XXVI. ON OPENING A PLACE FOR SOCIAL PRAYER. JESUS! where'er thy people meet, There they behold thy mercy seat; For thou, within no walls confined, Lord, we are few, but thou art near; *Isaiah liv. 2. XXVII. WELCOME TO THE TABLE. THIS is the feast of heavenly wine, And God invites to sup; The juices of the living vine Were press'd to fill the cup. Oh! bless the Saviour, ye that eat, With royal dainties fed; Not heaven affords a costlier treat, The vile, the lost, he calls to them, If guilt and sin afford a plea, Surely the Lord will welcome me, And I shall see his face. XXVIII. JESUS HASTING TO SUFFER. THE Saviour, what a noble flame He march'd before the rest! Good will to men, and zeal for God, He longs to be baptized with blood,* With all his sufferings full in view, Lord, we return thee what we can: And while thy bleeding glories here XXIX. EXHORTATION TO PRAYER. WHAT Various hindrances we meet Yet who that knows the worth of prayer, Prayer makes the darken'd cloud withdraw, Prayer climbs the ladder Jacob saw, Gives exercise to faith and love, Brings every blessing from above. Luke xii. 50. Restraining prayer, we cease to fight; Prayer makes the Christian's armour bright; And Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees. While Moses stood with arms spread wide, Have you no words? Ha! think again, Were half the breath thus vainly spent XXX. THE LIGHT AND GLORY OF THE WORD. THE Spirit breathes upon the Word, And brings the truth to sight; A glory gilds the sacred page, It gives a light to every age, Exodus xvii. 11. The hand that gave it still supplies Let everlasting thanks be thine, As makes a world of darkness shine My soul rejoices to pursue XXXI. ON THE DEATH OF A MINISTER. His master taken from his head, Elisha saw him go; And in desponding accents said, 66 Ah, what must Israel do?" But he forgot the Lord who lifts What! when a Paul has run his course, Or when Apollos dies, Is Israel left without resource? And have we no supplies? |