Its precepts still are holy, just, and pure,
And while a mortal lives they shall endure;
By them thy conduct must be rectifi'd,
They tell what works are pleasing to thy God.
Because, in mercy, Christ will sins forgive,
In wilful wickedness thou must not live,
Thou must not practise that thou know'st to be
Forbidden by His holy, righteous law;
His great and awful judgment day shall come,
When be thy sentence by the works thou'st done.
His God the faithful christian duly serves
And from his duty never knowing swerves;
He practices not vice, nor follows lust,
But loves his Maker, in Him puts his trust;
His holy habits, by the light divine
His Saviour gives him, with bright fervour shine.
Grace rectifies the heart, it cheers the soul,
Gives cause within a ruling God to feel;
It calls to know, and vicious actions hate,
Though they be found among the rich or great;
Its servant trembles soon as e'er perceiv'd,
A lustful passion in the mind conceiv'd;
Then spurns the act it tells him to be wrong,
That fire he smothers ere the flames consume;
With pleasure treads the path love tells is right,
And of that rectitude ne'er loses sight;
The gospel studies, from it will not slide,
With poor or rich his dealings it must guide;
What he believes is truth will speak to all,
Nor word, nor work, knows or deceit or guile;
No liar found his neighbour to o'erreach,
Nor through injustice will for riches search;
Always relieves, and feels for misery,
Those he knows needful meet his charity;
In rank exalted, will not power abuse,
And to oppress his riches never use;
If acting for his friend, 'tis just the same,
As though for self the trust receiv'd be done.
Thus, from his life we safely may infer,
"Tis mortal weakness makes the christian err;
As far as man's frail nature will allow,
Christ's faithful flock obey God's holy law;
Successively increase their faith and love,
Each day, each hour, continue to improve,
While time's full glass has run the race assign'd,
And to a better world they are consign'd.
As full ripe grain, is for the reaper fit,
So are all sincere christians to sit
In heav'nly glory with their conquʼring Lord
Ascended there before them, and prepar'd
Them mansions in His presence, where,
In glory they shall dwell for evermore.
IMPRESS my heart, bless'd Saviour, With lively faith, and love sincere My duty to attend;
In thought, or deed, let me not stray From following Thee to take the way That will in ruin end!
Though humble be my station here, Yet wilt Thou listen to the prayer
That's from a contrite heart; Thy love to rich and poor the same, Not riches that can purchase fame Of Thee, nor favor get.
But, 'tis the heart that's fully bent
To serve Thee with a pure intent
Unrul'd by worldly gain;
Dependant on Thy promises,
With gratitude on them relies,
That shall Thy mercy claim.
This world is not my resting place,
Shall I not soon for ever cease
A mortal more to be?
Yes, and to other regions go,
Dwell in eternal joy or wo,
Great God, as pleaseth Thee.
Lord grant, while in this vale I live,
I may Thy faithful servant prove,
Not from my duty stray;
Then, when this troubled sea's pass'd o'er,
Shall safely find a happy shore,,
In heav'n my God obey!
|