Page:Our Hymns.djvu/138

 118 OUR HYMNS :

955, 95G,) and two excellent Hymns for the Young, in whom he took a deep interest (Nos. 966, 967), the first commencing :

&quot; Ye hearts with youthful vigour warm,

In smiling crowds draw near ; And turn from every mortal charm, A Saviour s voice to hear.&quot;

And the second, containing the fine verse :

&quot; Then let the wildest storms arise : Let tempests mingle earth and skies ; No fatal shipwreck shall I fear ; But all my treasures with me bear.&quot;

And to Doddridge we are indebted for one of our very best missionary hymns :

&quot; Arise, my teiiderest thoughts, arise.&quot; No. 907.

In this hynin the most affecting considerations are gathered together into one dark picture, over which the agony of the writer sheds a still deeper gloom. Moved himself, the author moves the hearts of his readers ; and stony must be the heart of the reader who, 011 reaching verse four, where the author reviews the whole scene, and turns what he sees into motives for Chris tian activity, should yet remain unaffected. His well-known words are :

&quot; My God, I feel the mournful scene

And my heart bleeds for dying men ; While fain my pity would reclaim,

And snatch the firebrands from the flame.&quot;

The above hymn has in Doddridge s autograph MSS, the title, &quot; Of beholding Transgressors with Grief,&quot; from Psalm cxix. 158. June 10, 1739.&quot;

To Doddridge, also, we owe one of our favourite Sunday hymns :

&quot; Lord of the Sabbath! hear our vows.&quot; No. 765.

&quot; The Eternal Sabbath,&quot; from Hcb. iv. 9. Jan. 2, 1736-7.

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