WATCH! for there are foes abroad
Who would tempt thy soul from God;
Dangers in the world are found,
Evil men are all around;
Watch! or thou wilt surely stray,
Wandering from the narrow way.
But as thou art weak and frail, How shall watchfulness avail ? Only by prayer-on bended knee, Ask the Lord to succour thee; Watch and pray! no earthly fear Can harm thee, if thy God is near.
thou hast a heart within Full of vanity and sin;
Evil wandering thoughts are there,
Thoughts of bitterness and care;
Watch lest some unguarded hour
Yield it to corruption's power.
That deceitful heart of thine,
Is only kept by power divine;
Therefore pray, the God of grace
Will make it his abiding place;
Watch and pray! thou canst not fail,
Spirit shall o'er flesh prevail.
Watch! for all around thee dwell
Hosts of darkness sent from hell,
Evil spirits full of power,
Satan roaring to devour;
Watch! or thou shalt perish still,
Captive led at Satan's will.
Know the strength of man is weak,
Strength divine 'tis thine to seek,
Therefore pray! "Almighty power,
"Sustain me in temptation's hour,
"Give me thy grace that I may stand
"Strengthened by my Saviour's hand.”
Then at last thy conflict o'er,
Thou shalt watch and pray no more;
Prayer shall turn to endless praise,
Watching end in victory's lays,
And the Saviour's rest shall be
Thine throughout eternity.
WRITTEN IN A POCKET TESTAMENT.
SAY! wouldst thou live? this hallow'd page shall tell
Where life's best joys, and holiest pleasures dwell; Say! must thou die ? then praise this sacred lore That points to worlds where death shall reign no
Living or dying this shall soothe thy pain, Teaching, "To live is Christ, to die is gain."
BE glad ye heavens, thou earth rejoice,
Man! spread through every nation,
With joyful and triumphant voice,
The gospel of salvation:
Publish his glory, and his praise
Whose word his work sustaineth,
And gratefully his anthem raise,
Rejoice! the Lord yet reigneth!
Before His footstool prostrate fall,
Whose gracious bounty giveth
To each created object—all
On which enjoyment liveth :-
From Him alone each good descends,
His arm each ill restraineth;
Then tell to earth's remotest ends,
The Lord in glory reigneth!
Praise Him for all that ye possess
Of riches, glory, power;-
Ye who have neither, yet may bless
His goodness every hour:
His watchful and protecting eye
The meanest ne'er disdaineth,
Raise then, ye poor, your voice on high, For you, for you, He reigneth.
But chiefly for salvation's gift,
Of which He is the donor,
Angels and men, your voices lift,
In songs of praise and honour:
O sing with gratitude His name
Whose death our life regaineth,
The love of Jesus loud proclaim,
The Lord of glory reigneth.
CHRISTIAN, arise, depart!
For this is not your rest:
Earth's joys are false and fleeting,
Its treasures are unblest.
A world that sin o'erclouds,
A world from grief ne'er free,
Can not for God's own children
A rest eternal be.
No seek a better land,
Press towards a happier home,
And set your heart's affections
On blessings yet to come.
Seek joys that cannot fail,
Let all your strength be given
To gain the crown of righteousness,―
The crown laid up in heaven
I QUIT the world's fantastic joys,
Her honours are but worthless toys,
Her bliss an empty shade;
Like meteors in the midnight sky,
That glitter for a while and die,
Her glories flash and fade.
Let fools for riches strive and toil,
Let greedy minds divide the spoil,
"Tis all too mean for me:
Above the earth, above the skies,
My bold and fervent wishes rise,
My God, to heav'n and thee.
O source of glory, light, and love!
When to thy courts I mount above,
On contemplation's wings,
I look with pity and disdain,
On all the pleasures of the vain,
On all the pomp of kings.
Thy beauties, rising in my sight,
Divinely sweet, divinely bright,
With rapture fill my breast;
Though robbed of all my worldly store,
In thee I never can be poor,
But must be ever blest.
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