'Tis ftrung, and tuned, for endless years, And form'd by power divine, To found in God the Father's ears No other name but thine. 16. THE SOWER. Matt. xiii. 3. E fons of earth, prepare the plough, And scatter bleffings round. The feed that finds a stony foil, Soon wither'd, fcorch'd, and dead. The thorny ground is fure to baulk The beaten path and highway fide But where the Lord of grace and How plenteous is the golden store power The deep-wrought furrows yield! Father of mercies, we have need Of thy preparing grace ; Let the fame hand that gives the feed 17. THE HOUSE OF PRAYER. Mark xi. 17. HY manfion is the Chriftian's heart, O Lord, thy dwelling-place fecure! Bid the unruly throng depart, And leave the confecrated door. Devoted as it is to thee, A thievish swarm frequents the place; There, too, a sharp defigning trade I know them, and I hate their din, Am weary of the bustling crowd; But while their voice is heard within, I cannot ferve thee as I would. Oh! for the joy thy prefence gives, What peace fhall reign when thou art there! Thy prefence makes this den of thieves A calm delightful houfe of prayer. And if thou make thy temple shine, Yet, felf-abased, will I adore; 18. LOVEST THOU ME? John xxi. 16. ARK, my foul! it is the Lord : 'Tis thy Saviour, hear his word; Jefus fpeaks, and speaks to thee: Say, poor finner, lovest thou me? "I deliver'd thee when bound, And when bleeding, heal'd thy wound; "Can a woman's tender care Ceafe towards the child fhe bare? Yes, she may forgetful be, "Mine is an unchanging love, "Thou shalt see my glory foon, Lord, it is my chief complaint, 19. CONTENTMENT. Phil. iv. 11. IERCE paffions difcompofe the mind, But calm content and peace we find, When, Lord, we turn to thee. In vain by reafon and by rule For none but in the Saviour's school Since at his feet my foul has fate, "Art thou a finner, foul?" he said, "If thou of murmuring wouldst be cured, " "Tis I appoint thy daily lot, And I do all things well; Thou foon fhalt leave this wretched spot, "In life my grace fhall ftrength fupply, At death thou ftill fhalt find me nigh, Thus I, who once my wretched days 20. OLD TESTAMENT GOSPEL. Heb. iv. 2. SRAEL, in ancient days, Not only had a view Of Sinai in a blaze, But learn'd the Gospel too; The types and figures were a glass, The paschal facrifice, And blood-befprinkled door,* And once applied with power, Would teach the need of other blood, |