VI. CAUTIONS.

LXVIII. C. The new Convert.

1 THE new-born child of Gospel-grace, Like some fair tree when summer's nigh, Beneath Immanuel's shining face

Lifts up his blooming branch on high.

2 No fears he feels, he sees no foes,
No conflict yet his faith employs ;
Nor has he learnt to whom he owes
The strength and peace his soul enjoys.

3 But sin soon darts its cruel sting,
And comforts sinking day by day;
What seem'd his own, a self-fed spring,
Proves but a brook that glides away.

4 When Gideon arm'd his num'rous host, The Lord soon made his numbers less; And said, lest Israel vainly boast*,

'My arm procur'd me this success.' 5 Thus will he bring our spirits down,

And draw our ebbing comforts low,
That, sav'd by grace, but not our own,

We may not claim the praise we owe.

LXIX. C. True and false Comforts.

1 O God, whose favourable eye
The sin-sick soul revives,
Holy and heav'nly is the joy
Thy shining presence gives.

2 Not such as hypocrites suppose,
Who, with a graceless heart,
Taste not of thee, but drink a dose
Prepar'd by Satan's art.

* Judges vii. 2.

3 Intoxicating joys are theirs,

Who, while they boast their light,
And seem to soar above the stars,
Are plunging into night.

4 Lull'd in a soft and fatal sleep,
They sin, and yet rejoice:
Were they indeed the Saviour's sheep,
Would they not hear his voice?

5 Be mine the comforts that reclaim
The soul from Satan's pow'r;
That make me blush for what I am,
And hate my sin the more.

6 'Tis joy enough, my All in All,
At thy dear feet to lie;
Thou wilt not let me lower fall,
And none can higher fly.

`LXX.-True and false Zeal.

1 ZEAL is that pure and heav'nly flame
The fire of love supplies;

While that which often bears the name
Is self in a disguise.

2. True zeal is merciful and mild,

Can pity and forbear;

The false is headstrong, fierce, and wild,

And breathes revenge

and war.

3 While zeal for truth the Christian warms, He knows the worth of peace;

But self contends for names and forms,
Its party to increase.

4 Zeal has attain'd its highest aim,
Its end is satisfy'd,

If sinners love the Saviour's name;

Nor seeks it aught beside.

5 But self, however well employ'd,
Has its own ends in view;
And says, as boasting Jehu cry'd,
'Come, see what I can do*.?'

6 Self may its poor reward obtain,
And be applauded here;

But zeal the best applause will gain,
When Jesus shall appear.

7 Dear Lord, the idol self dethrone,
And from our hearts remove;

And let no zeal by us be shown,
But that which springs from love.

LXXI. C. A living and a dead Faith.
1 THE Lord receives his highest praise
From humble minds and hearts sincere ;
While all the loud professor says
Offends the righteous Judge's ear.

2 To walk as children of the day,
To mark the precepts' holy light,
To wage the warfare, watch and pray,
Shew who are pleasing in his sight.
S Not words alone it cost the Lord,

To purchase pardon for his own;
Nor will a soul by grace restor❜d

Return the Saviour words alone.

4 With golden bells the priestly vest,

And rich pomegranates border'd round +, The need of holiness express'd,

And call'd for fruit as well as sound.

5 Easy, indeed, it were to reach
A mansion in the courts above,
If swelling words and fluent speech
Might serve instead of faith and love.

* 2 Kings x. 16.

↑ Exod. xxviii. 33.

6 But none shall gain the blissful place,
Or God's unclouded glory see,
Who talks of free and sov'reign grace,
Unless that grace has made him free.

LXXII. C. Abuse of the Gospel.
1 Too many, Lord, abuse thy grace,
In this licentious day;

And, while they boast they see thy face,
They turn their own away.

2 Thy book displays a gracious light,
That can the blind restore;
But these are dazzled by the sight,
And blinded still the more.

3 The pardon such presume upon,
They do not beg, but steal;
And, when they plead it at thy throne,
Oh! where's the Spirit's seal?

4 Was it for this, ye lawless tribe,
The dear Redeemer bled?

Is this the grace the saints imbibe
From Christ the living Head?

5 Ah! Lord, we know thy chosen few
Are fed with heav'nly fare;

But these, the wretched husks they chew
Proclaim them what they are.

6 The liberty our hearts implore,
Is not to live in sin;

But still to wait at Wisdom's door,
Till mercy calls us in.

LXXIII. C. The narrow Way.

1 WHAT thousands never know the road! What thousands hate it when 'tis known! None but the chosen tribes of God

Will seek or choose it for their own.

2 A thousand ways in ruin end,

One only leads to joys on high;
By that my willing steps ascend,
Pleas'd with a journey to the sky.
3 No more I ask, or hope to find,
Delight or happiness below;
Sorrow may well possess the mind
That feeds where thorns and thistles

4 The joy that fades is not for me,
I seek immortal joys above;
There glory without end shall be
The bright reward of faith and love.
5 Cleave to the world, ye sordid worms!
Contented lick your native dust;
But God shall fight with all his storms,
Against the idol of your trust.

LXXIV. C. Dependence.

1 To keep the lamp alive, With oil we fill the bowl;

2

4

"Tis water makes the willow thrive,
And grace that feeds the soul.
The Lord's unsparing hand
Supplies the living stream;
It is not at our own command,
But still deriv'd from him.
Beware of Peter's word*,
Nor confidently say,
'I never will deny thee, Lord,'

But Grant I never may.'

Man's wisdom is to seek
His strength in God alone;

And e'en an ungel would be weak,
Who trusted in his own.

* Matt. xxvi. 33.

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