XXI. SARDIS. Rev. iii. 1-6. "WRITE to Sardis," saith the Lord, "All thy works and ways I search, "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, "Yet I number now in thee When in judgment I appear, XXII. PRAYER FOR A BLESSING. BESTOW, dear Lord, upon our youth And let the seed of sacred truth Grace is a plant, where'er it grows, Of pure and heavenly root; Ye careless ones, O hear betimes Your youth is stain'd with many crimes, True, you are young, but there's a stone Within the youngest breast; Or half the crimes which you have done For you the public prayer is made, For We pray that you may early prove That Jesus whom we preach. XXIII. PLEADING FOR AND WITH YOUTH. SIN has undone our wretched race, And brought the sinner face to face With his forgiving Lord. This we repeat, from year to year, And press upon our youth; Lord, give them an attentive ear, Blessings upon the rising race! We feel for your unhappy state, Το We see, though you perceive it not, Dear Saviour, let this new-born year And cry in every careless ear, 66 Prepare to meet thy God!" XXIV. PRAYER FOR CHILDREN. GRACIOUS Lord, our children see, But shall these, alas! remain When the angel of the Lord, Lord, we tremble, for we know * Exod. x. 9. + Exod. xii. 12. XXV. JEHOVAH JESUS. My song shall bless the Lord of all, Without beginning or decline, Object of faith, and not of sense; Eternal ages saw him shine, He shines eternal ages hence. As much, when in the manger laid, As when the six days' work he made Of all the crowns Jehovah bears, That gracious sound well pleased he hears, A cheerful confidence I feel, My well placed hopes with joy I see; As man, he pities my complaint, His power and truth are all divine; He will not fail, he cannot faint, Salvation's sure, and must be mine. |