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, What though earthly friends forsake us, Neither earth nor hell can shake us, 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; Jehovah, great I AM! By earth and heav'n confess'd, The God of Abr'ham praise, I all on earth forsake, Its wisdom, fame and power, The God of Abr❜ham praise, He calls a worm his friend! He calls himself my God! And He shall save me to the end, He by himself hath sworn, I shall, on eagles' wings upborne, I shall behold his face, I shall his pow'r adore, And sing the wonders of his grace 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 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; 333 THE SINS OF YOUTH. "Remember not the sins of my youth."-PSALM XXV. 7. THO' HO' we are young our sins are great, 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; Thy holy day we oft profane, And thy good Spirit grieve; We hear thy word, but hear in vain ; Oft to bad tempers we give way, And ill designs conceive, The Saviour died our guilt to bear, That we might to him live; Hence we with hope present this prayer, 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, Since they who early seek shall find. The Holy Ghost thou dost impart, If we for years the Lord neglect, May we then spend our youthful days, |