IV. Saints by the pow'r of God are kept till the salvation come: We walk by faith as strangers here; but Christ shall call us home. LXII. 2 PET. iii. 3,-14. I. LO! in the last of days behold a faithless race arise; Their lawless lust their only rule; and thus the scoffer cries: II. Where is the promise, deem'd so true, that spoke the Saviour near? E'er since our fathers slept in dust, no change has reach'd our ear. III. Years roll'd on years successive glide, since first the world began, And on the tide of time still floats, secure, the bark of man. IV. Thus speaks the scoffer; but his words conceal the truth he knows, That from the water's dark abyss the earth at first arose. V. But when the sons of men began with one consent to stray, At Heaven's command a deluge swept the godless race away. VI. A diff'rent fate is now prepar'd for Nature's trembling frame; Soon shall her orbs be all inwrapt in one devouring flame. VII. Reserv'd are sinners for the hour, when to the gulf below, Arm'd with the hand of sov'reign pow'r the Judge consigns his foe. VIII. Though now, ye just! the time appear protracted, dark, unknown, An hour, a day, a thousand years, to heaven's great Lord are one, IX. Still all may share his sov'reign grace, in ev'ry change secure; The meek, the suppliant contrite race, shall find his mercy sure. X. The contrite race he counts his friends, XI. Yet as the night-wrapt thief who lurks to seize th' expected prize, Thus steals the hour when Christ shall come, and thunder rend the skies. XII. Then at the loud, the solemn peal, XIII. Since all this frame of things must end, as Heav'n has so decreed, How wise, our inmost thoughts to guard, and watch o'er ev'ry deed; XIV. Expecting calm th' appointed hour, LXIII. 1 JOHN, iii, 1,4. I. BEHOLD th' amazing gift of love the Father hath bestow'd On us, the sinful sons of men, to call us sons of God. 11. 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 Son. III. High is the rank we now possess; but higher we shall rise; Though what we shall hereafter be is hid from mortal eyes: 1V. Our souls, we know, when he appears, shall bear his image bright; For all his glory full disclos'd shall open to our sight. BOY V. A hope so great and so divine may trials well endure, And purge the soul from sense and sin, as Christ himself is pure. LXIV. REV. i. 5,-9. 1. To Him that lov'd the souls of men, and wash'd us in his blood, To royal honours rais'd our head, and made us priests to God; II. To him let ev'ry tongue be praise, and ev'ry heart be love! All grateful honours paid on earth, and nobler songs above! |