And when I read his holy word,

I called each promise mine. 4 But now—when evening shade prevails

My soul in darkness mourns:
And when the morn the light reveals,

No light to me returns.
5 Rise, Lord, and help me to prevail-

Oh make my soul thy care! I know thy mercy cannot fail ;

Let me that mercy share.

L. M. 299

Mourning over departed Comforts.
OH where is now that glowing love,

That marked our union with the Lord?
Our hearts were fixed on things above,

Nor could the world a joy afford. 2 Where is the zeal that led us then

To make our Saviour's glory known? That freed us from the fear of men,

And kept our eye on him alone ?
3 Where are the happy seasons spent

In fellowship with him we loved ?
The sacred joy—the sweet content,

The blessedness that then we proved ? 4 Behold, again, we turn to thee;

Oh cast us not away, though vile !
No peace we have—no joy we see,

OʻLord our God, but in tny smile.

7s.

300 ONCE I thought my mountain strong,

Firmly fixed, no more to move ;

Then my Saviour was my song,

Then my soul was filled with love: Those were happy, golden days,

Sweetly spent in prayer and praise. 2 Little then myself I knew,

Little thought of Satan's power ;
Now I feel my sins anew,

Now I feel the stormy hour;
Sin has put my joys to fight,

Sin has turned my day to night.
3 Saviour, shine, and cheer my soul,

Bid my dying hopes revive ;
Make my wounded spirit wholc,

Far away the tempter drive :
Speak the word, and set me free,
Let me live alone to thee.

C. M. 301

Backsliding and Returning.
WHY is my heart so far from thee,

My God, my chief delight?
Why are my thoughts no more by day

With thee, no more by night? 2 When my forgetful soul renews

The savor of thy grace,
My heart presumes I cannot lose

The relish all my days.
3 But ere one fleeting hour is past,

The flattering world employs Some sensual bait to seize my taste,

And to pollute my joys. 4 Wretch that I am !-to wander thus,

In chase of false delight!

Let me be fastened to thy cross,
Nor ever lose thy sight.

S. M. 302

Departure from Christ lamented.
OH thou, who on the cross

Didst for my sins atone,
Although rebellious, and perverse,

Do not a child disown! 2 Thine by a thousand ties

I am, and still would be;
Confirm my faith_inflame my love,
And draw my soul to thee.

L. M. 303

Returning and choosing God.
MY gracious Lord, whose changeless love

To me nor earth nor hell can part,
When shall my feet forget to rove?

Ah! what shall fix this faithless heart? 2 Why do these cares my soul divide,

If thou indeed hast set me free?
Why am I thus, if thou hast died-

If thou hast died to ransom me?
3 Great God, thy sovereign aid impart,

And guard the gifts thyself hast given: My portion thou, my treasure art,

My life, my happiness, and heaven. 4 Would aught with thee my wishes share,

Though dear as life the idol be, That idol from my breast I'll tear,

Resolved to seek my all from thee. 5 Whate'er I fondly counted mine,

To thee, my Lord, I here restore:

1

With joy I all for thee resign;

Give me thyself—I ask no more. 304

S. M. MY soul, review the time

In which my God I sought; I cried aloud for aid divine,

And aid divine he brought. 2 Through all my fainting heart

His secret vigor spread;
To me his strength he did impart,

And raised my drooping head. 3 Now will I raise my voice,

In loud and cheerful song; With all the saints will I rejoice,

Who to his courts belong.
4 With them the path I'll trace,

Which leads to his abode;
With them I'll sing redeeming grace,

Along the joyful road. 5 Within his sacred walls,

I shall be ever blest;
I'll follow where my Father calls,

And seek his heavenly rest.

8s & 4s.

305

Restoration of God's Favor implored.
CREATE, O God, my powers anew,
Make my whole heart sincere and true;
Oh cast me not in wrath away,
Nor let thy soul-enlivening ray

Still cease to shine.

L. M.

2 Restore thy favor, bliss divine !

Those heavenly joys that once were mine;
Let thy good Spirit, kind and free,
Uphold and guide my steps to thee,

Thou God of love,
3 Then will I teach thy sacred ways;

With holy zeal proclaim thy praise;
Till sinners leave the dangerous road,
Forsake their sins, and turn to God

With hearts sincere.
4 Oh cleanse my guilt, and heal my pain ;

Remove the blood-polluted stain:
Then shall my heart adoring trace,
My Saviour God, the boundless grace,

That flows from thee. 306

The Christian's Despondency rebuked. WHY, on the bending willows hung,

Israel! still sleeps thy tuneful string ?Still mute remains thy sullen tongue,

And Zion's song denies to sing ? 2 Awake!-thy sweetest raptures raise ;

Let harp and voice unite their strains : Thy promised King his sceptre sways;

Jesus, thine own Messiah, reigns! 3 By foreign streams no longer roam;

Nor, weeping, think of Jordan's food : In every clime behold a home,

In every temple see thy God. 307

Spiritual Insensibility deplored,
OH! what that frozen heart can move,
That melts not at the Saviour's love?
What can that sluggish spirit raise,
That will not sing the Saviour's praise ?

L. M.