2 From year to year the tree he views, 'Tis that I mourn departed days, And still no fruit is found; [mands, Still unprepar'd to die. Then "cut it down," the Lord com-2 The world and worldly things belov'd "Why cumbers it the ground?" My anxious thoughts employ'd; 3 But lo! the gracious Saviour pleads-And time unhallow'd, unimprov❜d, "The barren fig-tree spare, "Another year in mercy wait, "It yet may bloom and bear: 4" But if my culture prove in vain, "And still no fruit be found, I plead no more; destroy the tree, And root it from thy ground.” My scanty span doth still prolong, And wakes anew mine annual song. 2 How many precious souls are fled To the vast regions of the dead, Since to this day the changing sun Through his last yearly period run! 3 We yet survive; but who can say, "Or through this year, or month, or day, 'I shall retain this vital breath, "Thus far, at least, in league with death?" 4 That breath is thine, eternal God; 6 Thy children panting to be gone, more, 7 No more fatigue, no more distress, Nor sin, nor hell, shall reach that place; No groans, to mingle with the songs Resounding from immortal tongues: 8 No more alarms from ghostly foes; No cares to break the long repose; No midnight shade, no clouded sun, But sacred, high, eternal noon, 9 O, long expected year! begin Dawn on this world of wo and sin; Presents a fearful void. 3 Yet, holy Father, wild despair 4 My life's brief remnant all be thine! Isaiah li. 7-10. HOW beauteous are their feet Who stand on Zion's hill; Who bring salvation on their tongues, And words of peace reveal! 2 How charming is their voice! How sweet their tidings are! "Zion, behold thy Saviour-King, "He reigns and triumphs here." 3 How happy are our ears That hear this joyful sound, That see this heavenly light! 6 The Lord makes bare his arm HYMN 53. Fain would we leave this weary road,2 To sleep in death, and rest with God. And break upon thee in a flood of day! See a long race thy spacious courts adorn, See future sons and daughters yet unborn, In crowding ranks on every side arise Demanding life, impatient for the skies And to his house we'll go, 3 The beams that shine from Zion's hill Shall lighten every land; The King who reigns in Salem's tow's 4 Among the nations he shall judge, 5 3 See barb'rous nations at thy gates] Up to the mount of God, they'll say, attend, Walk in thy light, and in thy temple bend! See thy bright altars throng'd with pros trate kings, While every land its joyous tribute brings! 4 The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fix'd his word, his saving power remains Thy realm shall last, thy own Messiali reigns. HYMN 54. Psalm 1xxii. (II. 6.) HAIL to the Lord's Anointed, Great David's greater Son; Hail, in the time appointed, 2 He comes, with succour speedy, t And bid the weak be strong; 3 He shall descend like showers 4 To him shall prayer unceasing, HYMN 55. (C. M.) Isaiah ii. 2-5. ΟΙ In latter days shall rise, 2 To this the joyful nations round, All tribes and tongues, shall flow; Throughout those happy years. 6 Come, O ye house of Jacob! come To worship at his shrine; And, walking in the light of God, With holy graces shine. LENT. HYMN 56. Litany. (III. 1.) SAVIOUR, when in dust, to thee 2 By thy birth and early years, 3 By thine hour of dark despair, 4 By thy deep expiring groan, HYMN 57. (L. M.) MY God, permit me not to be Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove, 2 Why should my passions mix with And thus debase my heav'nly birth? 3 Call me away from flesh and sense; AL HYMN 58. (C M.) 4 Increase my faith, increase my hope, 5 Whene'er temptations fright my heart, -60 keep me in thy heavenly way, And let me never, never stray HYMN 59. (C. M.) THOU, to whose all searching sight No harm, while thou, my God, art near See Hymns on Repentance. PASSION WEEK, AND GOOD HYMN 61, (III. 4.) WH Bringing and bestowing good, HOW oft, alas! this wretched heart Jesus now is strong to save. Has wander'd from the Lord! 2 Yet sovereign mercy calls, "Return;" O, take the wand'rer home. To speak thy wond'rous love? 4 Almighty grace, thy healing power. That can to life and bliss restore 3 Why that blood his raiment staining". Fall'n they are, no more to rise, Cease to sing what thou hast done' WH 5 Thy pard ning love, so free, so sweet, My richest gain I count but loss, Dear Saviour, I adore; O keep me at thy sacred feet, And pour contempt on all my pride. 2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the cross of Christ, my God, Why hides the sun his rays? [ground? 2 Well may the earth astonish'd shake, And nature sympathize! The sun as darkest night be black! All the vain things that charm me most, Wherefore do earthquakes cleave the 1 sacrifice them to thy blood. 3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose a Saviour's crown? 4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my life, my soul, my all. (C. M.) HYMN 63. BEHOLD the Saviour of mankind Nail'd to the shameful tree; How vast the love that him inclin'd To bleed and die for me! 2 Hark, how he groans while nature shakes, And earth's strong pillars bend! 3 'Tis done! the precious ransom's paid, MY Saviour hanging on the tree, In agonies and blood, 2 Sure, never till my latest breath It seem'd to charge me with his death, 5 A second look he gave, which said, "I die, that thou may'st live." 6 Thus, while his death my sin displays 3 Behold, fast streaming from the tree, My Saviour and my God! 4 For me these pangs his soul assail, 5 Let sin no more my soul enslave, St. John xix. 30. (L. M.) "TIS finish'd-so the Saviour cried 'Tis finish'd-yes, the work is done, 3 'Tis finish'd-Aaron now no more 5 "Tis finish'd-heaven is reconcil'd, HT For the Jews. 2 Awake! thy loudest raptures raise; 3 By foreign streams no longer roam, And, weeping, think on Jordan's flout In every clime behold a home; In ev'ry temple see thy God. 4 No taunting foes the song require; S 1 Cor. v. 8. Rom. vi. 9, 10, 11. INCE Christ our Passover is slain, A sacrifice for all, Let all, with thankful hearts, agree To keep the festival: 2 Not with the leaven, as of old, And truth's unleaven❜d bread. 3 Christ being raised by power divine, 4 For that he died, 'twas for cur sins He once vouchsaf'd to die: But that he lives, he lives to God 2 For, as in Adam all mankind 3 If then ye risen are with Christ, The things which are above, where At God's right hand is set. ASCENSION. HYMN 72. (L. M.) [Christ ITE dies! the Friend of sinners dies! Lo! Salem's daughters weep around! A solenin darkness veils the skies! For you be sheds his precious blood. And shout him welcome to the skies' 5 Break off your tears, ye saints, and tell How Ligh our great deliv'rer reigns; Sing how he spoil'd the hosts of hell, And led the tyrant death in chains! 6 Say, "Live for ever glorious King, "Born to redeem, instruct, and save!" Then ask-"O death, where is thy sting! "And where thy victory, O grave !" HYMN 73. (L.M.) OUR Lord is risen from the dead, |