HYMNS

FOR PRIVATE MEDITATION.

ONE FOR EVERY FRIDAY IN THE YEAR,

(OR OTHER DAY.)

WITH A DOZEN SUPPLEMENTARY PIECES.

Many of the following hymns are only suited to particular cases, and are not intended for the generality of persons to pore over, in order to work upon their feelings. This is a dangerous practice, and by all means to be checked, especially in the young, as having a direct tendency to blunt the feelings and harden the heart, any unnatural excitement being followed by corresponding depression. There cannot be a more mischievous practice than for persons religiously disposed, especially if much alone, to make the hymn book a book of constant reading, as by the continual exeitement it produces, the mind soon loses its tone and becomes unfit for any exertion. Some hymns are exempt from this tendency, such as the Morning and Evening Hymn, most of the Psalms, and the hymns selected for family worship. These are of a domestic nature and soothing tendency; they calm the passions, pacify the mind, and bring it into a proper frame for real devotion by some thought cold). They bring a man down from soaring in the clouds to his proper place as a member of society, and of a family, reminding him of the more simple and common duties of lomestic life, which, after all, are the very work appointed for him to do.

1 GOD of our lives! thy various praise
Our voices shall resound;

Thy hand directs our fleeting days,
And brings the seasons round.

2 To thee shall annual incense rise,
Our Father and our Friend;

While annual mercies from the skies,
In genial streams descend.

3 In every scene of life thy care,
In every age we see,

And constant as thy favours are,
So let our praises be.

4 Still may thy love, in every scene,
To every age appear,

And let the same compassion deign
To bless the opening year.

5 If mercy smile, let mercy bring
Our wand'ring souls to God,
And in affliction we shall sing,
If thou wilt bless the rod.

384. Spending the day in the fear of God.

1 THRICE happy souls, who born from heaven,
While yet they sojourn here,
Humbly begin their days with God,
And spend them in his fear.

2 So may our eyes with holy zeal
Prevent the dawning day †,
And turn the sacred pages o'er,
And praise thy name and pray.

3 'Midst hourly cares, may love present
Its incense to thy throne,

And while the world our hands employs,
Our hearts be thine alone.

4 As sanctified to noblest ends,
Be each refreshment sought,
And by each various providence,
Some wise instruction brought.
5 When to laborious duties call'd,
Or by temptation tried,

We'll seek the shelter of thy wings,
And in thy strength confide.

6 As different scenes of life arise,
Our grateful hearts would be
With thee, amidst the social band,
In solitude with thee.

+ Prevent, i. e. Go before, or be beforehand with.

7 At night we lean our weary heads
On thy paternal breast,

And safely folded in thine arms,
Resign our powers to rest.

385.Caution against self-complacency, and what is

alled worldly prudence, or in other words, covetousness and selfishness.

1 MUST all the charms of nature then
So hopeless to salvation prove;

Can hell demand, can heaven condemn,
The man whom Jesus deigns to love?

2 The man who sought the ways of truth,
Paid friends and neighbours all their due,
(A modest, sober, lovely youth,)

And thought he wanted nothing new!

3 But mark the change! thus spake the Lord, "Come part with earth for heaven to-day;" The youth, astonish'd at the word, In silent sadness went his way!

4 Poor virtues which he boasted so,
This test unable to endure;

Let Christ, and grace, and glory go,
To make his land and money sure!

5 Ah! foolish choice of treasures here,
Ah! fatal love of tempting gold!

Must this base world be bought so dear?
Are life and heaven so cheaply sold ?
6 In vain the charms of nature shine,
If such vile passions govern me;
Transform my soul, O Lord divine,
And make me part with all for thee.

386.

Encouragement to persevere.

1 REJOICE believer in the Lord,
Who makes your cause his own;
The hope that's built upon his word
Can ne'er be overthrown.

2 Though many foes beset your road,
And feeble is your arm,

Your life is hid with Christ in God,
Beyond the reach of harm.

3 Weak as you are, you shall not faint,
Or fainting shall not die;
Jesus, the strength of every saint,
Shall aid you from on high.

4 Though sometimes unperceived by sense,
Faith sees him always near;
A guide, a glory, a defence,
Then what have you to fear?

5 As surely as he overcame,

And triumph'd once for you;
So surely you that love his name,
Shall triumph in him too.

1 WHEN all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,

Transported with the view I'm lost
In wonder, love, and praise.

2 Unnumber'd comforts to my soul
Thy tender care bestow'd;
Before my infant heart conceived
From whom those comforts flow'd.

3 When in the slippery paths of youth,
With heedless steps I ran;

Thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.

4 When worn by sickness, oft hast thou
With health renew'd my face,
And when in sin and sorrow sunk,
Revived my soul with grace.

5 Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;

Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.

6 Through every period of my life,
Thy goodness I'll pursue;
And after death in distant worlds,
The glorious theme renew.

7 Through all eternity to thee,
A joyful song I'll raise;
But Oh! eternity's too short
To utter all thy praise.

388.

Filial Obedience.

1 GREAT son of David and my Lord!
I read my duty in thy word;
But in thy life the law appears,
Drawn out in living characters.

2 Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal,
Such def'rence to thy Father's will;
Such love and meekness so divine,
I would transcribe and make them mine.
3 Cold mountains and the midnight air
Witness'd the fervour of thy prayer;
The desert thy temptations knew,
Thy conflict and thy victory too.
4 Be thou my pattern, make me bear
More of thy gracious image here;
Then God the judge shall own my name,
Amongst the followers of the Lamb.

1 AWAKE ye saints and raise your eyes,
And raise your voices high;
Awake and praise that sovereign love
That shows salvation nigh!

2 On all the wings of Time it flies,
Each moment brings it near;
Then welcome each declining day,
And each revolving year!

3 Sorrow and pain, and every care,
And discord there shall cease;
And perfect joy and love sincere
Adorn the realms of peace.