SCRIPTURE NARRATIVES.
Cain and Abel.
1 SEE the first brothers standing,
Each with his offerings brought:
Say, will the Lord accept them
In their own deed and thought?
2 The elder one approaches;
The product of his land
He offers the Almighty,
And there he takes his stand.
3 And now draws near the younger,
In faith, with loving heart,
Presents a living offering,
Of his own flock a part.
4 The elder scorns the dealing
Of God, his Maker, then :
His face betrays the anger
Of a murderer of men.
5 That man shall be accepted
Who, being taught of God,
Comes to the throne of mercy
By the Redeemer's blood.
The Deluge.
1 LET us now in contemplation
Mark the havoc sin has made;
O what dreadful desolation
Does the works of God invade !
While in ruins
All the world at once is laid.
2 O'er the highest hills prevailing,
See the streaming rains descend;
All the hopes of mortals, failing,
In despair and ruin end:
On what refuge
Shall the sinner now depend?
3 Yet, amid this scene distressing,
Those who in the ark reside,
Full security possessing,
Fearless view the swelling tide:
O how favoured
They who in the ark abide!
4 Such is Christ to true believers :
He from that o'erwhelming flood
Of approaching wrath delivers
By His sweet atoning blood.
In Him only
Can we find a safe abode.
1 WHEN from Esau Jacob fled,
Though his pillow was a stone,
And the ground his humble bed,
Yet he was not left alone.
Lo! he saw a ladder reared,
Reaching to the heavenly throne;
At the top the Lord appeared,
Spake, and claimed him for His own.
2 Fear not, Jacob, thou art mine,
And my presence with thee goes;
On thy heart my love shall shine,
And my arm subdue thy foes;
From my promise comfort take,
For my help in trouble call;
Never will I thee forsake,
Till I have accomplished all.'
3 They who know the Saviour's name,
Are for all events prepared ;
What can changes do to them
Who have such a Guide and Guard?
Should they traverse earth around,
To the ladder still they come ;
Every spot is holy ground,
God is there, and He's their home.
Joseph Sold into Egypt.
1 THE Lord, how wondrous are His ways!
With humble awe repeat His praise;
His judgments are a deep profound,
Where all our scanty thoughts are drowned. 2 See how to Jacob's favourite son
He makes His power and wisdom known;
In him the secrets of His will
He doth mysteriously fulfil.
3 His brethren hate him, and contrive
His death, by whom they all must live;
He's sold at last, and made a slave,
That he their guilty lives might save.
4 Thus Jesus doth His brethren save,
For them His precious life He gave ;
He's hated, sold, condemned, and slain, But rises, o'er His Church to reign. 5 His brethren bow before His throne, And all their vile transgressions own : Jesus, their Brother Jesus, lives, And, with a smile, their guilt forgives. 69
1 YES, Joseph must be sold,
A type of Christ, his Lord;
But God was with him, we are told,
And kept him by His word.
2 How wondrous are the ways
Of Providence on earth!
The darkest and the saddest days
Are often turned to mirth.
3 One day in prison seen,
Another on the throne;
Yet every day the Lord has been
The same toward His own.
Adoption of Moses.
1 CALM the Hebrew infant slept,
In the ark of rushes laid,
While her watch his sister kept,
Eager to afford her aid.
2 Soon was Pharaoh's daughter seen,
With her maidens, drawing nigh,
And the ark, though small and mean,
Caught the notice of her eye.
3 There the lovely babe she saw Just awaking from his sleep; And, yet more her love to draw, Lo! the babe began to weep. 4 Thus was her compassion won
By this Hebrew child forlorn; And the babe became her sonMoses, from the waters drawn. 5 Rescued from a watery grave,
Moses lived to serve the LordLived the chosen tribes to save, And God's wondrous acts record. 6 He who cared for Moses thus, Watches o'er our helplessness; Daily He provides for us,
He our souls with peace can bless.
Deliverance from Egypt. 1 THE righteous many trials have;
But Christ, their King and glorious Head,
From all their troubles them will save,
And plague the wicked in their stead.
2 Though for a time their foes oppress,
And hem them in on every side,
Jehovah is engaged to bless
The souls that in His strength confide.
3 When mountains rise on either hand,
And Pharaoh presses hard behind,
In the deep sea, at God's command,
His people shall salvation find.
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