4 By nature all are gone astray,
Their practice all the same;

There's none that fears his Maker's hand,
There's none that loves His name.

5 Their tongues are used to speak deceit,
Their slanders never cease;

How swift to mischief are their feet!
Nor know the paths of peace.

6 Such seeds of sin, that bitter root,
In every heart are found;
Nor can they bear diviner fruit,
Till grace refine the ground.

14--PART II.

C. M.

THE FOLLY OF PERSECUTORS.

WATTS.

1 ARE sinners now so senseless grown,
That they the saints devour?
And never worship at Thy throne,
Nor fear Thine awful power?

2 Great God! appear to their surprise,
Reveal Thy dreadful name;

Let them no more Thy wrath despise,
Nor turn our hope to shame.

3 Dost Thou not dwell among the just?
And yet our foes deride,

That we should make Thy name our trust;
Great God! confound their pride.

4 Oh! that the joyful day were come
To finish our distress!

When God shall bring His children home,
Our songs shall never cease.

15

L. M.

THE CHARACTER OF A SAINT.

WATTS.

1 WHO shall ascend Thy heavenly plaee,
Great God! and dwell before Thy face?
The man who minds religion now,
And lives and walks by faith below:

2 Whose hands are pure, whose heart is clean;
Whose lips still speak the thing they mean:
No slanders dwell upon his tongue;
He hates to do his neighbour wrong.
3 Scarce will he trust an ill report,
Nor vent it to his neighbour's hurt:
Sinners of state he can despise;
But saints are honoured in his eyes.

4 Firm to his word he ever stood,
And always makes his promise good;
Nor dares to change the thing he swears,
Whatever pain or loss he bears.

5 He never deals in bribing gold,

And mourns that justice should be sold:
While others scorn and wrong the poor,
Sweet charity attends his door.

6 He loves his enemies, and prays

For those who curse him to his face;
And doth to all men still the same
That he would hope or wish from them.

7 Yet, when his holiest works are done,
His soul depends on grace alone;
This is the man Thy face shall see,
And dwell for ever, Lord! with Thee.

16-PART I.

L. M.

WATTS.

REJOICING IN THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.

1 PRESERVE me, Lord, in time of need
For succour to Thy throne I flee;
But have no merits there to plead :
My goodness cannot reach to Thee.
2 Oft have my heart and tongue confessed
How empty and how poor I am:
My praise can never make Thee blessed,
Nor add new glories to Thy name.

3 Yet, Lord, Thy saints on earth may reap
Some profit by the good we do:
These are the company I keep,

These are the choicest friends I know. 4 Let others choose the sons of mirth, To give a relish to their wine e; I love the men of heavenly birth, Whose thoughts and language are divine.

16-PART II.

L. M.

THE PRECIOUSNESS OF CHRIST.

WATTS.

1 HOW fast their guilt and sorrows rise, Who haste to seek some idol god!

I will not taste their sacrifice,

Their offerings of forbidden blood.
2 My God provides a richer cup,
And nobler food to live upon;
He for my life hath offered up
Jesus, His best beloved Son.

3 His love is my perpetual feast;

By day His counsels guide me right:
And be His name for ever blessed,
Who gives me sweet advice by night.

4 I set Him still before mine eyes;
At my right hand He stands prepared
To keep my soul from all surprise,
And be my everlasting guard.

16-PART III.

L. M.

HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION.

WATTS.

1 WHEN God is nigh, my faith is strong,
His arm is my almighty prop:
Be glad, my heart; rejoice, my tongue;
My dying flesh shall rest in hope.

2 Though in the dust I lay my head,

Yet, gracious God, Thou wilt not leave My soul for ever with the dead;

For Christ hath triumphed o'er the grave. 3 My flesh shall Thy first call obey,

Shake off the dust, and rise on high: Then shalt Thou lead the wondrous way Up to Thy throne above the sky.

4 There streams of endless pleasure flow; And full discoveries of Thy grace,

Which we but tasted here below,

Spread heavenly joys through all the place.

16-PART IV.

C. M.

DIVINE GOODNESS AND COUNSEL.

WATTS.

1 SAVE me, O Lord, from every foe;
In Thee my trust I place:

Though all the good that I can do,
Can ne'er deserve Thy grace.

2 Yet, here, Thy children to sustain
Shall be my loved employ;
Thy children, first and best of men,
My friends, my highest joy.

3 Let heathens to their idols haste,
And worship wood, or stone;
But my delightful lot is cast

Where the true God is known.

4 The Lord provides my constant food,
He fills my daily cup;

Much am I pleased with present good,
But more rejoice in hope.

5 God is my portion and my joy,
His counsels are my light:
He gives me sweet advice by day,
And gentle hints by night.

6 My soul would all her thoughts approve
To His all-seeing eye:

Not death nor hell my hope shall move,
While such a friend is nigh.

17-PART I.

S. M.

WATTS.

THE PORTION OF SAINTS AND SINNERS.

1 ARISE, my gracious God,

And make the wicked flee:
They are but Thy chastising rod,
To drive Thy saints to Thee.

2 Behold, the sinner dies,
His haughty words are vain:
Here in this life his pleasure lies,
And all beyond is pain.

3 Then let his pride advance,
And boast of all his store:
The Lord is my inheritance,
My soul can wish no more.