368.THE BELIEF EXPLAINED, OR THE

CHRISTIAN SHIELD+.

God the Father.

1 CREATOR and Father! in thee I believe, If I am thy child thou ne'er wilt me leave; To thee up in heaven, from earth, trembling I call,

From thee good and evil come-thou rulest all. 2 Oh! how shall I dare in thy presence to stay, My nature defiled, and my heart prone to stray; Thy pity and love thou to sinners mak'st known, In JESUS our Saviour, and in him alone.

God the Son.

3 My LORD and my God! at thy name I adore, Since thou wast the victim, my sorrows whobore; My sins to atone for thou MAN didst become, Thy mercy and suffering! how great was the sum!

+ We read in ancient history that it was the custom with a certain nation of the Greeks, to train up their youth in habits of temperance and hardihood, and at a certain age to send them out to the wars: each youth, on this occasion, had a shield (or large round flat piece of iron or brass, held on the left arm as a defence,) given him by his mother, with a strict charge to take care not to lose it, but either to bring it home safe, in proof of his courage, or be brought home dead upon it. To suffer the enemy to take this shield was considered such a disgrace that they never dared to return home without it. Now as St. Paul is constantly in the habit of referring to Grecian customs, it is very probable he alludes to this in his frequent, and earnest, exhortations to Timothy, his son in the faith, to hold the faith, (which he elsewhere compares to a shield), to keep that which was committed to his trust, to hold fast the form of sound words which he had heard, that he might intrust them to others; and in his own triumphant exclamation, "I have fought a good fight, I have kept the faith." Such exhortations were more particularly necessary when the Church was assailed by so many heresies and erroneous doctrines.

The old custom of turning to the Altar as the chief place in the Church, at repeating the Creed, was probably intended to give it the idea of an act of worship, instead of a mere repetition of words, and in imitation of a rank of soldiers all facing the same way, united in one grand design-" Standing fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the Gospel." Phil. i. 27. As to doing reverence, it may be remarked that the Patriarch Jacob, even on his dying bed, when he could do it no otherwise than by the help of his staff, raised himself up that he might offer his praises to God in a proper and reverent posture. Those who despise the use of religious forms should consider whether they would wish to be treated with outward disrespect under the pretence that so much respect is felt inwardly, that it cannot be ex. pressed.

4 The pain due to sin, for me thou hast borne, That I now set free might learn evil to scorn; Since thou, holy Lord, to make heaven my home, Wast dead, rose again, and to Judgment shall

come!

God the Holy Ghost the Word.

5 From sin to be freed, and made fit for thy love, Thy Spirit, the Holy, I need from above; Whose life-giving comfort to prayer is sent down, For such is thy promise, in Scripture made known.

Faith-Charity-the Church-Hope.

6 Baptized as a pledge of my calling, through grace, The pardon of sins with sure faith I embrace, Andin love and communion of holy Church fix'd, Forgetting this world, I aspire to the next.

369.

At a Funeral.

1 WHILE conscious sinners tremble

To hear the trumpet sound,
That bids the dead assemble
The judgment-seat around!

2 Oh! then among that number,
May we the call obey,
Who burst the bands of slumber

The habit of wishing for wishing sake, is forbidden by the Tenth Commandment.

1 FATHER, whate'er of earthly bliss

Thy sovereign will denies;

Accepted at thy throne of grace,
Let this petition rise.

2 Give me a calm, a thankful heart,
From every murmur free;
The blessings of thy grace impart,
And make me live to thee.

3 Let the sweet hope, that I am thine,
My life and death attend;
Thy presence through my journey shine,
And crown my journey's end!

371.

1 REMEMBER thou, in this thy day,
The early morn of youth;
The God who formed thee from the clay,
And now reveals his truth.

2 Remember now his tender hand,
Which first thy wants supplied;
That by his favour thou dost stand,
That he will be thy guide.

3 Remember how he gave his Son
To save thy soul from sin,-
The wondrous works which he has done,
That he thy heart might win.
4 Remember well thy Saviour's ways,
When he was yet a child;
How soon he offered prayer and praise,
Was humble, pure, and mild.
5 Remember too his gracious word,
When he the children blest;
And taught the young to seek the Lord,
And in his favour rest.

6 Remember him who granteth peace,
Before the days shall come,
When all thy dearest joys shall cease,
And death shall call thee home!

372.

A General Thanksgiving.

1 WE praise thee, Lord of heaven! most High!

Who now hast brought us near,
That thou wilt hear our voice and cry,
And save us from our fear.

2 We thank thee for the word of grace,
That pure and heavenly light,
Which guides us to thy holy place,
Amidst the gloom of night.

3 We thank thee for thy Son, our Lord,
Who brought us life and peace;

His name for ever be adored,
Who bids our sorrows cease!

4 We bless thee for the day of rest,
When mercies flow around,
When comfort cheers the troubled breast,
Upon thy sacred ground.

5 We bless thee for the hope of life,
When friend or brother dies;
Removed from pain and jarring strife,
Above the tranquil skies.

6 May these thy gifts, so great, so free,
Be sent to all below;

That all mankind may come to thee,
And all thy Gospel know.

373.

A Morning Song.

1 ONCE more, my soul, the rising day
Salutes thy waking eyes;

Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To him that rolls the skies.

2 Night unto night his name repeats,
The day renews the sound;
Wide as the heaven on which he sits,
To turn the seasons round.

3 'Tis he supports my mortal frame,

My tongue shall speak his praise;.
My sins would rouse his wrath to flame,
And yet his wrath delays!

4 On a poor worm thy power might tread,
And I could ne'er withstand;
Thy justice might have crushed me dead,
But mercy held thine hand.

5 A thousand wretched souls are fled
Since the last setting sun,
And yet thou lengthen'st out my thread,
And yet my moments run.

6 Great God! let all my hours be thine,
Whilst I enjoy the light;
Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a pleasing night.

374.

An Evening Song.

1 DREAD Sovereign! let my evening song

Like holy incense rise;
Assist the offerings of my tongue,
To reach the lofty skies.

2 Through all the dangers of the day
Thy hand was still my guard;
And still to drive my wants away
Thy mercy stood prepared.
3 Perpetual blessings from above
Encompass me around;
But O how few returns of love
Hath my Creator found!
4 What have I done for him that died,
To save my wretched soul ?
How are my follies multiplied,
Fast as my minutes roll.

5 Lord! with this guilty heart of mine,
To thy dear cross I flee;
And to thy grace my soul resign,
To be renew'd by thee.

6 Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood,

I lay me down to rest

In the protection of my God,

375.

Or on my Saviour's breast.

1 WHEN Jesus left his Father's throne,
He chose an humble birth;
Like us, unhonor'd and unknown,
He came to dwell on earth.

2 Like him may we be found below,
In wisdom's paths of peace;
Like him in grace and knowledge grow
As years and strength increase.

3 Jesus pass'd by the rich and great,
For men of low degree;
He sanctified our parents' state,
For poor like them was he.