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

298
S. M.

Scott. 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.

299
C. M.

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

SECTION III.

DIVINE INFLUENCES CELEBRATED AND

SOUGHT.

300
S. M.

COWPER.
Dependence.
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.

247

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.