297

C. M.

WATTS.

Instruction from Scripture. Ps. 119.

1 HOW shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.

2 When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.

3 "Tis, like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day,

And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.

4 The starry heavens thy rule obey;
The earth maintains her place;
And these thy servants, night and day,
Thy skill and power express.

5 But still thy law and gospel, Lord,
Have lessons more divine;

Not earth stands firmer than thy word,
Nor stars so nobly shine.

6 Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!

That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.

244

Searching the Scriptures.

1 IMPOSTURE shrinks from light,
And dreads the curious eye;
But sacred truths the test invite ;
They bid us search and try.

2 O, may we still maintain

A meek, inquiring mind;
Assured we shall not search in vain,
But hidden treasures find.

3 With understanding blest,
Created to be free,

Our faith on man we dare not rest,
Subject to none but thee.

4 Lord, give the light we need;
With soundest knowledge fill;
From noxious error guard our creed,
From prejudice our will.

5 The truth thou shalt impart
May we with firmness own,
Abhorring each evasive art,
And fearing thee alone.

SCOTT.

WATTS.

Delight in Scripture. Ps. 119.

1 O, HOW I love thy holy law!
"Tis daily my delight;

And thence my meditations draw
Divine advice by night.

2 My waking eyes prevent the day,
To meditate thy word;

My soul with longing melts away
To hear thy gospel, Lord.

3 No treasures so enrich the mind;
Nor shall thy word be sold
For loads of silver well refined,
Nor heaps of shining gold.

4 When nature sinks and spirits droop, Thy promises of grace

Are pillars to support my hope,

And there I write thy praise.

246

1 TO keep the lamp alive,

With oil we fill the bowl;

'Tis water makes the willow thrive,
And grace that feeds the soul.

2 The Lord's unsparing hand
Supplies the living stream;

It is not at our own command,
But still derived from him.

3 Man's wisdom is to seek

His strength in God alone;
And e'en an angel would be weak,
Who trusted in his own.

4 Retreat beneath his wings,
And in his grace confide;

This more exalts the King of kings,
Than all your works beside.

5 In Jesus is our store;

Grace issues from his throne;
Whoever says, "I want no more,"
Confesses he has none.

301

C. M.

COWPER.

Human Frailty.

1 WEAK and irresolute is man;
The purpose of to-day,

Woven with pains into his plan,
To-morrow rends away.

2 Some foe to his upright intent
Finds out his weaker part;
Virtue engages his assent,

But pleasure wins his heart.

3 Bound on a voyage of awful length,
Through dangers little known,
A stranger to superior strength,
Man vainly trusts his own.

4 But oars alone can ne'er prevail
To reach the distant coast;

The breath of heaven must swell the sail,
Or all the toil is lost.

302

C. M.

SCOTCH PARAPHRASES.

God the Source of Strength. Is. xl. 28-31.

1 SUPREME in wisdom, as in power,

'The Rock of ages stands;

Though him thou canst not see, nor trace The working of his hands.