XVI. [BK. 1. lxxxv.]

THE SOWER. Matt. xiii. 3

YE sons of earth prepare the plough,
Break up your fallow ground!
The Sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.
The seed that finds a stony soil,
Shoots forth a hasty blade;
But ill repays the sower's toil,
Soon wither'd, scorch'd, and dead.

The thorny ground is sure to baulk
All hopes of harvest there;
We find a tall and sickly stalk,
But not the fruitful ear.

The beaten path and high-way side
Receive the trust in vain ;

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The watchful birds the spoil divide,

And pick up all the grain.

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But where the LORD of grace and pow'r
Has bless'd the happy field;

How plenteous is the golden store
The deep-wrought furrows yield!

Father of mercies, we have need
Of thy preparing grace;

Let the same hand that gives the seed,
Provide a fruitful place!

XVII. [BK. I. xcvi.]

THE HOUSE OF PRAYER.

Mark xi. 17

THY mansion is the Christian's heart,

O LORD, thy dwelling-place secure!

Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.

Devoted as it is to thee,

A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.

There too a sharp designing trade
Sin, Satan, and the world maintain ;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade,
To part with ease and purchase pain.

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8

I know them, and I hate their din,
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within,
I cannot serve thee as I would.

Oh! for the joy thy presence gives,
What peace shall reign when thou art here!
Thy presence makes this den of thieves,
A calm delightful house of pray'r.

And if thou make thy temple shine,
Yet, self-abas'd, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine,
I give thee what was thine before.

XVIII. [BK. I. cxviii.]

LOVEST THOU ME?

John xxi. 16

HARK, my soul! it is the LORD;
'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word;
JESUS Speaks, and speaks to thee;
"Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?

And, when wounded, heal'd thy wound;

I deliver'd thee when bound,

Sought thee wand'ring, set thee right,
Turn'd thy darkness into light.

16

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8

Can a woman's tender care

Cease, towards the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.

Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above;
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.

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Thou shalt see my glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;
Partner of my throne shalt be;
Say, poor sinner, lov'st thou me?"

LORD, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee and adore,
Oh for grace to love thee more!

6 wounded] bleeding first in 1797.

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Watch, remember, seek and strive,
Exert thy former pains;

Let thy timely care revive,

And strengthen what remains :

Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall;

Lest my sudden stroke descend,

And smite thee once for all.

Yet I number now, in thee,
A few that are upright;

These my Father's face shall see,
And walk with me in white:
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confess'd;
Let my faithful servants hear,
And woe be to the rest.'

XXII. [BK. II. viii.]

PRAYER FOR A BLESSING
BESTOW, dear LORD, upon our youth
The gift of saving grace;

And let the seed of sacred truth
Fall in a fruitful place.

Grace is a plant, where'er it grows,
Of pure and heav'nly root;
But fairest in the youngest shews,
And yields the sweetest fruit.

Ye careless ones, Oh hear betimes
The voice of sovereign love!

Your youth is stain'd with many crimes,
But mercy reigns above.

True, you are young, but there's a stone

Within the youngest breast;

Or half the crimes which you have done
Would rob you of your rest.

For you the public pray'r is made,

Oh join the public pray'r!

For you the secret tear is shed,
Oh shed yourselves a tear!

We pray that you may early prove
The Spirit's power to teach;

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24

8

16

You cannot be too young to love
That JESUS whom we preach.

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XXII-XXIV are under the general heading, "Hymns before

annual sermons to young people on new-years' evenings."

The paschal sacrifice,

And blood-besprinkled door',
Seen with enlighten'd eyes,
And once apply'd with pow'r;

Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile an angry GOD.

The Lamb, the Dove, set forth
His perfect innocence 2,

12

Whose blood, of matchless worth,
Should be the soul's defence:

For he who can for sin atone,

Must have no failings of his own.

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The scape-goat on his head'

The people's trespass bore,
And to the desart led,

Was to be seen no more:

In him, our Surety seem'd to say,
Behold, I bear your sins away.'

Dipt in his fellow's blood,
The living bird went free*;
The type, well understood,
Express'd the sinner's plea;

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Describ'd a guilty soul enlarg'd,

And by a Saviour's death discharg'd.

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XXI. [BK. I. cxxxviii.]

SARDIS. Rev. iii. 1-6

"WRITE to Sardis, saith the LORD,
And write what he declares;
He whose Spirit, and whose word,
Upholds the seven stars:

All thy works and ways I search,
Find thy zeal and love decay'd;
Thou art call'd a living church,
But thou art cold and dead.

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1 Exod. xii. 13. 2 Lev. xii. 6. 3 Lev. xvi. 21. 4 Lev. xiv. 51-53.

Watch, remember, seek and strive,
Exert thy former pains;

Let thy timely care revive,

And strengthen what remains :
Cleanse thine heart, thy works amend,
Former times to mind recall;

Lest my sudden stroke descend,

And smite thee once for all.

Yet I number now, in thee,
A few that are upright;

These my Father's face shall see,
And walk with me in white:
When in judgment I appear,
They for mine shall be confess'd;
Let my faithful servants hear,
And woe be to the rest."

XXII. [BK. II. viii.]

PRAYER FOR A BLESSING
BESTOW, dear LORD, upon our youth
The gift of saving grace;

And let the seed of sacred truth
Fall in a fruitful place.

Grace is a plant, where'er it grows,
Of pure and heav'nly root;
But fairest in the youngest shews,
And yields the sweetest fruit.

Ye careless ones, Oh hear betimes
The voice of sovereign love!

Your youth is stain'd with many crimes,
But mercy reigns above.

16

24

8

True, you are young, but there's a stone
Within the youngest breast;

Or half the crimes which you have done
Would rob you of your rest.

For you the public pray'r is made,
Oh join the public pray'r!

For you the secret tear is shed,
Oh shed yourselves a tear!

We pray that you may early prove
The Spirit's power to teach;

You cannot be too young to love

That JESUS whom we preach.

16

24

XXII-XXIV are under the general heading, "Hymns before

annual sermons to young people on new-years' evenings."