3

The spirit of the Lord,

In rich abundance shed,
On this great prophet gently lights,
And rests upon his head.

4 Jesus, thou light of men!
Thy doctrine life imparts:

5

O may we feel its quickening power,
To warm and glad our hearts!

Cheered by its beams, our souls
Shall run the heavenly way:

The path which Christ hath marked and trod,
Will lead to endless day.

145. L. M.

The better Part. Luke x. 43.

Needham.

1 BESET with snares on every hand,
In life's uncertain path we stand :
Father divine! diffuse thy light,
To guide our doubtful footsteps right.
2 Engage our roving treacherous heart,
To choose the wise, the better part;
To scorn the trifles of a day,

For joys that never fade away.

? Then let the fiercest storms arise,
Let tempests mingle earth and skies;
No fatal shipwrecks shall we fear,
But all our treasures with us bear.
4 thou, our Father! still be nigh,
heerful we live, and joyful die;
Secure, when mortal comforts flee,
To find a thousand worlds in thee.
Doddridge.

146. c. M.

Christian Charity.

1 BEHOLD! where, breathing love divine,
Our dying Master stands;

His weeping followers, gathering round,
Receive his last commands.

2 From that mild Teacher's parting lips
What tender accents fell!
The gentle precept which he gave
Became its author well.

'Blessed is the man, whose softening heart Feels all another's pain;

To whom the supplicating eye

Was never raised in vain;

+ Whose breast expands with generous warmth A stranger's wo to feel,

And bleeds in pity o'er the wound
He wants the power to heal.

5 He spreads his kind supporting arms
To every child of grief;
His secret bounty largely flows,
And brings unasked relief.

6 To gentle offices of love

His feet are never slow:

He views, through mercy's melting eye,
A brother in a foe.

7 Peace from the bosom of his God,

My peace to him I give ;

And when he kneels before his throne,
His trembling soul shall live.

8 To him protection shall be shown;
And mercy from above
Descend on those, who thus fulfil
The perfect law of love.'

147. C. M.

The Example of Jesus.

Mrs. Barbauld.

1 BEHOLD! where, in a mortal form,
Appears each grace divine;
The virtues, all in Jesus met,

With mildest radiance shine.

2 To spread the rays of heavenly light,
To give the mourner joy,

To preach glad tidings to the poor,
Was his divine employ.

3 Lowly in heart, to all his friends
A friend and servant found,

He washed their feet, he wiped their tears,
And healed each bleeding wound.

4 Mid keen reproach and crucl scorn,
Patient and meek he stood;

His foes ungrateful sought his life,—
He laboured for their good.

5 To God he left his righteous cause,
And still his task pursued,

While humble prayer, and holy faith,
His fainting strength renewed.

6 In the last hour of deep distress,
Before his Father's throne,

With soul resigned, he bowed and said, "Thy will, not mine, be done!'

I

7 Be Christ our pattern, and our guide!
His image may we bear!
O may we tread his holy steps,
His joy and glory share!

148. s. M.

Enfield.

'Blessed are the Meek.' Mat. v. 5.

1 'BLESSED are the meek,' he said, Whose doctrine is divine;

2

The humble-minded earth possess,
And bright in heaven will shine.

While here on earth they stay,
Calm peace with them shall dwell,
And cheerful hope, and heavenly joy,
Beyond what tongue can tell.

3 The God of peace is theirs ;
They own his gracious sway;
And yielding all their wills to him,
His sovereign laws obey.

4 No angry passions move,
No envy fires their breast;
The prospect of eternal peace,
Bids every trouble rest.

5

6

O gracious Father! grant

That we this influence feel,
That all we hope, or wish, may of

Subjected to thy will!

Thus Christ our Lord to own,
Thus thee our God obey,

Ensures us peace and joy on earth,
And leads to realms of day.

+ Exeter Coll.

149. C. M.

Christ's Resurrection, the Pledge of ours. 1 Pet. i. 3-5.
1 BLESSED be the everlasting God,
The Father of our Lord;

Be his abounding mercy praised,
His majesty adored.

2 When from the dead he raised his Son,
And called him to the sky,
He gave our souls a lively hope
That they should never dic.

3 What though his uncontrolled decree
Command our flesh to dust;

Since Christ, our pledge and pattern, rose,
So all his followers must.

4 There's an inheritance divine,
Reserved against that day;

'Tis incorrupted, undefiled,
And fadeth not away.

5 We by thy power, O God! are kept,
Till this deliverance come;

We walk by faith, as strangers here,
Till thou shalt call us home.

150. c. M.

Watts, alt'd.

The Reunion of virtuous Friends after Death.

1 BLESSED hour, when virtuous friends shall meet, Shall meet to part no more,

And with celestial welcome greet,

On an immortal shore.