40

ABRAHAM'S FAITH.

"And he went out, not knowing whither he went."

HEBREWS xi. 8.

REAT the promises and precious,

GR

Giv'n to Abr'ham and his seed! Hear us, thou all good and gracious, While those promises we plead. "Leave thy father's house and nation," Was the mandate of the Lord; "I will be thy boundless portion, Thine exceeding great reward."

On that word of promise resting,
Abr'ham left his father's house;
Hoping against hope, and trusting,
He renew'd his cov'nant vows.
Lord, look down on Abr'ham's offspring,
Suppliants at thy throne of grace;
Through this world direct our wand'ring,
Guide us to our resting place.

What though earthly friends forsake us,
For the blest Messiah's cause;

Neither earth nor hell can shake us,
While we cling to his dear cross.

Jesus and his love possessing,

Let a scornful world deride;

Blest in him with ev'ry blessing,

We can give up all beside.

41

THE GOD OF ABRAHAM.

"I am the God of Abraham thy father."-GENESIS XXVI. 24.

THE God of Abr'ham praise,

Who reigns enthron'd above;
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of love!

Jehovah, great I AM!

By earth and heav'n confess'd,
I bow and bless the sacred name,
For ever bless'd.

The God of Abr'ham praise,
At whose supreme command
From earth I rise, and seek the joys
At his right hand.

I all on earth forsake,

Its wisdom, fame and power,
And Him my only portion make,
My Shield and Tower.

The God of Abr❜ham praise,
Whose all-sufficient grace
Shall guide me all my happy days,
In all His ways:

He calls a worm his friend!

He calls himself my God!

And He shall save me to the end,
Through Jesu's blood.

He by himself hath sworn,
I on his oath depend;

I shall, on eagles' wings upborne,
To heaven ascend:

I shall behold his face,

I shall his pow'r adore,

And sing the wonders of his grace
For evermore.

42

THE BIBLE.

"More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb."-PSALM xix. 10.

G

REAT God, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look;

But still thy wisdom, power, and grace,

Shine brightest in thy Book.

Here are my choicest Treasures hid;

Here my best comfort lies;

Here my desires are satisfied,

And hence my hopes arise.

Lord, make me understand thy law;
Shew what my faults have been;
And from thy Gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

333

THE SINS OF YOUTH.

"Remember not the sins of my youth."-PSALM XXV. 7.

THO'

HO' we are young our sins are great,
In sin we daily live;

O Lord, our souls anew create,

Our youthful sins forgive.

We do not love thee as we ought,

For favours we receive;

We sin in word, and deed, and thought;
These youthful sins forgive.

Thy holy day we oft profane,

And thy good Spirit grieve;

We hear thy word, but hear in vain ;
These youthful sins forgive.

Oft to bad tempers we give way,

And ill designs conceive,
And often we neglect to pray ;
These youthful sins forgive.

The Saviour died our guilt to bear,

That we might to him live;

Hence we with hope present this prayer,
Our youthful sins forgive.

34 BLESSING OF EARLY RELIGION.

"Those that seek me early shall find me."-PROVERBS viii. 17.

ELP us, O Lord, to seek thy grace,

HE

Now in the morning of our days; For thy good word doth us remind, That they who early seek shall find.

We all thy pardoning mercy need,
For sins of thought, and word, and deed;
And for us mercy is design'd,

Since they who early seek shall find.

The Holy Ghost thou dost impart,
To teach, renew, and cheer the heart;
This gift we seek with hopeful mind,
Since they who early seek shall find.

If we for years the Lord neglect,
He may in wrath our souls reject,
And leave us to our harden'd mind;
But they who early seek shall find.

May we then spend our youthful days,
In seeking every needful grace;
And feel, till to the grave consign'd,
That they who early seek shall find.