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273. Constrained to Love Christ. C.M.

Lovest thou me more than these? Feed my Lambs.JOHN xxi. 15.

DO not I love thee, O my Lord ?
Behold my heart, and see;
And cast each hated idol down,
That dares to rival thee.

2 Do not I love thee from my soul?
Then let me nothing love:
Dead be my heart to every joy,
When JESUS cannot move.
3 Is not thy name melodious still
To mine attentive ear?
Do I not in thy word delight
My SAVIOUR'S voice to hear?

4 [Hast thou a lamb in all thy flock,
I would disdain to feed?
Hast thou a foe, before whose face
I'd fear thy cause to plead?]

5 Would not my ardent spirit vie,
With angels round the throne,
To execute thy sacred will,

And make thy glory known?

6 Thou know'st I love thee, gracious Lord; But, O! I long to soar

Far from the sphere of mortal joys,
And learn to love thee more.

I

274. Meeting Reproach for Christ. 112th

go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you into myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.JOHN, xiv. 2, 3.

And art thou, gracious master, gone, A mansion to prepare for me? Shall I behold thee on the throne, And there for ever sit with thee? Then let the world approve or blame, I'll triumph in thy gracious name. 2 Should I to gain the world's applause, Or to escape its harmless frown, Refuse to countenance thy cause,

And make thy people's lot my own; What shame would fill ine in that day, When thou thy glory wilt display! 3 [And what is man, or what his smile? The terrors of his anger what? Like grass he flourishes awhile,

But soon his place shall know him Thro' fear of such an one shall I, [not. The Lord of heav'n and earth deny ?]

4 No! let the world cast out my name, And vile account me if they will; If to confess the Lord be shame,

I
For thee, my GOD, I all resign,
Content if I can call thee mine,

purpose to be viler still:

5 What transport then shall fill my heart, When thou my worthless name wilt When I shall see thee as thou art,[own; And know as I myself am known! From sin, and fear, and sorrow free, My soul shall find its rest in thee.

275. The Motives of his Love to Christ. 7s.

Lovest thou me?-JOHN xxi. 16.

HARK, my soul, it is the Lord;
'Tis thy SAVIOUR, hear his word;
JESUS Speaks, and speaks to thee:
Say, poor sinner "lov'st thou me?"
2 I deliver'd thee when bound,

And, when bleeding, heal'd thy wound,
Sought thee wand'ring, set thee right,
Turn'd thy darkness into light.

3 Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bare?
Yes, she may forgetful be,
Yet will I remember thee.

4 Mine is an unchanging love,
Higher than the heights above;
Deeper than the depths beneath,
Free and faithful, strong as death.
5 Thou shalt see my glory soon,
When the work of grace is done;

Partner of my throne shalt be;
Say, poor sinner, "lov'st thou me?”
6 Lord, it is my chief complaint,
That my love is weak and faint;
Yet I love thee and adore,

Oh for grace to love thee more!

· 276. Desiring to know whether he really loves Christ. 7s.

'TIS a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought?
Do I love the Lord or no?
Am I his, or am I not?

2 If I love, why am I thus?

Why this dull, this lifeless frame?
Hardly, sure, can they be worse,
Who have never heard his name!

3 Could my heart so hard remain,
Pray'r a task and burden prove,
Ev'ry trifle give me pain,

If I knew a SAVIOUR's love?

4 [When I turn my eyes within,
All is dark, and vain, and wild:
Fill'd with unbelief and sin,
Can I deem myself a child?

5 If I pray, or hear, or read,
Sin is mix'd with all I do;
You that love the Lord indeed,
Tell me, is it thus with you?]

6 Yet-I mourn my stubborn will;
Find my sin a grief and thrall:
Should I mourn for what I feel,
If I did not love at all?

7 Could I joy his saints to meet;
Choose the ways I once abhorr'd:
Find, at times, the promise sweet,
If I did not love the Lord?

8 Lord, decide the doubtful case!
Thou, who art thy people's sun,
Shine upon thy work of grace,
If it be indeed begun!

9. Let me love thee more and more,
If I love at all, I pray :

If I have not lov'd before,
Help me to begin to-day.

277. A New Creature. C.M.

Therefore if any man be in CHRIST, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new.--2 COR. v. 17.

LET worldly minds the world pursue,
It has no charms for me!
Once I admir'd its trifles too,

But grace has set me free.

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