.3.

Our life contains a thousand springs,
And droops if one be gone;
Strange that a harp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune so long.

4.

'Tis God alone upholds our frame,
Who rear'd it from the dust:
Hosanna to his mighty name,
In whom is all our trust!

FRAIL life of man-how short its stay,
And various as the wind !
Heedless we sport our hours away,
Nor think of death behind.

2.

See the fair cheek of beauty fade,
Frail glory of an hour;

And blooming youth, with sickening head,
Droop like a dying flower.

3.

Wealth, pomp, and honour we behold,
With an admiring eye,

Like summer's insects dress'd in gold,
That flutter, shine, and die.

4.

Then rise, my soul! and soar away,
Above the thoughtless crowd,
Above the pleasures of the gay,
And splendours of the proud,

5.

Where everlasting beauties bloom,
And pleasures all divine;

Where wealth that never can consume,
And endless glories shine.

149. L. M.

The Frailty of Human Life.

1.

THE morning flowers display their sweets,
And gay their silken leaves unfold,
As careless of the noon-day heats,
As fearless of the evening cold.

2.

Nipt by the wind's unkindly blast,
Parch'd by the sun's directer ray,
The momentary glories waste,
The short-liv'd beauties die away.

3.

So blooms the human face divine,
When youth its pride and beauty shews;
Fairer than spring the colours shine,
And sweeter than the opening rose.

4.

Or worn by slowly rolling years,
Or broke by sickness in a day,
The fading glory disappears,
The short liv'd beauties die away.

5.

Yet these, new-rising from the tomb,
With lustre brighter far shall shine,
Revive with ever-during bloom,
Safe from diseases and decline.

6.

Though sickness blast, and death devour, Yet heaven will recompense our pains: The grass may fade, and droop the flower, But firm the word of God remains.

150. c. M.

Earthly and Heavenly Treasures compared These mortal joys, how soon they fade! How swift they pass away !

The dying flower reclines its head,
The beauty of a day.

2.

Soon are those earthly treasures lost,
We fondly call our own;

Scarce the possession can we boast,
When straight we find them gone.

3.

But there are joys, which cannot die,
With God laid up in store,-
Treasures beyond the changing sky,
Brighter than golden ore.

4.

The seeds, which piety and love
Have scatter'd here below,
In the fair fertile fields above,
To ample harvests grow.

151. c. M.
C.

Old Age anticipated.

WHEN in the vale of lengthen'd years
My feeble feet shall tread,

And I survey the various scenes
Through which I have been led:

2.

How many mercies will my life
Before my view unfold!

What countless dangers will be past,
What tales of sorrow told!

3.

But oh! my soul! if thou canst say,
I've seen my GOD in all;
In every trouble own'd his hand,
In every gift his call;

4.

If piety has mark'd my steps,
And love my actions form'd,
And purity possess'd my heart,
And truth my lips adorn'd;

5.

If I an aged servant am

Of Jesus and of GOD,

I need not fear the closing scene,
Nor dread the appointed road.
6.

This scene will all my labours end;
This road conduct on high;
With comfort I'll review the past,
And triumph, though I die.

152. L. M.

Improvement of the Shortness of Life.

1.

THE short-liv'd day declines in haste;
The night of death approaches fast;
With rapid speed the moments run,
In which the work of life is done.
N

2.

With willing hearts, and active hands,
LORD! may we practise thy commands,
Improve the moments as they fly,
And live as we would wish to die.

153. s. M.

The Shortness and Uncertainty of Life. TO-MORROW, LORD! is thine, Lodg'd in thy sovereign hand; And if its sun arise and shine, It shines by thy command.

2.

The present moment flies,
And bears our lives away;
Oh make thy servants truly wise,
That they may live to-day!

3.

Since on this winged hour
Eternity is hung,

Waken, by thy almighty power,
The aged and the young.

4.

One thing demands our care;
Oh be it still pursu'd!

Lest, slighted once, the season fair
Should never be renew'd.

154. L. M.

Wisdom of improving Time.

GOD of eternity! from thee

Did infant time its being draw;

Moments, and days, and months, and years, Revolve by thy unvaried law.