176

Psalm xxxi. 3.

1-Gently, Lord! O gently lead us
Thro' this gloomy vale of tears,
Thro' the changes Thou'st decreed us,
Till our last great change appears.
Oh! refresh us with Thy blessing,
Oh! refresh us with Thy grace,
May Thy mercies never ceasing,
Fit us for Thy dwelling place.

2-When temptation's darts assail us,
When in devious paths we stray,
Let Thy goodness never fail us,
Lead us in Thy perfect way.
Oh! refresh us with Thy blessing, &c.

3-In the hour of pain and anguish,

In the hour when death draws near,
Suffer not our hearts to languish,

Suffer not our souls to fear.

Oh! refresh us with Thy blessing, &c.

4--When this mortal life is ended,

Bid us in Thine arms to rest,

Till by angel hands attended,

We awake among the blest.

Oh! refresh us with Thy blessing, &c.

8.7.

5-Then O crown us with Thy blessing,
Thro' the triumphs of Thy grace,
Then shall praises never ceasing,
Echo thro' Thy dwelling place.

Oh! refresh us with Thy blessing, &c.

177

Job. iii. 18.

S.M.

1-Lie down, frail body, here,
Earth has no fairer bed,
No gentler pillow to afford,
Come, rest thy home-sick head.

2-Lie down, with all thy aches,
There is no aching here ;

How soon shall all thy life-long ills
For ever disappear!

3-Thro' these well-guarded gates
No foe can entrance gain;

No sickness wastes, nor once intrudes
The memory of pain.

4-Foot-sore and worn thou art,

Breathless with toil and fight;

How welcome now the long-sought rest
Of this all-tranquil night!

5-Rest for the toiling hand,

Rest for the thought-worn brow,
Rest for the weary, way-sore feet,
Rest from all labour now.

6-Rest for the fever'd brain,

Rest for the throbbing eye;

Thro' these parch'd lips of thine no more the moan or sigh.

Shall pass

7-Soon shall the trump of God

Give out the welcome sound,

That shakes thy silent chamber walls,
And breaks the turf-seal'd ground.

8-Ye dwellers in the dust,

Awake, come forth, and sing;
Sharp has your frost of winter been,
But bright shall be your spring.

9-Twas sown in weakness here;
"Twill then be raised in power.

That which was sown an earthly seed,
Shall rise a heavenly flower.

BONAR.

178

Isaiah. xliii. 1.

C.M.

1-Ye trembling souls, dismiss your fears,

Be mercy

all your theme,

Mercy, which like a river flows

In one continual stream.

2-Fear not the powers of earth or hell;
God will these powers restrain,
His mighty arm their rage repel
And make their efforts vain.

3—Fear not the want of outward good ;
He will for His provide,

Grant them supplies of daily food,

And all they need beside.

4-Fear not that He will e'er forsake,
Or leave His work undone ;
He's faithful to His promises,
And faithful to His Son.

5-Fear not the terrors of the grave,
Or death's tremendous sting;
He will from endless wrath preserve,
To endless glory bring.

6-You, in His wisdom, power, and grace,
May confidently trust;

His wisdom guides, His power protects,
His grace rewards the just.

BEDDOME.

179

Heb. xii. 2.

P.M.

1-Jesus in thy memory keep,

Would'st thou be God's child and friend;

Jesus in thy heart shrin'd deep,
Still thy gaze on Jesus bend.
In thy toiling, in thy resting,
Look to Him with every breath,
Look to Jesu's life and death.

2-Look to Jesus, till reviving

Faith and love thy life-springs swell;
Strength for all things good deriving
From Him who did all things well:
Work, as He did, in thy season,
Works which shall not fade away,
Work while it is call'd to-day.

3-Look to Jesus, prayerful, waking,
When thy feet on roses tread ;
Follow, worldly pomp forsaking,
With thy cross where He hath led
Look to Jesus in temptations,
Baffled shall the tempter flee,
And God's angels come to Thee.