167.

4 The holy to the holiest leads;
From thence our spirits rise;
And he that in thy statutes treads,
Shall meet thee in the skies.

C. M.

Religion, a Comforter and Guide.

Dedham.

ANON.

1 RELIGION's dictates can assuage
The tempest of the soul;

And every fear shall cease to rage,
At her divine control.

2 Through life's bewildered, darksome way
Her hand unerring leads,
And o'er the path her heavenly ray
A cheering lustre sheds.

3 When feeble reason, tired and blind,
Sinks helpless and afraid,
This blest supporter of the mind
Affords a powerful aid.

4 0 may our hearts confess her
And find a sweet relief,

power,

To brighten every gloomy hour,
And soften every grief.

C. M.

Religion the chief Concern. - FAWCETT.

1 RELIGION is the chief concern

Of mortals here below;

May I its great importance learn,
Its sovereign virtue know.

Newton.

2 More needful this than glittering wealth,
Or aught the world bestows;

Not reputation, food, or health,
Can give us such repose,

168.

3 Religion should our thoughts engage,
Amidst our youthful bloom;
'T will fit us for declining age
And for the awful tomb.

4 O may my heart, by grace renewed,
Be my Redeemer's throne;
And be my stubborn will subdued,
His government to own.

5 Let deep repentance, faith, and love,
Be joined with godly fear;
And all my conversation prove
My heart to be sincere.

1 THE Voice of Wisdom cries,
Soul, keep life's end in view;
And while its hours so swiftly fly,
Cautious thy way pursue.

2 Accept of pardon now,

The joys of heaven are thine;
Among the blissful throng above
Thou shalt forever shine.

3 Reject, and with the lost,
In darkness and despair,

Henceforth thou must forever dwell,

And find no mercy there.

4 The voice of Wisdom heed,
And trifle not with time;

But prize each fleeting, passing hour,
Nor for its sake, but thine.

1 THERE is a path that leads to God,
All others go astray;

Narrow, but pleasant, is the road,

And Christians love the way.

2 It leads straight through this world of sin, And dangers must be past;

But those who boldly walk therein,

Will come to heaven at last :

3 While the broad road, where thousands go,
Lies near, and opens fair;

And many turn aside, we know,
To walk with sinners there.

4 But, lest our feeble steps should slide,
Or wander from the way,
Lord, condescend to be our guide,
And we shall never stray.

1 How happy is the Christian's state!
His sins are all forgiven;

A cheering ray confirms the grace,
And lifts his hopes to heaven.

2 Though, in the rugged path of life,
He heaves the pensive sigh,
Yet, trusting in the Lord, he finds
Supporting grace is nigh.

3 If, to prevent his wandering steps,
He feels the chastening rod,

Nichols.

The gentle stroke shall bring him back
To his forgiving God.

171.

4 And when the welcome message comes,
To call his soul away,
His soul in raptures will ascend
To everlasting day.

172.

C. M.

Arlington.

The Christian's Hope. — CHRISTIAN MELODY.

1 How happy every child of grace,
Who knows his sins forgiven;
This earth, he cries, is not my place, —
I seek my home in heaven.

2 A country far from mortal sight,
Yet O! by faith I see;

The land of rest, the saint's delight,
The heaven prepared for me.

3 0 what a blessed hope is ours!
While here on earth we stay,

We more than taste the heavenly powers,
And antedate that day;

4 We know the resurrection 's near,
Our life in Christ's concealed,
And with his glorious presence here
Our joyous souls are filled.

C. M.

Benefits of Religion. - DODDRIDGE.

Dedham.

1 0 HAPPY Christian, who can boast,
The Son of God is mine!
Happy, though humbled in the dust-
Rich in this gift divine.

2 He lives the life of heaven below,
And shall forever live;

Eternal streams from Christ shall flow,
And endless vigor give.

173.

On thee, my Saviour and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad.

2 O happy bond that seals my vows
To him who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill his house,
While to that sacred shrine I move.

3 'Tis done, the great transaction's done,
I am my Lord's, and he is mine;
He drew me, and I followed on,
Charmed to confess the voice divine.

4 Now rest my long divided heart;
Fixed on this blissful centre, rest;
Nor ever from thy Lord depart,
With him of every good possessed.

L. M.

The Star of Bethlehem. -H. K. WHITE.

Scotch Air.

1 WHEN, marshalled on the nightly plain,
The glittering hosts bestud the sky,
One star alone, of all the train,

Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.

2 Hark! hark!-to God the chorus breaks,
From every host, from every gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

175.