374. Perseverance. 148th.

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of JESUS CHRIST.-PHIL. i. 6.

O MY distrustful heart,

How small thy faith appears,
But greater, LORD, thou art
Than all my doubts and fears:
Did JESUS Once upon me shine?
Then JESUS is for ever mine.

2 Unchangeable his will,

Though dark may be my frame;
His love to me is still

Eternally the same:

My soul thro' many changes goes;
His love no variation knows.

3 Thou, LORD, wilt carry on,
And perfectly perform,
The work thou hast begun
In me a sinful worm:

'Midst all my fears, and sin, and woe,

Thy Spirit will not let me go.

4 The bowels of thy grace,

To me did freely move:
I still shall see thy face,

And prove that God is love:
Helpless on thee myself I cast,
LORD, save, O save my soul at last.

375. Perseverance. S.M.

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory, with exceeding joy to the only wise GOD our SAVIOUR be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.-JUDE 24, 25.

2

3

4

5

TO GOD the only wise,

Our SAVIOUR and our King,
Let all the saints below the skies

Their humble praises bring.

'Tis his Almighty love,

His counsel and his care,

Preserves us safe from sin and death,

And ev'ry hurtful snare.

He will present our souls,
Unblemish'd and complete,
Before the glory of his face,

With joys divinely great.

Then all the chosen seed

Shall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the guidance of his grace,

And make his wonders known,

To our REDEemer-God
Wisdom and pow'r belong ;

To him shall saints and angels raise
An everlasting song.

376.

Perseverance.

C.M.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD. When CHRIST, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.-COL. iii. 3, 4. REJOICE, believer, in the Lord, Who makes your cause his own; The hope, that's built upon his word, Can ne'er be overthrown.

2 Tho' many foes beset your road, And feeble is your arm;

Your life is hid with CHRIST in GOD,
Beyond the reach of harm.

3 Weak as you are you shall not faint,
Or fainting shall not die:
JESUS, the strength of ev'ry saint,
Will aid you from on high.

4 Tho' sometimes unperceiv'd by sense,
Faith sees him alway near;
A guide, a glory, a defence;
Then what have you to fear?

5 As surely as he overcame,
And triumph'd once for you;
So surely you, that love his name,
Shall triumph in him too.

377.

Perseverance.

L.M.

The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out, and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore.-PSALM CXXI. 7, 8.

HOW blest are they, whose feet have found

The way into IMMANUEL'S ground;
And steadfastly do walk therein,
Far from the crooked paths of sin!

2 Their weary spirits sweetly rest
Contentedly on JESU's breast;
They so much of his mercy prove,
As that they cannot help but love.
3 His Spirit shows their sins forgiv❜n,
And seals them for the heirs of heav'n:
And gives them patience here to wait,
Till JESUS them to bliss translate.

4 He arms them for the evil day;

And while in heart on him they stay; He guides them with his mighty pow'r, And brings them thro' the trying hour. 5 Then rest, my soul, upon the LORD, E'en JESUS CHRIST, the living word; And then thy joy shall ne'er decay, Till it break out in endless day.

378.

Perseverance.

C. M.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy GOD: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.-ISAIAH xli. 10.

THE sinner, who thro' precious faith
Has had his sins forgiv'n,

Is then securely past from death,
And seal'd an heir of heav'n.'

2 Tho' thousand snares enclose his feet,
Not one shall hold him fast;
Whatever dangers he may meet,
He shall get safe at last.

3 Not as the world the SAVIOUR gives;
He is no changing friend;
Whom once he loves he never leaves,
But loves him to the end.

4 Unnumber'd savage beasts of prey
Around the fold may roam;
But Israel's shepherd guards the way,
And guides his children home.

5 Thy faithful Spirit, ever near,
My sure defence will be;

And I, O LORD, shall persevere,
Ο
Because preserv'd by thee.