Tried With Fire

And did the holy and the just, The Sovereign of the skies, Stoop down to wretchedness and dust, That guilty worms might rise? Yes, the Redeemer left his throne, His radiant throne on high, (Surprising mercy! love unknown!) To suffer, bleed, and die. He took the dying traitor's place, And suffered in his stead; For man, (O miracle of grace!) For man the Saviour bled! Dear Lord, what heavenly wonders dwell In thy atoning blood! By this are sinners snatch'd from hell, And rebels brought to God. Jesus, my soul, adoring, bends To love so full, so free; And may I hope that love extends Its sacred power to me? What glad return can I impart, For favours so divine? O take my all, this worthless heart, And make it only thine. Anne Steele (1717-1778)

Hymn LIV In vain my roving thoughts would find A portion worthy of the mind; On earth my soul can never rest, For earth can never make me blest. Can lasting happiness be found Where seasons roll their hasty round And days, and hours, with rapid flight, Sweep cares and pleasures out of sight? Arise my thoughts, my heart arise, Leave this low world, and seek the skies; There joys for ever, ever last, When seasons, days, and hours are past. Come, Lord, thy powerful grace impart, Thy grace can raise my wandering heart To pleasure perfect and sublime Unmeasur'd by the wings of time Let those bright worlds of endless joy, My thoughts, my hopes, my cares employ, No more, ye restless passions, roam, God is my bliss, and heaven my home. by Anne Steele (1717-1778)

"There is corn in Egypt."—Genesis 42:2. Famine pinched all the nations, and it seemed inevitable that Jacob and his family should suffer great want; but the God of providence, who never forgets the objects of electing love, had stored a granary for His people by giving the Egyptians warning of the scarcity, and leading them to treasure up the grain of the years of plenty. Little did Jacob expect deliverance from Egypt, but there was the corn in store for him. Believer, though all things are apparently against thee, rest assured that God has made a reservation on thy behalf; in the roll of thy griefs there is a saving clause. Somehow He will deliver thee, and somewhere He will provide for thee. The quarter from which thy rescue shall arise may be a very unexpected one, but help will assuredly come in thine extremity, and thou shalt magnify the name of the Lord. If men do not feed thee, ravens shall; and if earth yield not wheat, heaven shall drop with manna. Therefore be of go...