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HYMN 203. c. M.

Holy zeal and diligence.

WHILE carnal men, with all their might,
Earth's vanities pursue,

How slow the advances which I make,
With heaven itself in view!

Inspire my soul with holy zeal;
Great God, my love inflame:
Religion, without zeal and love,
Is but an empty name.

To gain the top of Sion's hill,
May I with fervour strive;

And all those powers employ for thee,
Which I from thee derive!

HYMN 204. s. M.

Watchfulness enjoined.

YE servants of the Lord,

Each in his office wait,

Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.

Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins, as in his sight,
For awful is his name.

Watch, 'tis your Lord's command;
And while we speak, he's near;
Mark the first signal of his hand,
And ready all appear.

O happy servant he,

In such a posture found!

He shall his Lord with rapture see,

And be with honour crown'd.

HYMN 205. c. M.

"O that I were as in months past."

1 O FOR a closer walk with God, A calm and heavenly frame; A light to shine upon the road

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That leads me to the Lamb!
Where is the blessedness I knew,
When first I saw the Lord?
Where is the soul-refreshing view
Of Jesus and his word?

What peaceful hours I then enjoy'd!

How sweet their memory still!

But now I find an aching void
The world can never fill.

Return, O holy Dove, return,
Sweet messenger of rest!

I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
And drove thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
Whate'er that idol be,

Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame :

So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

HYMN 206. L. M.

"Wilt thou not revive us again ?"

10 FOR that flame of living fire,

Which shone so bright in saints of old!
Which bade their souls to heaven aspire,
Calm in distress, in danger bold!

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Where is that Spirit, Lord, which dwelt
In Abraham's breast and seal'd him thine?
Which made Paul's heart with sorrow melt,
And glow with energy divine?

Is not thy grace as mighty now,
As when Elijah felt its power?
When glory beam'd from Moses' brow,
Or Job endur'd the trying hour?

Remember, Lord, the ancient days,
Renew thy work, thy grace restore;
Warm our cold hearts to prayer and praise,
And teach us how to love thee more.

HYMN 207. C. M.

For a new heart and a right spirit.

1 O MAY my Leart, by grace renew'd, Be my Redeemer's throne!

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And be my stubborn will subdued,
His government to own.

Let deep repentance, faith, and love,

Be join'd with godly fear;

And all my conversation prove
My soul to be sincere.

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Preserve me from the snares of sin,

And Satan's treacherous ways;

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Around me let each virtue shine

That brings my Saviour praise.

Let lively hope my soul inspire,
Let warm affections rise;
And may I wait with strong desire,
To meet thee in the skies.

HYMN 208. L. M.

Meditation.

1 MY God, permit me not to be
A stranger to myself and thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove,
Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Call me away from flesh and sense,
Thy sovereign word can draw me thence;
I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior joys resign.

3 Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn, Let noise and vanity begone;

In secret silence of the mind,

My heaven, and there my God I find.

HYMN 209. c. M.

Retirement.

1 FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree;
And seem by thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow thee.

3 There if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode,

O with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God!

4 There like the nightingale she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,
Nor thirsts for human praise,

5 Author and guardian of my life,
Sweet source of light divine;
And, all harmonious names in one,
My Saviour, thou art mine.

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What thanks I owe thee, and what love!
A boundless, endless store

Shall echo through the realms above,

When time shall be no more.

HYMN 210. C. M.

Secret devotion.

FATHER divine, thy piercing eye
Strikes through the shades of night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart-discerning sight.

There may that piercing eye survey
My duteous homage paid,
With every morning's dawning ray,
And every evening's shade.

O let thine own celestial fire
The incense still inflame,
While my warm vows to thee aspire,
Through my Redeemer's name!

So shall the visits of thy love
My soul in secret bless;
So shalt thou deign in worlds above
Thy suppliant to confess.

HYMN 211. L. M.

"Pray without ceasing."

1 PRAYER was appointed to convey
The blessings God designs to give:
Long as they live should christians pray,
For only while they pray they live.