5 Then, followed by a numerous train,
Gathered from heathen lands,

A crown of life may he obtain
From his Redeemer's hands.

254.

"Pray for us." 2 Thes. iii. 1. L. M. 1 MARKED as the purpose of the skies, This promise meets our anxious eyes; That heathen lands the Lord shall know, And, warm with faith, each bosom glow. 2 Even now the hallowed scenes appear: Even now unfolds the promised year. Lo! distant shores Thy heralds trace, And bear the tidings of Thy grace.

3 'Mid burning climes and frozen plains,
Where pagan darkness brooding reigns,
Lord! mark their steps, their fears subdue,
And nerve their arm, and clear their view.
4 When, worn by toil, their spirits fail,
Bid them the glorious future hail;
Bid them the crown of life survey,
And onward urge their conquering way.

NATIONAL HUMILIATION AND INTERCESSION.

255.

"Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake."

Jer. xiv. 21. C. M.

1 LORD! for Thy name's sake. Such the plea,
With force triumphant fraught,
By which Thy saints prevail with Thee,
By Thine own Spirit taught.

2 For this Thou didst existence give
To nature's wondrous frame;

And all things shine, and breathe, and live,
To glorify Thy name.

3 For this the Saviour lived and died,
That, in a new-born race,
Thy mercy might be glorified,
Thine all-victorious grace.

4 Then, for Thy name's sake, O our God! Do not abhor our prayer;

But, while we bow beneath Thy rod,
Thy chastened people spare.

5 Oh, for Thy name's sake, richly grant
The unction from above;

Fulfil Thy holy covenant,
And glorify Thy love.

256. "Sanctify ye a fast." Joel i. 14.

C. M.

1 BEHOLD, O Lord! before Thy throne Thy mourning people bend : 'Tis on Thy sov'reign grace alone Our humble hopes depend.

2 Tremendous judgments from Thy hand, Thy dreadful power display;

Yet mercy spares this guilty land,
And yet we live to pray

3 Great God! and why is Britain spared, Ungrateful as we are?

Oh! make Thy awful warnings heard,
While mercy cries, " Forbear!"

4 Turn us, oh turn us, blessed Lord!
By Thine almighty grace;

Then shall our hearts obey Thy word,
And humbly seek Thy face.

5 Hear Thou our prayers, and grant us aid. Bid war and discord cease:

Heal the sad breach that sin hath made,
And bless our land with peace!

257.

"Who can tell if God will.... turn away from his fierce anger?". Jon. iii. 9.

C. M.

1 LORD! look on all assembled here,
Who in Thy presence stand,

To intercede with vow sincere
For this our sinful land.

2 Oh may we all, with one consent,
Fall low before Thy throne;
With tears the nation's sins lament,
The church's, and our own.

3 Great God of Hosts! deliverance bring;
Guide those who hold the helm;
Support the state, preserve the king,
And spare the guilty realm.

4 Or, should the dread decree be past,
And we must feel the rod,
Let faith and patience hold us fast
To our correcting God!

258. "When the host goeth forth against thine enemies,

then keep thee from every wicked thing.”

Deut. xxiii. 9.

L.M.

1 GREAT God of heaven and earth! arise,
And hear our loud united cries.
See Britain bow before Thy face,
Throughout her isles, and seek Thy grace.

2 Our trust is not in mortal hosts,

Nor in the fleets that guard our coasts.
Thine is the land, and Thine the main,
And human force and skill are vain.

3 Our guilt might draw Thy vengeance down
On every shore, on every town;
But view us, Lord! with pitying eye,
And lay Thy lifted thunder by.

4 Forgive the follies of our times,

And purge our land from all its crimes:
Reformed and decked with grace divine,
Let princes, priests, and people shine.

259. "This God is our God for ever and ever."

Psalm xlviii. 14.

8's.

1 WITH grateful hearts, with joyful tongues, To God we raise united songs;

His power and mercy we proclaim. Through every age may Britons own, Jehovah here has fixed His throne,

And triumph in His mighty name.

2 Long as the moon her course shall run, Or men behold the circling sun,

O God! in Britain hold Thy reign. Crown her just counsels with success ; With truth and peace her borders bless, And all Thy sacred rights maintain.

260.

"For kings and for all that are in authority."
1 Tim. ii. 2. 8's & 6's.

1 LORD! Thou hast bid Thy people pray
For all that bear the sovereign sway,
And as Thy servants reign,-
Rulers, and governors, and powers:
Behold! in faith, we pray for ours;
Nor let us pray in vain.

2 Our Sovereign with Thy favour bless
Stablish the throne in righteousness:
Let wisdom hold the helm :
The counsels of our senate guide;
Let justice in our courts preside.
Rule Thou, and guard the realm.