The blessing of the Lord shall fall
Upon the dwelling of the just;
While, by the doom of sinners, all
Their hopes shall crumble into dust.

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C. M.

WATTS.

The Way and End of the Righteous and Wicked.

1 MY God, the steps of pious men Are ordered by thy will;

Ps. 37.

Though they should fall, they rise again;
Thy hand supports them still.

2 The Lord delights to see their ways;
Their virtue he approves;

He'll ne'er deprive them of his grace,
Nor leave the men he loves.

3 The heavenly heritage is theirs,
Their portion and their home;

He feeds them now, and makes them heirs
Of blessings long to come.

4 The haughty sinner have I seen,
Nor fearing man nor God,

Like a tall bay-tree fair and green,
Spreading his arms abroad.

5 And, lo! he vanished from the ground,
Destroyed by hands unseen;
Nor root, nor branch, nor leaf, was found
Where all that pride had been.

6 But mark the man of righteousness;
His several steps attend;

True pleasure runs through all his ways,
And peaceful is his end.

426

C. M.

Doddridge.

Walking with God.

1 THRICE happy souls, who, born from heaven,
While yet they sojourn here,
Thus all their days with God begin,
And spend them in his fear!

2 'Midst hourly cares may love present
Its incense to thy throne,

And, while the world our hands employs,
Our hearts be thine alone.

3 As sanctified to noblest ends,
Be each refreshment sought,
And by each various providence

Some wise instruction brought.

4 When to laborious duties called,
Or by temptations tried,

We'll seek the shelter of thy wings,
And in thy strength confide.

5 As different scenes of life arise,
Our grateful hearts would be
With thee amidst the social band,
In solitude with thee.

6 In solid, pure delights like these,
Let all my days be passed;
Nor shall I then impatient wish,
Nor shall I fear, the last.

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427

L. M.

The Christian Race.

WATTS.

1 AWAKE, our souls, away, our fears; Let every trembling thought be gone; Awake, and run the heavenly race,

And put a cheerful courage on.

2 True, 'tis a strait and thorny road, And mortal spirits tire and faint; But they forget the mighty God

That feeds the strength of every saint

3 The mighty God, whose matchless power Is ever new and ever young,

And firm endures while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.

4 From thee, the overflowing Spring,
Our souls shall drink a fresh supply,
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and drop, and die.

5 Swift as an eagle cuts the air,

We'll mount aloft to thine abode;
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.

428

L. M.

The Christian Warfare.

WATTS.

1 STAND up, my soul, shake off thy fears, And gird the gospel armor on;

March to the gates of endless joy,

Where thy great Captain Savior's gone.

2 Hell and thy sins resist thy course;

But hell and sin are vanquished foes; Thy Jesus nailed them to the cross,

And sung the triumph when he rose. 3 Then let my soul march boldly on, Press forward to the heavenly gate; There peace and joy eternal reign, And glittering robes for conquerors wait. 4 There shall I wear a starry crown, And triumph in almighty grace, While all the armies of the skies Join in my glorious Leader's praise.

1 AWAKE, my soul, stretch every nerve, And press with vigor on;

A heavenly race demands thy zeal,
And an immortal crown.

2 A cloud of witnesses around
Hold thee in full survey;
Forget the steps already trod,
And onward urge thy way.

3 'Tis God's all-animating voice,
That calls thee from on high;
"Tis his own hand presents the prize
To thine aspiring eye —

4 That prize, with peerless glories bright,
Which shall new lustre boast,

When victors' wreaths and monarchs' gems
Shall blend in common dust.

430

L. M.

COWPER.

The Christian.

1 HONOR and happiness unite

To make the Christian's name a praise; How fair the scene, how clear the light, That fills the remnant of his days!

2 A kingly character he bears;

No change his priestly office knows;
Unfading is the crown he wears;
His joys can never reach a close.
3 Adorned with glory from on high,
Salvation shines upon his face;
His robe is of the ethereal dye;
His steps are dignity and grace.

4 Inferior honors he disdains,

Nor stoops to take applause from earth;
The King of kings himself maintains
The expenses of his heavenly birth.

5 The noblest creature seen below,
Ordained to fill a throne above,
God gives him all he can bestow
His kingdom of eternal love.

6 My soul is ravished at the thought;
Methinks from earth I see him rise;
Angels congratulate his lot,

And shout him welcome to the skies.

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