2 Chofen of God all God's own prophets are,
And none elfe can aright the truth declare:
Let others then not dare his word to preach,
For thefe tell lies whatever truths they teach.

3

And ye that hear, take heed unto the word
When it to you is spoken by the Lord!

For hisown fheep well know their Shepherd's voice,
Refufe a ftranger's, but at his rejoice.

4 Chrift, the good Shepherd, for his sheep doth care;
His love to them is far beyond compare:
He guards them fafe, with his paftoral crook,
Midst verdant herbage near the water brook.

5

From danger he a fafe retreat prepares,—
The tender lambsd he in his bosom bears :
He gently leads the old ones big with young,
And likewife heals all that by fin are ftunge.

60 thou who thus regards thy little flock',
Whofe church is founded firm upon a rock;
We pray in faith and on thy word depend,
Supply our wants, and fave us to the end.

Lord, help the promulgators of thy word,
And with thy Spirit, like a two-edg'dh fword,
Make Satan's kingdom fpeedily to fall,-
Set up thine own and be thou ALL1 in ALL.

(b) Mar. iv. 24. (c) John x. I, 16. (d) Ifa. xl. 11. (e) 1 Cor. xv. 56, 57. (f) Luke xii. 32. (g) Matt. xvi. 18. (h) Eph. vi. 17.-Heb. iv. 12. (i) 1 Cor. xv. 28.

natural abilities, literature, or ecclefiaftical ordination) but those who are prepared by the holy SPIRIT and fent by JEHOVAH himself: All others only teach from bafe motives; and though they may exactly fpeak the truth in words, yet they will be found liars before God; and for fo doing (except they repent) must have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimftone, Rev. xxi. 8. For he who thus fpeaketh, faith, I am the Lord, I change not, Mal. iii. 6. and my glory will I not give to another, Ifa. xlii. 8.

CLXVIII.

Caution to Minifters and their Hearers; with

X

Prayer for both.

ACCA*, (as records teach us to believe) 10
Did in the eaft vaft multitudes deceive: 10

He taught to men most base idolatry,

To worship devils in the worst degree.

ΙΟ

ΙΘ

Alas! how fast this hellish doctrine spread;
Thousands thereby were inftantly misled:
How dang'rous then, where minifters don't teach
The truth, but lies unto their hearers preach?

3 More dang'rous ftill when hearers never try
The words they hear, but on their priests rely:
Falfe teachers and falfe hearers thereby fell
Themselves to fin,-the end of which is hell.

O God arise, and now the truth defend;
Chufe for thy work true minifters and fend
To all mankind; may they with pow'r declare,
And spread abroad the gospel every where.

5 In ev'ry clime affift men by thy grace
To know the truth, and it with joy embrace:
To Anti-chrift let none e'er victims fall,
For thou, O Lord, art fov'reign Lord of all!

(j) 2 Pet. ii. 1, 2, 3.

(k) 1 Chron. xxix. 11, 12,

"The first founder of Idolatry in the Indies and Eaftern Countries. This Zacca having retired into a defert, invented the worship of devils, and, at his return out of this folitude, found 20,000 difciples, amongst who n he chote 10,000 to in fruct others in thele deteftable doctrines, &c." See XACCA in Collier's Dictionary.

CLXIX.

On the great neceffity of our having God to watch over us.

I

E

XCEPT God' doth keep the city,

Other watchmen's care is vain;

But awake, and full of pity,

This true watchman doth remain
And his mercy"

Over all his works doth reign!

2 Sometimes careless watchmen flumber Until the befieged cry;

3

4

And their foes come without number,
From whofe hand they cannot fly;
Thus whole cities

1

Are through them+ expos'd to die.

Not fo, when like Caleb wholly
We are stedfaft in God's way,—
Faithful, upright, just, and holy;
With fuch he delights to ftay;
And will always

Keep us fafe both night and day.

Who amongst us then are faved?

Come and let these spread his fame, (Chrift, the feed and root of David, Is unchangeably the fame)

To preferve us

Always free from fin and blame.

Through the floth, falfe teaching, and bad example of wicked paftors, their congregations are expofed to the greatest danger of fuffering the punishment due to fin; but they would rather be instruments of preventing this, were they fuch as are called and appointed of God.

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CLXX.

On Dead Works and Living Faith.

XCEPT God, the all-wife builder,

E Build the houfe the work is vain:

Should we build with gold or filver,
It must be rebuilt again.

Or in ruin

Fall and henceforth fo remain.

2 Man's most lofty best built structure
Will like tow'ring Babel fall:
Our best works are like fome picture,
Or a fhadow on the wall,

Till through Jefus

We do on JEHOVAH call.

3 Works are deads where faith's not giv'n;
Living faith's the gift of God:
Chrift, its author", came from heav'n,
And alone the wine-prefs trod;
Hence the faithful

All escape his iron rod.

4 Gracious God, beftow this favour,
By thy Spirit faith impart :
From all fin be thou our Saviour,
Make and keep us pure in heart;
For thou only

An Almighty Saviour art*.

I

CLXXI.

A Call to Sinners.

ASTE at JEHOVAH's cally!
Jefus, who dy'd for ALL2
Thus hath defign'd

Sinners to be fet free*
From their captivity;
And to true libertyb
Calls all mankind.

2 Look to him from afar,
Ye who in bondage are;
So fhall ye find

Chrift, who hath David's key*,
Dy'd on the cursed tree!
And to true liberty

Calls all mankind.

3 Hark how his mercy cries,
Sinners from fin arife;
Though now confin'd,

Make Christ your only plea,-
God all your wants doth fee;
And to true liberty

Calls all mankind.

4 Come while his Spirit brings
News of fuch blessed things
For men affign'd:
Goodness doth, like the fea,
Flow by his own decree,

Who to true liberty

Calls all mankind.

(z) 2 Cor. v. 15. (a) Rom. v. 38. (d) Ifa. xxii. 22.-Rev. iii. 7.

(y) Ifa. xxvi. 4.

(b) Gal. v. 1. (c) Ifa. xlv. 22.

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