EKIEL 16:63; 36:32.

A SCRIPTURE PARAPHRASE BY D. B----.

"Not for your sakes; for, born unclean,
The slaves of Satan and of sin.
I saw no comeliness in you,
To bid my grace such wonders do.

"Not for your sakes; for when my love
And grace should your affections move,
The working of an evil heart
Still makes you from my truth depart.

"Not for your sakes; for, bold and blind,
To lust and avarice inclined,
Each shadowy idol you obey,
Disowning my paternal sway.

"Not for your sakes; with heaven in view,
For sin you sell your souls anew;
You barter, for a gilded bait,
The joys of an eternal state.

"Not for your sakes; for though you eyed
The cross of Christ on which he died,
You scorn his love for worldly ends,
And wound him in the house of friends.

"Not for your sakes; with Jesus' name,
You put him to an open shame;
And by your sins, consent again
To have the dear Redeemer slain.

"Not for your sakes; 'tis my free grace
That grants you pardon, life, and peace;
And works a change on all your frame,
And binds you to adore my name.

"Not for my sake!--I hail the sound;
Let power of grace my pride confound:
Salvation is a work divine;
Confusion and the shame be mine.

"Not for my sake!--did I but trust
To weakness, vanity, and dust,
I ne'er could reach the heavenly prize,
Nor hope a mansion in the skies.

"Not for my sake!--yet save and call;
Let Jesus be my all in all:
When glory comes I'll self disown,
And grace, free grace shall wear the crown."

"'Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is
good: for his mercy endureth for ever.' Psalm 106:1.

"'Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy
people: O visit me with thy salvation, that I may see the good of thy
chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that