FERVENT VOWS AND PETITIONS.
THEE Will I love, my strength and tower,
Thee will I love, my joy and crown;
Thee will I love with all my power,
In all my works, and Thee alone!
Thee will I love, till that pure fire
Fill my whole soul with chaste desire.
In darkness willingly I stray'd;
I sought Thee, yet from Thee I roved;
For wide my wandering thoughts were spread,
Thy creatures more than Thee I loved:
And now, if more at length I see,
'Tis through thy light, and comes from Thee.
I thank Thee, uncreated Sun,
That thy bright beams on me have shined:
I thank Thee, who hast overthrown
My foes, and heal'd my wounded mind;
I thank Thee, whose enlivening voice
Bids my freed heart in Thee rejoice.
Give to my eyes refreshing tears,
Give to my heart chaste, hallow'd fires;
Give to my soul, with filial fears,
The love that all heaven's host inspires;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
Thee will I love, my Joy, my Crown!
Thee will I love, my Lord, my God!
Thee will I love, though all may frown,
And thorns and briers perplex my road;
Yea, when my flesh and heart decay,
Thee shall I love in endless day.
REVIEW OF LIFE CROWNED WITH MERCIES.
WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I'm lost
In wonder, love and praise.
O how shall words with equal warmth
The gratitude declare,
That glows within my ravish'd heart!
But Thou canst read it there.
Thy providence my life sustain'd,
And all my wants redress'd,
When in the silent womb I lay,
And hung upon the breast.
To all my weak complaints and cries,
Thy mercy lent an ear,
Ere yet my feeble thoughts had learn'd
To form themselves in prayer.
Unnumber'd comforts to my soul,
Thy tender care bestow'd.
Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flow'd.
When in the slippery paths of yout',
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm unseen convey'd me safe,
And led me up to man.
Through hidden dangers, toils, and deaths,
It gently clear'd my way,
And through the pleasing snares of vice,
More to be fear'd than they.
When worn with sickness, oft hast Thou
With health renew'd my face;
And when in sins and sorrows sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.
Thy bounteous hand with temporal goods
Hath made my cup run o'er,
And in a kind and faithful friend,
Hath doubled all my store.
Ten thousand thousand precious gifts,
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy,
Through every period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death, in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.
When Nature fails, and day and night
Divide thy works no more,
My ever grateful heart, O Lord,
Thy mercy shall adore.
Through all eternity to Thee
A joyful song I'll raise;
For, O! Eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.
My God, my life, my love,
To Thee, to Thee I call;
I cannot live, if Thou remove,
For Thou art all in all.
Thy shining grace can cheer
This dungeon where I dwell:
"Tis paradise when Thou art here,
If Thou depart, 'tis hell.
To Thee and Thee alone,
The angels owe their bliss;
They sit around thy gracious throne,
And dwell where Jesus is.
Not all the harps above
Can make a heavenly place,
If God his residence remove,
Or but conceal his face.
Nor earth, nor all the sky
Can one delight afford.
No, not a drop of real joy.
Without thy presence, Lord.
Thou art the sea of love,
Where all my pleasures roll,
The circle where my passions move,
And centre of my soul.
My soul before Thee prostrate lies;
To Thee, her source, my spirit flies;
My wants I mourn, my chains I see;
O let thy presence set me free!
Lost and undone, for aid I cry;
In thy death, Saviour, let me die!
Grieved with thy grief, pain'd with thy pain,
Ne'er may I feel self-love again.
Jesus, vouchsafe my heart and will,
With thy meet lowliness to fill;
No more her power let nature boast,
But in thy will, may mine be lost!
In life's short day, let me yet more
Of thy enlivening power implore;
My mind must deeper sink in Thee,
My foot stand firm, from wandering free.
One only care my soul should know,
Father, all thy commands to do:
Ah! deep engrave it on my breast,
That I in Thee alone am blest.
INVITATION TO PRAISE THE LORD.
O FOR a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise;
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master, and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad,
The honours of thy name.
Jesus, the name that charms our fears,
That bids our sorrows cease;
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life, and health, and peace.
He breaks the power of cancell'd sin,
He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avail'd for me.
He speaks; and, listening to his voice,
New life the dead receive;
The mournful broken hearts rejoice,
The humble poor believe.
Hear Him, ye deaf; his praise, ye duma
Your loosen'd tongues employ;
Ye blind, behold your Saviour come,
And leap, ye lame, for joy!
Look unto Him, ye nations; own
Your God, ye fallen race;
Look, and be saved by faith alone,
Be justified by grace.
See all your sins on Jesus laid:
The Lamb of God was slain,
His soul was once an offering mada
For every soul of man.
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