440

L. M.

Patience.

RIPPON'S COL.

1 PATIENCE, O, what a grace divine, Sent from the God of power and love, Submissive to its Father's hand,

As through the wilds of life we rove! 2 By patience we serenely bear

The troubles of our mortal state,
And wait contented our discharge,
Nor think our glory comes too late.

3 O for this grace, to aid us on,

And arm with fortitude the breast,
Till, life's tumultuous voyage o'er,
We reach the shore of endless rest!

1 AM I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb?
And shall I fear to own his cause,
Or blush to speak his name?

2 Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,

WATTS.

While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?

3 Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord;
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by thy word.

4 Thy saints, in all this glorious war,
Shall conquer, though they die;
They see the triumph from afar,
And seize it with their eye.

442

C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Seeking first the Kingdom of God.

1 NOW let a true ambition rise,
And ardor fire our breast,

To reign in worlds above the skies,
In heavenly glories dressed.

2 Behold Jehovah's royal hand
A radiant crown display,

Whose gems with vivid lustre shine,
While stars and suns decay.

3 Ye hearts with youthful vigor warm,
The glorious prize pursue;

Nor shall ye want the goods of earth,
While heaven is kept in view.

443

C. M.

WATTS.

Obedience better than Sacrifice. Ps. 50.

1 THUS saith the Lord, "The spacious fields,

And flocks and herds, are mine;

O'er all the cattle of the hills

I claim a right divine.

2 "I ask no sheep for sacrifice,

Nor bullocks burnt with fire;

To hope and love, to pray and praise,
Is all that I require.

3 "Call upon me when trouble's near;
My hand shall set thee free;

Then shall thy thankful lips declare
The honor due to me.

4 "The man that offers humble praise,
He glorifies me best,

And those that tread my holy ways
Shall my salvation taste."

1 SO let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine.

WATTS.

2 Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honors of our Savior, God,
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.

3 Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride,
While justice, temperance, truth, and love,
Our inward piety approve.

4 Religion bears our spirits up,

While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.

348

445

C. M.

Moderation

NEEDHAM.

1 HAPPY the man, whose cautious steps Still keep the golden mean,

Whose life, by wisdom's rules well formed,
Declares a conscience clean.

2 What blessings bounteous Heaven bestows,
He takes with thankful heart;
With temperance he both eats and drinks,
And gives the poor a part.

3 To sect or party his large soul
Disdains to be confined;

The good he loves of every name,
And prays for all mankind.

4 His business is to keep his heart;
Each passion to control;
Nobly ambitious well to rule
The empire of his soul.

5 Pure is his zeal, the offspring fair
Of truth and peaceful love;

The bigot's rage. can never dwell
Where rests the heavenly Dove.

446

C. M.

J. NEWTON.

True and false Zeal.

1 ZEAL is that pure and heavenly flame
The fire of love supplies;

While that which often bears the name
Is self in a disguise.

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.