save, We may that sacred law fulfil.

3 Adorned with every heavenly grace,
May our examples brightly shine,
And the sweet lustre of thy face
Reflected beam from each of thine.

4 These lineaments, divinely fair,

Our heavenly Father shall proclaim; And men, that view his image there, Shall join to glorify his name.