4 "Twas thus a widow poor,

Without support or friend,
Beset the unjust judge's door,
And gain'd, at last, her end.

5 For her he little car'd,

As little for the laws;

Nor God, nor man, did he regard,
Yet he espous'd her cause.

6 She urg'd him day and night,
Would no denial take;

At length he said, "I'll do her right,
"For my own quiet's sake."

7 And shall not Jesus hear

His chosen when they cry?
Yes, though he may a while forbear,
He'll help them from on high.

8 His nature, truth, and love,
Engage him on their side;

When they are griev'd, his bowels move,
And can they be deny'd?

9 Then let us earnest be,

And never faint in pray'r;

He loves our importunity,

And makes our cause his care.

CVII. Zaccheus. Chap. xix. 1—6.

1 ZACCHEUS climb'd the tree, And thought himself unknown : But how surpris'd was he

When Jesus call'd him down!

The Lord beheld him, though conceal❜d,
And by a word his pow'r reveal'd.

2 Wonder and joy at once

Were painted in his face:

"Does he my name pronounce, "And does he know my case? "Will Jesus deign with me to dine? Lord, I, with all I have, am thine."

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3 Thus where the Gospel's preach'd, And sinners come to hear,

The hearts of some are reach'd

Before they are aware:

The word directly speaks to them,
And seems to point them out by name.

4 'Tis curiosity

Oft brings them in the way,

Only the man to see,

And hear what he can say;

But how the sinner starts to find
The preacher knows his inmost mind!

5 His long-forgotten faults

Are brought again in view,
And all his secret thoughts
Reveal'd in public too:

Though compass'd with a crowd about,
The searching word has found him out.

6 While thus distressing pain

And sorrow fills his heart,
He hears a voice again
That bids his fears depart:
Then, like Zaccheus, he is blest,
And Jesus deigns to be his guest.

CVIII. The Believer's Danger, Safety, and Duty. Chap. xxii. 31, 32.

1 "SIMON, beware!" the Saviour said,

"Satan, your subtle foe,

Already has his measures laid
"Your soul to overthrow.

2 "He wants to sift you all as wheat,
"And thinks his vict'ry sure;
"But I his malice will defeat,
"My pray'r shall faith secure."
3 Believers, tremble and rejoice,
Your help and danger view;
This warning has to you a voice,
This promise speaks to you.

4 Satan beholds with jealous eye,
Your privilege and joy ;
He's always watchful, always nigh,
To tear and to destroy.

5 But Jesus lives to intercede,
That faith may still prevail;
He will support in time of need,
And Satan's arts shall fail.

6 Yet let us not the warning slight,
But watchful still be found;

Though faith cannot be slain in fight,
It may receive a wound.

7 While Satan watches, dare we sleep?
We must our guard maintain;
But, Lord, do thou the city keep,

Or else we watch in vain. *

* Psalm cxxvii. 1.

CIX. Father, forgive them. Chap. xxiii. 34.

1 "FATHER, forgive," the Saviour said, "They know not what they do :" His heart was mov'd when thus he pray'd For me, my friends, and you.

2 He saw that as the Jews abus'd
And crucify'd his flesh;

So he, by us, would be refus'd,
And crucify'd afresh.

3 Through love of sin, we long were prone To act as Satan bid;

But now with grief and shame we own,
We knew not what we did.

4 We knew not the desert of sin,
Nor whom we thus defy'd;

Nor where our guilty souls had been,
If Jesus had not dy'd.

5 We knew not what a law we broke,
How holy, just, and pure!
Nor what a God we durst provoke,
But thought ourselves secure.

6 But Jesus all our guilt foresaw,
And shed his precious blood,
To satisfy the holy law,

And make our peace with God.

7 My sin, dear Saviour, made thee bleed, Yet didst thou pray for me!

I knew not what I did, indeed,
When ignorant of thee.

CX. The Two Malefactors. Chap. xxiii. 39-43.

1 SOVEREIGN grace has pow'r alone
To subdue a heart of stone;
And the moment grace is felt,
Then the hardest heart will melt.

2 When the Lord was crucify'd,
Two transgressors with him died;
One, with vile blaspheming tongue,
Scoff'd at Jesus as he hung.

3 Thus he spent his wicked breath,
In the very jaws of death;
Perish'd, as too many do,

With the Saviour in his view.

4 But the other, touch'd with grace, Saw the danger of his case;

Faith receiv'd to own the Lord,

Whom the scribes and priests abhorr'd.

5 "

Lord," he prayed,

"remember me,

"When in glory thou shalt be:"—
"Soon with me," the Lord replies,
"Thou shalt rest in paradise."

6 This was wondrous grace indeed,
Grace vouchsaf'd in time of need!
Sinners, trust in Jesu's name,
You shall find him still the same.

7 But beware of unbelief,
Think upon the hard❜ned thief;
If the Gospel you disdain,
Christ, to you, will die in vain.