His arms embrace this happy ground,
Like brazen bulwarks built around.
5 God is our shield, and God our sun;
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us he sheds new beams of grace,
And we reflect his brightest praise..

A GARDEN.

CCCXXXII. C. M. SWAIN.
The garden of grace.

GARDEN fenc'd from common earth,
By special sov'reign grace,

Enrich'd by plants of heav'nly birth,

The Church of Jesus is.

2 His gospel is the open sky,
His love the shining sun;
Rivers of peace, which never dry,
Through all this garden run.

3 His spirit is the heav'nly wind
That o'er this garden blows:
And op'ning each renewed mind,
The Saviour's image shows.

4 Faith, like an ivy, to the rock

(That stands for ever,) cleaves; And through the tempest's loudest shock, Eternal calm perceives.

5 Assurance, like a cedar, rears
It's stately branches high,

Beyond the reach of doubts and fears,
And blossoms in the sky.

1

ASKING THE WAY TO ZION.

CCCXXXIII. C. M.

DODDRIDGE.

Asking the way to Zion. Jer. 1. 5.
INQUIRE, ye pilgrims, for the way,
That leads to Zion's hill,

And thither set your steady face,
With a determin'd will.

2 Invite the strangers all around
Your pious march to join;
And spread the sentiments you feel
Of faith and love divine.

3 O come, and to his temple haste,
And seek his favor there;
Before his footstool humbly bow,
And pour your fervent prayer!
4 O come, and join your souls to God
In everlasting bands,

1

Accept the blessings he bestows,
With thankful hearts and hands.

CHURCH MEETINGS.

CCCXXXIV.

S. M. S. STENNETT,

Praise for conversion. Psalm lxiv. 16.

COME, ye

(OME, ye that fear the Lord,
And listen while I tell,

How narrowly my feet escap'd
The snares of death and hell.

2 The flatt'ring joys of sense
Assail'd my foolish heart,
While Satan, with malicious skill,
Guided the poisonous dart.

a I fell beneath the stroke,
But fell to rise again;

My anguish rous'd me into life,
And pleasure sprung from pain.
4 Darkness and shame and grief.
Oppress'd my gloomy mind;
I look'd around me for relief,
But no relief could find.

5 At length, to God I cry'd;
He heard my plaintive sigh,
He heard, and instantly he sent
Salvation from on high.

6 My drooping head he rais'd,

My bleeding wounds he heal'd,
Pardon'd my sins, and with a smile
The gracious pardon seal'd.

7 O! may I ne'er forget

The mercy of my God;

Nor ever want a tongue to spread
His loudest praise abroad.

CCCXXXV. C. M. RIP. SEL.

The Conversion of sinners a matter for Prayer and Praise.

1 THERE's joy in heaven, and joy on earth, When prodigals return,

To see desponding souls rejoice,

And haughty sinners mourn.

2 "Come saints, and hear what God hath done,” Is a reviving sound:

O may it spread from sea to sea,
E'en all the globe around.

3 Often, O sovereign Lord, renew
The wonders of this day;

That Jesus here may see his seed,

And Satan lose his

prey.

4 Great God the work is all thine own,
Thine be the praises too,

Let every heart and every tongue
Give thee the glory due.

CCCXXXVI.

C. M.

NEWTON.

Apostacy-Will ye also go away? HEN any turn from Zion's way, (Alas! what numbers do!)

1 WH

Methinks I hear my Saviour say,
"Wilt thou forsake me too?"

2 Ah, Lord! with such a heart as mine, Unless thou hold me fast;

I feel I must I shall decline,
And prove like them at last.

3 Yet thou alone hast power, I know,
To save a wretch like me:
To whom, or whither, could I go,
If I should turn from thee?

4 Beyond a doubt I rest assur'd
Thou art the Christ of God;
Who hast eternal life secur'd
By promise and by blood.

5 The help of men and angels join'd,
Could never reach my case;

Nor can I hope relief to find,
But in thy boundless grace.

6 No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;

No love but thine can make me bless'd,
And satisfy my heart.

7 What anguish has that question stirr'd, If I will also go?

1

Yet, Lord, relying on thy word,
I humbly answer, No!

TH

CCCXXXVII. L. M.

STEELE.

To whom shall we go but unto thee? or, Life and
safety in Christ alone. John vi. 67—69.
HOU only Sovereign of my heart,
My Refuge, my almighty Friend-
And can my soul from thee depart,
On whom alone my hopes depend?
2 Whither, ah! whither shall I go,

A wretched wanderer from my Lord?
Can this dark world of sin and woe,
One glimpse of happiness afford?

3 Eternal life thy words impart,

On these my fainting spirit lives, Here sweeter comforts cheer my heart Than all the round of nature gives. 4 Let earth's alluring joys combine,

While thou art near, in vain they call;
One smile, ene blissful smile of thine,
My dearest Lord, outweighs them all.
5 Thy name my inmost powers adore,
Thou art my life, my joy, my care:
Depart from thec-'tis death, 'tis more
"Tis endless ruin, deep despair!

6 Low at thy feet my soul would lie,
Here safety dwells, and peace divine;
Still let me live beneath thine eye,
For life, eternal life is thine.