XIX. Elijah's Mantle.. 2 Kings, ii. 11—14.
1 ELISHA, struck with grief and awe,
Cry'd, "Ah! where now is Israel's stay?"
When he his honour'd master saw
Borne by a fiery car away.
2 But while he look'd a last adieu,
His mantle, as it fell, he caught;
The Spirit rested on him too,
And equal miracles he wrought.
3 "Where is Elijah's God?" he cried,
And with the mantle smote the flood;
His word controll'd the swelling tide,
Th' obedient waters upright stood.
4 The wonder-working Gospel thus,
From hand to hand, has been convey'd;
We have the mantle still with us,
But where, O where the Spirit's aid.
5 When Peter first his mantle wav'd,*
How soon it melted hearts of steel!
Sinners, by thousands, then were sav'd,
But now how few its virtues feel!
6 Where is Elijah's God, the Lord!
Thine Israel's hope, and joy, and boast!
Reveal thine arm, confirm thy word,
Give us another Pentecost!
7 Assist thy messenger to speak,
And, while he aims to lisp thy truth,
The bonds of sin and Satan break,
And pour thy blessing on our youth.
8 For them we now approach thy throne,
Teach them to know and love thy name;
Then shall thy thankful people own
Elijah's God is still the same.
AFTER SERMONS TO YOUNG PEOPLE, ON NEW YEARS EVENINGS, SUITED TO THE SUBJECTS.
XX. David's Charge to Solomon. 1 Chron. xxviii. 9.
1 O DAVID'S Son, and David's Lord!
From age to age thou art the same;
Thy gracious presence now afford,
And teach our youth to know thy name.
2 Thy people, Lord, though oft distrest,
Upheld by thee thus far are come;
And now we long to see thy rest,
And wait thy word to call us home.
3 Like David, when this life shall end,
We trust in thee sure peace to find;
Like him to thee we now commend
The children we must leave behind.
4 Ere long, we hope to be where care,
And sin, and sorrow never come;
But, oh! accept our humble pray'r,
That these may praise thee in our room.
5 Show them how vile they are by sin,
And wash them in thy cleansing blood;
Oh! make them willing to be thine,
And be to them a cov'nant God.
6 Long may thy light and truth remain, To bless this place when we are gone; And numbers here be born again,
To dwell for ever near thy throne.
XXI. The Lord's Call to his Children. 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18.
1 LET us adore the grace that seeks
To draw our hearts above!
Attend, 'tis God the Saviour speaks,
And ev'ry word is love.
2 Though fill'd with awe, before his throne
Each angel veils his face;
He claims a people for his own
Amongst our sinful race.
3 Careless, a while they live in sin,
Enslav'd to Satan's power;
But they obey the call divine,
In his appointed hour.
4 "Come forth," he says, "no more pursue
"The paths that lead to death;
"Look up, a bleeding Saviour view,
"Look, and be sav'd by faith.
5 "My sons and daughters you shall be
"Through the atoning blood;
"And you shall claim, and find in me,
"A Father, and a God."
6 Lord, speak these words to ev'ry heart,
By thine all-powerful voice;
That we may now from sin depart,
And make thy love our choice.
7 If now we learn to seek thy face By Christ the living way;
We'll praise thee for this hour of grace, Through an eternal day.
XXII. The prayer of Jabez. 1 Chron. iv. 9, 10.
1 JESUS, who bought us with his blood,
And makes our souls his care,
Was known of old as Israel's God,
And answer'd Jabez' pray'r.
2 Jabez! a child of grief! the name
Befits poor sinners well;
For Jesus bore the cross and shame,
To save our souls from hell.
3 Teach us, O Lord, like him to plead
For mercies from above:
O come, and bless our souls indeed,
With light, and joy, and love.
4 The Gospel's promis'd land is wide,
We fain would enter in;
But we are press'd on ev'ry side
With unbelief and sin.
5 Arise, O Lord, enlarge our coast,
Let us possess the whole,
That Satan may no longer boast,
He can thy work control.
6 Oh! may thy hand be with us still,
Our guide and guardian be,
To keep us safe from ev'ry ill,
Till death shall set us free.
7 Help us on thee to cast our care,
And on thy word to rest,
That Israel's God, who heareth pray'r,
Will grant us our request.
XXIII. Waiting at Wisdom's Gates. Prov. viii. 34, 35.
1 ENSNAR'D too long my heart has been
In folly's hurtful ways;
Oh! may I now, at length, begin
To hear what Wisdom says!
2 'Tis Jesus, from the mercy-seat,
Invites me to his rest;
He calls poor sinners to his feet,
To make them truly blest.
3 Approach, my soul, to Wisdom's gates,
While it is call'd to-day;
No one who watches there, and waits,
Shall e'er be turn'd away.
4 He will not let me seek in vain ;
For all who trust his word
Shall everlasting life obtain,
And favour from the Lord.
5 Lord, I have hated thee too long,
And dar'd thee to thy face;
I've done my soul exceeding wrong
In slighting all thy grace.
6 Now I would break my league with death,
And live to thee alone;
Oh! let thy Spirit's seal of faith
Secure me for thine own.
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