-571. The excellency of Christ. C.M.

My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee: and my soul which thou hast redeemed.-Ps. lxxi. 23.

TO Christ, the Lord, let every tongue
Its noblest tribute bring:
When he's the subject of the song,
Who can refuse to sing!

2 He saw me plung'd in deep distress, He flew to my relief;

For me he bore the shameful cross,
And carried all my grief.

3 His hand a thousand blessings pours Upon my guilty head;

His presence gilds my darkest hours,
And guards my sleeping bed.

4 To him I owe my life, and breath,
And all the joys I have:
He makes me triumph over death,
And ransoms from the grave.

5 To heav'n, the place of his abode
He brings my weary feet;
Shows me the glories of my God,
And makes my joys complete.

6 Since from his bounty I receive Such proofs of love divine, Had I thousand hearts to give,

Lord! they should all be thine.

572. The Believer supported in the strength of the Lord. C.M.

Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.-13A1. xl. 28, 31. WHENCE do our mournful thoughts

arise?

And where's our courage fled?
Have restless sin and raging hell
Struck all our comforts dead?

2 Have we forgot th' Almighty name,
That form'd the earth and sea?
And can an all-creating arm
Grow weary or decay?

3 Treasures of everlasting might In our Jehovah dwell:

He gives the conquest to the weak,
And treads their foes to hell.

4 Mere mortal power shall fade and die, And youthful vigour cease;

But we, that wait upon the Lord,
Shall feel our strength increase.

5 The saints shall mount on eagles' wings, And taste the promis'd bliss,

Till their unwearied feet arrive
Where perfect pleasure is.

573. The Believer longing for Gospel ordinances here, and the full enjoyment of Christ's presence hereafter. C.M.

Why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning? O send out thy light and thy truth; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy.-PSA. xliii. 2, 4.

WHILE I am banish'd from thy house,
I mourn in secret, Lord:

"When shall I come and pay my vows, And hear thy holy word?"

2 So, while I dwell in bonds of clay, Methinks my soul shall groan, “When shall I wing my beav'nly way, And stand before thy throne.'

3 I love to see my Lord below,
His church displays his grace;
But upper worlds his glories know,
And view him face to face.

4 I love to worship at his feet,
Tho' sin attack me there;
But saints, exalted near his seat,
Have no assaults to fear.

5 I'm pleas'd to meet him in his court,
And taste his heav'nly love;
But still I think his visits short,
Or I too soon remove.

6 He shines, and I am all delight,
He hides, and all is pain;
When will he fix me in his sight,
And ne'er depart again?

574. The believer longing to be with Christ. L.M.

Having a desire to depart and to be with Christ which is far better.-PHIL. i. 23.

WHILE on the verge of life I stand,.
And view the scene on either hand,,
My spirit struggles with my clay,
And longs to wing its flight away.

2 Where Jesus dwells my soul would be, And faints my much-lov'd Lord to see; Earth twine no more about my heart! For 'tis far better to depart.

3 Come, ye angelic envoys! come,
And lead the willing pilgrim home!
Ye know the way to Jesu's throne,-
Source of my joys, and of your own.
4 That blissful interview, how sweet!
To fall transported at his feet!
Or, rais'd on high, to view his face,
Through the full beamings of his grace!

5 As with a seraph's voice to sing!
To fly as on a cherub's wing!
Performing with unwearied hands,
The present Saviour's high commands.

6 Yet, with these prospects full in sight,
I'd wait thy signal for the flight;
And, while thy service I pursue,
Would find a heaven in all I do.

575. Sorrow at the death of a believer mitigated by the assurance of his sleeping in Jesus and rising again. C.M. Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth.-MARK. v. 39.

WHY flow these torrents of distress?
Whence are those mournful cries?
Why are the sleeping saints survey'd
With unbelieving eyes?

2 O'er Jesu's members death shall boast His victory in vain ;

Nor o'er their meaner part in dust
A lasting power retain.

3 Jesus on wings of love shall come
Their sleeping dust to wake;
His voice shall reach the deepest tomb,
And all its bonds shall break.

4 Touch'd by his hand, at once they rise,
They rise, to sleep no more;
But rob'd with light and crown'd with
To endless day they soar. [joy,

5. Jesus! our faith receives thy word; And, tho' fond nature weep, Grace learns to hail the pious dead, And emulate their sleep.

6 Our willing souls thy summons wait,
With them to rest and praise;
So let thy much-lov'd presence cheer
These separating days.