3 He shall defend, and guide thy course
Through life's uncertain sea,
Till thou art landed on the shores,
Of blest eternity.

4 His service is its own reward,

With peace and pleasure crown'd:
The honey wears no sting, no thorns
Are in the roses found.

5 Then seek the Lord betimes, and choose,
The ways of heav'nly truth:

The earth affords no lovelier sight,
Than a religious youth.

242. Prayer for Divine Guidance. (S. M.)

1

Now,

[OW, in my early days,
Teach me thy will to know;

O God, thy sanctifying grace
Betimes on me bestow.

2 Make an unguarded youth
The object of thy care;

3

4

Help me to chuse the way of truth,
And fly from ev'ry snare.

My heart to folly prone,

Renew by pow'r divine;

Unite it to thyself alone,

And make me wholly thine.

O let thy word of grace,

My warmest thoughts employ ;

Be this through all my following days,
My treasure and my joy.

5 To what thy laws impart,
Be my whole soul inclin'd;
O let them dwell within my heart,
And sanctify my mind.

6

Make thy young servant learn,
By these to cleanse his way;
And may I here the path discern,
That leads to endless day.

243.

1

Early Piety. Matt. xii. 20. (L. M.)

HOW

OW soft the words my Saviour speaks!
How kind the promises he makes!

A bruised reed he never breaks,

Nor will he quench the smoking flax.

2 The humble poor he won't despise,
Nor on the contrite sinner frown:
His ear is open to their cries,
He quickly sends salvation down.

3 When piety in early minds,

Like tender buds, begins to shoot;

He guards the plants from threatening winds,
And ripens blossoms into fruit.

4 With humble souls he bears a part,
In all the sorrows they endure;
Tender and gracious is his heart,
His promise is for ever sure.

5 He sees the struggles that prevail,
Between the powers of grace and sin;
He kindly listens, while they tell,
The bitter pangs they feel within..

6 Though press'd with fears on every side,
They know not how the strife may end;
Yet he will soon the cause decide,
And judgment unto vict'ry send.

244...

To Youth. (P. M.)

1 LEND your ear, ye youthful tribe, And early, Wisdom's words imbibe, To guide your wand'ring way!

Why should you scorn the heav'nly guest?
Your happiness is her request,
She leads to endless day.

2 If you obediently regard,

Her dictates, she a sure reward,
Will in the end confer!
What heav'nly bliss does she unfold!
To rubies and the choicest gold,
Her merchandise prefer.

3 In her right hand she e'er displays
A life of peace, and length of days,-
Relief from guilt and sin :

All needful wealth will she bestow,
Honours from her left hand do flow,
Your youthful hearts to win.

4 How full of pleasantness her ways!
Her paths how full of peace! Her praise
Is sung by every friend;

A tree of life, divinely fair;

Nor death, nor danger, shall they share,
Who Wisdom's voice attend.

5 The Scriptures read, nor shall you miss The road to life and happiness :

There Wisdom's voice is heard.

Jehovah fear, from sin depart,
And give the Saviour all your heart,
And share the rich reward.

6 Be true, benevolent, and pure,
Patiently suffer, and endure

The chast'ning of the Lord: Servant of God, to man a friend, Happy your life, and peace your end; In heav'n your great reward.

245.

זי

BIRTH DAY.

A Birth Day Hymn. (P. M.)

MY Ebenezer raise,

To my kind Redeemer's praise;
With a grateful heart I own,
Hitherto thy help I've known.
2 What may be my future lot,
Well I know concerns me not;
This should set my heart at rest;
What thy will ordains is best.

3 I my all to thee resign;
Father, let thy will be mine;
May but all thy dealings prove,
Fruits of thy paternal love.

4 Guard me, Saviour, by thy power,
Guard me in the trying hour:
Let thy unremitted care,

Save me from the lurking snare.

5 Let my few remaining days,
Be directed to thy praise;
So the last, the closing scene,
Shall be tranquil and serene.

6 To thy will I leave the rest,
Grant me but this one request;
Both in life and death to prove,
Tokens of thy special love.

246.

For a Birth Day. (P.M.)

1 G My cheerful soul I raise,

OD of my life, to thee

Thy goodness bade me be,

Ånd still prolongs my days:

I see my natal hour return,
And bless the day, that I was born.

2 A clod of living earth,

I glorify thy name,

From whom alone my birth,
And all my blessings came;
Creating and preserving grace,
Let all that is within me praise.

3 My soul, and all its powers,
Thine, wholly thine, shall be;
All, all my happy hours,
I consecrate to thee;

Whate'er I have, whate'er I am,
Shall magnify my Maker's name.