3. Be not fearful, but be chearful, Go to Bethlehem with all speed.' 5 They then ponder'd, and much What this word fo ftrange could And faid, Behold, a tender Child 4. Good. What hurts you now fin, death or God's felf you for companion have; God's Son does on your fide engage. 5. He will not, cannot, you forfake; 6. But fure you fhall emerge and win, They to Bethle'm ran with haste, What he did to them impart. The Spirit did his pow'r and might And more amazing ftill, when we The caufe, which made thee ftoop fo low, Man worthlefs, vile, undone. 4. Vile as we are, yet are we thine, Twice bought with thy own Blood, Which thou didst fpill, when eight days old, And on the Crofs's wood: O let it ever in our hearts Deeply engrav'd remain, Thy Infant fuffrings, toil and fmarts, Likewife thy crofs's pain. 148. Luke ii. 25-38. 1. Simeon, one of Jerufalem, A man who felt devotion's flame, Juft in his walk, who in view kept Ifrael's great hope, and for it wept; 2.He from the holy Ghost had gain'd (Who oft his prefence to him deign'd) A promife, "Thou, before thy grave, Of the Lord's Chrift a fight fhalt have." 3. Into the Temple he one hour Was mov'd to come by Spirit's pow'r: And just then brought, for rites divine, His parents the Child Jefus in. 4. Directly he his arms ftretch'd out, Careffed the child, and free from doubt, Blefs'd God: In peace thy fervant now, Good Lord, difmifs; thy word is true! 5. For these my eyes at length have view'd Thy Babe, with faving ftrength endu'd; Whom thou, immediately prepar'd 8. (To Chrifl be now our homage paid, 'Twill many other hearts difclofe. 11. Anna the prophetefs, who, when Sev'n years she had in wedlock been, Lonely thro' hufband's death once Hath longed earnestly A 150. Matt. ii. T Bethlehem in Judah's land, When Herod exercised command, Was Jejus born, the bleffed Chrift: Then Magi journey'd from the east, 2. And coming to Jerufalem, They afk'd, if none could fhew to them The new-born King of Paleftine, Whose star they in the east had seen? 3. The city wonder'd at this word, Herod to jealousy was stirr'd, Confulted Rabbins, what Birth-place Predicted for Mefiah was? 4. They told him from the facred code, Bethle'm was with this grace endow'd, For fo 'twas found in Micah's page They in their journey did perfift, Where Jefus on coarfe ftraw and hay, And homage paid; then forth they draw, As gift and feal of their devoir, Pure gold and frankincenfe and myrrh. 11. God in a vifion did them warn, Go not to Herod, let him learn Nought from you; fo to their own home Back by another road they roam. 12. After this caution us'd with them, Joseph had too a facred dream, An angel faid to him, Awake! Inftantly child and mother take, 13. Your course to Egypt straightway fteer; Stay there, till you shall farther hear; There's urgent caufe for what I fay, Herod will feek the Child to flay. 14. Jofeph on this arofe outright, 15. (And here we cannot but apply 17. Within, and all round Bethlehem, Come all to me with one accord, Ye heavy laden creatures ! Come hither, all ye weary Souls : I'll give you rest from all your toils, And mould anew your natures. 2. My yoke is fweet, my burthen light, Who'll take it up, fhall 'fcape the weight Of lafting condemnation; I will affift him with my strength To conquer fin, and gain at length The prize of his falvation. 3. My active and my paffive zeal Was to perform my Father's will, And fet a bright Example To guide your thoughts and actions by; If this is fix'd before your eye, Your heart shall be my temple. 4. The world would chufe the blifs I fhew, Was it not charg'd to bid adieu To its own Will and pleasure : Alas! there is no other path, But a true meek and humble faith, That leads to endless treasure. What creature on this earthly ball Was ever found fince Adam's fall, Without its rueful story? Who'll here not bear for Jefus fake, Hereafter endless shame shall take, 5. Juft as a lilly blooms and dies, So quick away the World ftill flies With all its fame and power. 7. The worldling dreads the name of death, And startled by a dying breath, He makes a feign'd fubmiffion: He tires himself with trifles here, Th' immortal foul's his meanest care, Whilst in a hail condition. 8. But when he feels he cannot live, He fancies, that a Lord forgive! Will purchase his falvation : But ah! the long-rejected Grace May no more shine upon his face, May no more have compaffion. What doth the mifer's ftore avail? Or what the young man's ftrength? both fail, 9. When Death puts to the trial: Hadft thou at hand the richest store, All earthly wit, all earthly pow'r, Death would take no denial. 10. No refpite learning can obtain ; All worldly grandeur is in vain, To thwart the fatal fentence: Who will not feek the Saviour's face In the bright day of offer'd grace, Muft die without repentance. But croffes keep, like wholefome falt, 14. Think not the cross a bitter pill; 15. But you that make a better choice, Shall fhare your great Redeemer's joys, When this your warfare's over; No mortal tongue can e'er exprefs, With what rewards the God of grace Will crown his faithful lover. 16. And what our great and gracious Lord Has promis'd in his holy Word, And feal'd with his own Spirit, He will perform, and fafely bring Our fouls where faints and angels fing 11. But ye dear foll'wers of God's 1. lamb, Ye that here fuffer in his name; Your Crofs fhall end in glory: Keep close to God's revealed will, And ftill keep up a Christian zeal, To flight what's tranfitory. 12. Return ye good for evil deeds; Your innocence at last fucceeds, In spite of worldly croffes : Give God the vengeance of your caufe, Obferve your Saviour's Gofpel-laws, He will retrieve your loffes. 13. Were you to live in conftant eafe, And live as long as you should please, Your faith would foon be wafting; Of his eternal Merit. 152. Matt. x. OW very beauteous are the H feet! The voice of preachers O how fweet; Who, as commiffion'd from above, Bring to us Tidings good of love, 2. Of peace and righteoufnefs compleat, Of foul's true health and blissful state, Of Abolition of all guilt, By Chrift obtain'd thro' his blood fpilt! 3. When Jefus his difciples fent, (On Judah then the word was spent) He faid, From these my rules don't ftray; No vifit yet to Gentiles pay, 4. |