1. THE short-lived day declines in haste;
The night of death approaches fast;
With rapid speed the moments run,
In which the work of life is done.

2. As flies the shuttle o'er the loom,
So mortals hasten to the tomb;
As ships that skim along the sea,
Or eagles darting on their prey;-
3. As vanishes the fleeting shade,

As flowers before the evening fade,
Such is the life of feeble man;
His days are measured by a span,
4. Be this my one, my great concern,
The way of life and peace to learn;
To know my dear Redeemer's love,
And his renewing grace to prove.

1. ETERNITY is just at hand!
And shall we waste our ebbing sand,
And careless view departing day,
And throw this inch of time away?

2. For all an endless state there is
Of wo extreme, or perfect bliss;
And swift as time fulfils its round,
We to that final doom are bound.

3. What countless millions of mankind
Have left this fleeting world behind

All gone! but where? ah! pause and see—
Gone to a long eternity!

4. Sinner! canst thou for ever dwell

Amid the fiery deeps of hell?

Has death no warning sound for thee?
O turn, and to the Saviour flee.

Select.

Steele.

22.

非

L. M.

One Thing needful.

1. WHY will ye waste on trifling cares
That life which God's compassion spares?
While, in the various range of thought,
The one thing needful is forgot?

2. Shall God invite you from above?
Shall Jesus urge his dying love?
Shall troubled conscience give you pain?
And all these pleas unite in vain?
3. Not so your eyes will always view
Those objects which you now pursue;
Not so will heaven and hell appear,
When death's decisive hour is near.
4. Almighty God! thy grace impart;
Fix deep conviction on each heart;
Nor let us waste on trifling cares

That life which thy compassion spares. Pratt's Coll.

23.

L. M.

Sinners invited to immediate Repentance.

1. WHILE life prolongs its precious light,
Mercy is found, and peace is given;
But soon, ah! soon, approaching night
Shall blot out every hope of heaven.

2. While God invites, how blest the day!
How sweet the gospel's charming sound!
Come, sinners, haste, O, haste away,

While yet a pardoning God is found.

3. Soon, borne on time's most rapid wing, Shall death command you to the grave; Before his bar your spirits bring,

And none be found to hear or save.

4. In that lone land of deep despair

No Sabbath's heavenly light shall rise;
No God regard your bitter prayer;
No Saviour call you to the skies.

Dwight

1. AWAKED from sin's delusive sleep,
My heavy guilt I feel, and weep;
Beneath a weight of woes oppressed,
I come to thee, my God, for rest.

2. Now, from thy throne of bliss above,
Shed down a look of heavenly love;
That balm shall sweeten all my pain,
And bid my soul rejoice again.

3. By thy divine, transforming power,
My ruined nature now restore;
And let my life and temper shine,
In blest resemblance, Lord, to thine.

More.

1. RETURN, O wanderer, now return!
And seek thine injured Father's face;
Those new desires which in thee burn,
Were kindled by reclaiming grace.
2. Return, O wanderer, now return!

He hears thy deep, repentant sigh:
He sees thy softened spirit mourn,
When no intruding ear is nigh.
3. Return, O wanderer, now return!
Thy Saviour bids thy spirit live:
Go to his feet, and grateful learn
How freely Jesus can forgive.
4. Return, O wanderer, now return!
And wipe away the falling tear;
Thy Father calls-"No longer mourn !"
'Tis mercy's voice invites thee near.

Collyer.

26.

L. M.

Invitation to the Weary.

1. COME, weary souls, with sin oppressed,
Oh come! accept the promised rest:
The Saviour's gracious call obey,
And cast your gloomy fears away.

2. Oppressed with guilt, a painful load,
Oh come, and bow before your God!
Divine compassion, mighty love,
Will all the painful load remove,

3. Here mercy's boundless ocean flows,
To cleanse your guilt, and heal your woes;
Here's pardon, life, and endless peace-
How rich the gift! how free the grace!

Steele.

27.

L. M.

"Take not thy Holy Spirit," &c. Ps. li. 11.

1. STAY, thou insulted Spirit, stay,
Though I have done thee such despite,
Nor cast the sinner quite away,

Nor take thine everlasting flight.

2. Though I have most unfaithful been
Of all who e'er thy grace received,
Ten thousand times thy goodness seen,
Ten thousand times thy goodness grieved.

3. Yet O! the chief of sinners spare,
In honor of thy great High Priest;
Nor in thy righteous anger swear,
I shall not see thy people's rest.

4. If yet thou canst my sins forgive,
E'en now, O Lord, relieve
my woes;
Into thy rest of love receive,

And bless me with its calm repose.

5. E'en now my weary soul release,

And raise me by thy gracious hand!
Guide me into thy perfect peace,

And bring me to the promised land. C. Wesley.