IV.

Saints by the pow'r of God are kept till the falvation come:

We walk by faith as ftrangers here; but Christ shall call us home.

LXII.

2 PET. iii. 3.-14.

I.

O! in the last of days behold
a faithlefs race arife;

LR

Their lawless luft their only rule;
And thus the fcoffer cries:

II.

Where is the promise deem'd fo true that spoke the Saviour near? E'er fince our fathers flept in duft, no change has reach'd our ear.

III.

Years roll❜d on years fucceffive glide, fince first the world began,

And on the tide of time ftill floats,

fecure, the bark of man.

IV.

Thus speaks the fcoffer; but his words conceal the truth he knows, That from the water's dark abyfs the earth at first arose.

V.

But when the fons of men began
with one confent to stray,
At Heav'n's command a deluge fwept
the godlefs race away.

VI.

A diff'rent fate is now prepar'd for Nature's trembling frame; Soon fhall her orbs be all enwrapt in one devouring flame,

VII.

Referv'd are finners for the hour when to the gulph below, Arm'd with the hand of fov'reign pow'r the Judge configns his foe.

VIII.

Though now, ye just! the time appears protracted, dark, unknown,

An hour, a day, a thoufand years,
to heav'ns great Lord are one.
I 3

IX.

IX.

Still all my fhare his fov'reign grace, in ev'ry change fecure;

The meek, the fuppliant contrite race fhall find his mercy fure.

X.

The contrite race he counts his friends, forbids the fuppliant's fall; Condemns reluctant, but extends the hope of grace to all.

XI.

Yet as the night-wrapt thief who lurks to feize th' expected prize,

Thus fteals the hour when Chrift fhall come, and thunder rend the fkies.

XII.

Then at the loud, the folemn peal the heav'ns fhall burft away; The elements fhall melt in flame at Nature's final day.

XIII.

Since all this frame of things must end, as Heav'n has fo decreed,

How wife, our inmost thoughts to guard, and watch o'er every deed;

Tac

XIV.

Expecting calm th' appointed hour,
when Nature's conflict o'er,

A new and better world shall rife,
where fin is known no more!

B

LXIII.

1 JOHN, iii. 1.-4.

1.

Ehold th' amazing gift of love
the Father hath bestow'd

On us, the finful fons of men,
to call us fons of God.

II.

Conceal'd as yet this honour lies,
by this dark world unknown,
A world that knew not when he came,
ev'n God's eternal fon.

III.

High is the rank we now poffefs;
but higher we fhall rife;
Tho' what we fhall hereafter be
is hid from mortal eyes:

IV.

Our fouls, we know, when he appears, fhall bear his image bright;

For all his glory full difclos'd fhall open to our fight.

V.

A hope fo great and fo divine trials well endure,

may

And purge the foul from fenfe and fin, as Chrift himself is pure.

T

LXIV.

REV. i, 5.-9.

I.

O Him that lov'd the fouls of men, and wash'd us in his blood, To royal honours rais'd our head, and made us priefts to God;

II.

To Him let ev'ry tongue be praise, and every heart be love!

All grateful honours paid on earth, and nobler fongs above!