The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. Containing, besides his Sermons, and Essays on miscellaneous subjects, several additional pieces, Selected from his Manuscripts by the Rev. Dr. Jennings, and the Rev. Dr. Doddridge, in 1753: to which are prefixed, memoirs of the life of the author, compiled by the Rev. George Burder. In six volumes |
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| I. | BOOK I. COLLECTED FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. |
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BOOK I. COLLECTED FROM THE HOLY SCRIPTURES.
HYMN 1. (C. M.) A new Song to the Lamb that was slain, Rev. v. 6, 8, 9, 10, 12.
I
Behold the glories of the LambAmidst his Father's throne:
Prepare new honours for his name,
And songs before unknown.
II
Let elders worship at his feet,The church adore around,
With vials full of odours sweet,
And harps of sweeter sound.
III
Those are the prayers of the saints,And these the hymns they raise:
Jesus is kind to our complaints,
He loves to hear our praise.
IV
Eternal Father, who shall lookInto thy secret will?
Who but the Son should take that book
And open every seal?
V
He shall fulfil thy great decrees,The Son deserves it well;
Lo, in his hand the sovereign keys
Of heaven, and death, and hell!
VI
Now to the Lamb that once was slainBe endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy remain
For ever on thy head.
VII
Thou hast redeem'd our souls with blood,Hast set the prisoners free,
Hast made us kings and priests to God,
And we shall reign with thee.
VIII
The worlds of nature and of graceAre put beneath thy power;
Then shorten these delaying days,
And bring the promis'd hour.
HYMN 2. (L. M.) The Deity and Humanity of Christ, John i. 1, 3, 14. Col. i. 16. Eph. iii. 9, 10.
I
Ere the blue heavens was stretch'd abroadFrom everlasting was the word;
With God he was; the word was God,
And must divinely be ador'd.
II
By his own power were all things made;By him supported all things stand;
He is the whole creation's head,
And angel's fly at his command.
III
Ere sin was born, or Satan fell,He led the host of morning stars;
(Thy generation who can tell,
Or count the numbers of the years?)
IV
But lo, he leaves those heavenly forms,The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That he may hold converse with worms,
Drest in such feeble flesh as they.
258
V
Mortals with joy beheld his face,Th'eternal Father's only Son;
How full of truth! how full of grace!
When thro' his eyes the Godhead shone!
VI
Archangels leave their high abodeTo learn new mysteries here, and tell
The loves of our descending God,
The glories of Immanuel.
HYMN 3. (S. M.) The Nativity of Christ, Luke i. 30, &c. Luke ii. 10. &c.
I
Behold, the grace appears,The promise is fulfil'd;
Mary the wondrous virgin bears,
And Jesus is the child.
II
The Lord, the highest God,Calls him his only Son;
He bids him rule the lands abroad,
And gives him David's throne.
III
O'er Jacob shall he reignWith a peculiar sway;
The nations shall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne'er decay.
IV
To bring the glorious newsA heavenly form appears;
He tells the shepherds of their joys,
And banishes their fears.
V
‘Go, humble swains,’ said he,‘To David's city fly;
‘The promis'd infant born to-day
‘Doth in a manger lie.
VI
‘With looks and hearts serene,‘Go visit Christ your King;’
And straight a flaming troop was seen;
The shepherds heard them sing:
VII
‘Glory to God on high,‘And heavenly peace on earth,
‘Good-will to men, to angels joy,
‘At the Redeemer's birth!’
VIII
In worship so divineLet saints employ their tongues,
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs:
IX
‘Glory to God on high,‘And heavenly peace on earth,
‘Good-will to men, to angels joy,
‘At our Redeemer's birth.’
HYMN 5. (C. M.) Submission to afflictive Providences, Job. i. 21.
I
Naked as from the earth we came,And crept to life at first,
We to the earth return again,
And mingle with our dust.
II
The dear delights we here enjoy,And fondly call our own,
Are but short favours borrow'd now,
To be repaid anon.
III
'Tis God that lifts our comforts high,Or sinks them in the grave;
He gives, and (blessed be his name!)
He takes but what he gave.
IV
Peace, all our angry passions, then,Let each rebellious sigh
Be silent at his sovereign will,
And every murmur die.
V
If smiling mercy crown our livesIts praises shall be spread,
And we'll adore the justice too
That strikes our comforts dead.
HYMN 6. (C. M.) Triumph over Death, Job. xix. 25–27.
I
Great God, I own thy sentence just,And nature must decay;
I yield my body to the dust
To dwell with fellow-clay.
II
Yet faith may triumph o'er the grave,And trample on the tombs:
My Jesus, my Redeemer lives,
My God, my Saviour comes.
III
The mighty conqueror shall appearHigh on a royal seat,
And death the last of all his foes
Lie vanquish'd at his feet.
IV
Tho' greedy worms devour my skin,And gnaw my wasting flesh,
When God shall build my bones again,
He clothes them all afresh.
V
Then shall I see thy lovely faceWith strong immortal eyes,
And feast upon thy unknown grace
With pleasure and surprise.
259
HYMN 7. (C. M.) The Invitation of the Gospel; or, Spiritual Food and Clothing, Isaiah lv. 1, &c.
I
Let every mortal ear attend,And every heart rejoice,
The trumpet of the gospel sounds
With an inviting voice.
II
Ho, all ye hungry starving souls,That feed upon the wind,
And vainly strive with earthly toys
To fill an empty mind.
III
Eternal Wisdom has prepar'dA soul-reviving feast,
And bids your longing appetites
The rich provision taste.
IV
Ho, ye that pant for living streams,And pine away and die,
Here you may quench your raging thirst
With springs that never dry.
V
Rivers of love and mercy hereIn a rich ocean join;
Salvation in abundance flows,
Like floods of milk and wine.
VI
Ye perishing and naked poor,Who work with mighty pain
To weave a garment of your own
That will not hide your sin,
VII
Come naked, and adorn your soulsIn robes prepar'd by God,
Wrought by the labours of his Son,
And dy'd in his own blood.
VIII
Dear God, the treasures of thy loveAre everlasting mines,
Deep as our helpless miseries are,
And boundless as our sins.
IX
The happy gates of gospel graceStand open night and day,
Lord we are come to seek supplies,
And drive our wants away.
HYMN 8. (C. M.) The Safety and Protection of the Church, Isaiah xxvi. 1–6.
I
How honourable is the placeWhere we adoring stand,
Zion the glory of the earth,
And beauty of the land!
II
Bulwarks of mighty grace defendThe city where we dwell,
The walls of strong salvation made,
Defy th'assaults of hell.
III
Lift up the everlasting gates,The doors wide open fling,
Enter, ye nations, that obey
The statutes of our king.
IV
Here shall you taste unmingled joys,And live in perfect peace,
You that have known Jehovah's name,
And ventur'd on his grace;
V
Trust in the Lord, for ever trust,And banish all your fears;
Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells,
Eternal as his years.
VI
What though the rebels dwell on high,His arm shall bring them low,
Low as the caverns of the grave
Their lofty heads shall bow.
VII
On Babylon our feet shall treadIn that rejoicing hour,
The ruins of her walls shall spread
A pavement for the poor.
HYMN 9. (C. M.) The Promises of the Covenant of Grace, Isaiah lv. 1, 2. Zech. xiii. 1. Mic. vii. 19. Ezek. xxxvi. 25, &c.
I
In vain we lavish out our livesTo gather empty wind,
The choisest blessings earth can yield
Will starve a hungry mind.
II
Come, and the Lord shall feed our soulsWith more substantial meat,
With such as saints in glory love,
With such as angels eat.
III
Our God will every want supply,And fill our hearts with peace;
He gives by covenant and by oath
The riches of his grace.
IV
Come, and he'll cleanse our spotted souls,And wash away our stains,
In the dear fountain that his Son
Pour'd from his dying veins.
V
Our guilt shall vanish all awayTho' black as hell before;
Our sins shall sink beneath the sea,
And shall be found no more.
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VI
And lest pollution should o'erspreadOur inward powers again,
His spirits shall bedew our souls
Like purifying rain.
VII
Our heart, that flinty stubborn thing,That terrors cannot move,
That fears no threatenings of his wrath,
Shall be dissolv'd by love.
VIII
Or he can take the flint awayThat would not be refin'd,
And from the treasures of his grace
Bestow a softer mind.
XI
There shall his sacred spirit dwell,And deep engrave his law,
And every motion of our souls
To swift obedience draw.
X
Thus will he pour salvation down,And we shall render praise,
We the dear people of his love,
And he our God of grace.
HYMN 10. (S. M.) The Blessedness of Gospel Times; or, the Revelation of Christ to Jews and Gentiles, Isaiah v. 2, 7–10. Matt. xiii. 16, 17.
I
How beauteous are their feetWho stand on Zion's hill!
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And words of peace reveal!
II
How charming is their voice!How sweet the tidings are!
‘Zion, behold thy Saviour King,
‘He reigns and triumphs here.’
III
How happy are our earsThat hear this joyful sound
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!
IV
How blessed are our eyesThat see this heavenly light!
Prophets and kings desired it long
But dy'd without the sight.
V
The watchmen join their voice,And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.
VI
The Lord makes bare his armThro' all the earth abroad;
Let every nation now behold
Their Saviour and their God.
HYMN 11. (L. M.) The Humble enlightened, and carnal Reason humbled; or, the Sovereignty of Grace, Luke x. 21, 22.
I
There was an hour when Christ rejoic'd,And spoke his joy in words of praise;
‘Father, I thank thee, mighty God,
‘Lord of the earth, and heavens, and seas.
II
‘I thank thy sovereign power and love,‘That crowns my doctrine with success;
‘And makes the babes in knowledge learn
‘The heights, and breadths, and lengths of grace.
III
‘But all this glory lies conceal'd‘From men of prudence and of wit;
‘The prince of darkness blinds their eyes,
‘And their own pride resists the light.
IV
‘Father, 'tis thus, because thy will‘Chose and ordain'd it should be so;
‘'Tis thy delight t'abase the proud,
‘And lay the haughty scorner low.
V
‘There's none can know the Father right‘But those who learn it from the Son;
‘Nor can the Son be well receiv'd
‘But where the Father makes him known.’
VI
Then let our souls adore our GodThat deals his graces as he please,
Nor gives to mortals an account
Or of his actions, or decrees.
HYMN 12. (C. M.) Free Grace in revealing Christ, Luke x. 21.
I
Jesus, the man of constant grief,A mourner all his days;
His spirit once rejoic'd aloud,
And tun'd his joy to praise.
II
‘Father, I thank thy wondrous love,‘That hath reveal'd thy Son
‘To men unlearned; and to babes
‘Has made thy gospel known.
III
‘The mysteries of redeeming grace‘Are hidden from the wise,
‘While pride and carnal reasonings join
‘To swell and blind their eyes.’
IV
Thus doth the Lord of heaven and earthHis great decrees fulfil,
And orders all his works of grace
By his own sovereign will.
261
HYMN 13. (L. M.) The Son of God incarnate; or, the Titles and the Kingdom of Christ, Isaiah ix. 2, 6, 7.
I
The lands that long in darkness layNow have beheld a heavenly light;
Nations that sat in death's cold shade
Are blest with beams divinely bright.
II
The virgin's promis'd Son is born,Behold the expected child appear;
What shall his names or titles be?
The Wonderful, the Counsellor.
III
This infant is the mighty GodCome to be suckled and ador'd;
Th'eternal Father, Prince of Peace,
The Son of David, and his Lord.
IV
The government of earth and seasUpon his shoulders shall be laid;
His wide dominions still increase,
And honours to his name be paid.
V
Jesus the holy child shall sitHigh on his father David's throne,
Shall crush his foes beneath his feet,
And reign to ages yet unknown.
HYMN 14. (L. M.) The Triumph of Faith; or, Christ's unchangeable Love, Romans viii. 33, &c.
I
Who shall the Lord's elect condemn?'Tis God that justifies their souls,
And mercy like a mighty stream
O'er all their sins divinely rolls.
II
Who shall adjudge the saints to hell?'Tis Christ that suffer'd in their stead,
And the salvation to fulfil,
Behold him rising from the dead.
III
He lives, he lives, and sits above,For ever interceding there:
Who shall divde us from his love?
Or what should tempt us to despair?
IV
Shall persecution, or distress,Famine, or sword, or nakedness?
He that hath lov'd us bears us thro'.
And makes us more than conquerors too.
V
Faith hath an overcoming power,It triumphs in the dying hour;
Christ is our life, our joy, our hope,
Nor can we sink with such a prop.
VI
Not all that men on earth can do,Nor powers on high, nor powers below,
Shall cause his mercy to remove,
Or wean our hearts from Christ our love.
HYMN 15. (L. M.) Our own Weakness, and Christ our Strength, 2 Cor. xii. 7, 9, 10.
I
Let me but hear my Saviour say,‘Strength shall be equal to thy day,’
Then I rejoice in deep distress,
Leaning on all-sufficient grace.
II
I glory in infirmity,That Christ's own power may rest on me;
When I am weak, then am I strong,
Grace is my shield, and Christ my song.
III
I can do all things, or can bearAll sufferings, if my Lord be there;
Sweet pleasures mingle with the pains,
While his left hand my head sustains.
IV
But if the Lord be once withdrawn,And we attempt the work alone,
When new temptations spring and rise
We find how great our weakness is.
V
So Samson, when his hair was lost,Met the Philistines to his cost,
Shook his vain limbs with sad surprise,
Made feeble fight, and lost his eyes.
HYMN 16. (C. M.) Hosanna to Christ, Matt. xxi. 9. Luke xix. 38, 40.
I
Hosanna to the royal SonOf David's ancient line,
His natures two, his person one,
Mysterious and divine.
II
The root of David here we find,And offspring is the same;
Eternity and time are join'd
In our Immanuel's name.
III
Bless'd he that comes to wretched menWith peaceful news from heaven;
Hosannas of the highest strain
To Christ the Lord be given.
VI
Let mortals ne'er refuse to takeTh'hosanna on their tongues,
Lest rocks and stones should rise, and break
Their silence into songs.
262
HYMN 17. (C. M.) Victory over Death, 1 Cor. xv. 55, &c.
I
O for an overcoming faithTo cheer my dying hours,
To triumph o'er the monster death,
And all his frightful powers!
II
Joyful with all the strength I haveMy quivering lips should sing,
‘Where is thy boasted victory, grave?
‘And where the monster's sting?’
III
If sin be pardon'd I'm secure,Death hath no sting beside;
The law give sin its damning power,
But Christ my ransom dy'd.
IV
Now to the God of victoryImmortal thanks be paid,
Who makes us conquerors while we die,
Thro' Christ our living head.
HYMN 18. (C. M.) Blessed are the Dead that die in the Lord, Rev. xiv. 13.
I
Hear what the voice from heaven proclaims,For all the pious dead,
Sweet is the savour of their names,
And soft their sleeping bed.
II
They die in Jesus and are bless'd;How kind their slumbers are!
From sufferings and from sins releas'd,
And freed from every snare.
III
Far from this world of toil and strife,They're present with the Lord;
The labours of their mortal life
End in a large reward.
HYMN 19. (C. M.) The Song of Simeon; or, Death made desirable, Luke ii. 27, &c.
I
Lord, at thy temple we appear,As happy Simeon came,
And hope to meet our Saviour here;
O make our joys the same!
II
With what divine and vast delightThe good old man was fill'd,
When fondly in his wither'd arms
He clasp'd the holy child!
III
‘Now I can leave this world,’ he cry'd,‘Behold thy servant dies,
‘I've seen thy great salvation, Lord,
‘And close my peaceful eyes.
IV
‘This is the light prepar'd to shine‘Upon the gentile lands,
‘Thine Israel's glory, and their hope
‘To break their slavish bands.’
V
Jesus, the vision of thy faceHath overpowering charms,
Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace
If Christ be in my arms.
VI
Then while ye hear my heart-strings break,How sweet my minutes roll!
A mortal paleness on my cheek,
And glory in my soul.
HYMN 20. (C. M.) Spiritual Apparel; namely, the Robe of Righteousness, and Garments of Salvation, Isaiah lxi. 10.
I
Awake, my heart, arise, my tongue,Prepare a tuneful voice,
In God, the life of all my joys,
Aloud will I rejoice.
II
'Tis he adorn'd my naked soul,And made salvation mine,
Upon a poor polluted worm
He makes his graces shine.
III
And lest the shadow of a spotShould on my soul be found,
He took the robe the Saviour wrought,
And cast it all around.
IV
How far the heavenly robe exceedsWhat earthly princes wear!
These ornaments how bright they shine!
How white the garments are!
V
The Spirit wrought my faith and love,And hope, and every grace;
But Jesus spent his life to work
The robe of righteousness.
VI
Strangely, my soul, art thou array'dBy the great Sacred Three:
In sweetest harmony of praise
Let all thy powers agree.
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HYMN 21. (C. M.) A Vision of the Kingdom of Christ among Men, Rev. xxi. 1–4.
I
Lo, what a glorious sight appearsTo our believing eyes!
The earth and sea are past away,
And the old rolling skies.
II
From the third heaven where God resides,That holy happy place,
The New Jerusalem comes down
Adorn'd with shining grace.
III
Attending angels shout for joy,And the bright armies sing,
‘Mortals, behold the sacred seat
‘Of your descending king.
IV
‘The God of glory down to men‘Removes his blest abode,
‘Men the dear objects of his grace,
‘And he the loving God.
V
‘His own soft hand shall wipe the tears‘From every weeping eye,
‘And pains, and groans, and griefs, and fears,
‘And death itself shall die.’
VI
How long, dear Saviour, O how long,Shall this bright hour delay!
Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,
And bring the welcome day.
HYMN 24. (L. M.) The rich Sinner dying, Psalm xlix. 6, 9. Eccles. viii. 8. Job iii. 14, 15.
I
In vain the wealthy mortals toil,And heap their shining dust in vain,
Look down and scorn the humble poor,
And boast their lofty hills of gain.
II
Their golden cordials cannot easeTheir pained hearts or aching heads,
Nor fright nor bribe approaching death
From glittering roofs and downy beds.
III
The lingering, the unwilling soulThe dismal summons must obey,
And bid a long a sad farwel
To the pale lump of lifeless clay.
IV
Thence they are huddled to the grave,Where kings and slaves have equal thrones;
Their bones without distinction lie
Amongst the heap of meaner bones.
HYMN 25. (L. M.) A Vision of the Lamb, Rev. v. 6–9.
I
All mortal vanities, begone,Nor tempt my eyes, nor tire my ears,
Behold amidst th'eternal throne
A vision of the Lamb appears.
II
Glory his fleecy robe adorns,Mark'd with the bloody death he bore;
Seven are his eyes, and seven his horns,
To speak his wisdom and his power.
III
Lo, he receives a sealed bookFrom him that sits upon the throne
Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees, and things unknown.
IV
All the assembling saints aroundFall worshipping before Lamb
And in new songs of gospel-sound
Address their honours to his name.
V
The joy, the shout, the harmonyFlies o'er the everlasting hills,
‘Worthy art thou alone,’ they cry,
‘To read the book, to loose the seals.’
VI
Our voices join the heavenly strain,And with transporting pleasure sing,
‘Worthy the Lamb that once was slain,
‘To be our teacher and our king!’
VII
His words of prophecy revealEternal counsels, deep designs;
His grace and vengeance shall fulfil
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.
VIII
Thou hast redeem'd our souls from hellWith thine invaluable blood;
And wretches that did once rebel
Are now made favourites of their God.
IX
Worthy for ever is the Lord,That dy'd for treasons not his own,
By every tongue to be ador'd,
And dwell upon his Father's throne.
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HYMN 26. (C. M.) Hope of Heaven by the Resurrection of Christ, 1 Pet. 3–5.
I
Bless'd be the everlasting God,The Father of our Lord,
Be his abounding mercy prais'd,
His majesty ador'd.
II
When from the dead he rais'd his Son,And call'd him to the sky,
He gave our souls a lively hope
That they should never die.
III
What tho' our inbred sins requireOur flesh to see the dust!
Yet as the Lord our Saviour rose
So all his followers must.
IV
There's an inheritance divineReserv'd against that day,
'Tis uncorrupted, undefil'd,
And cannot waste away.
V
Saints by the power of God are keptTill the salvation come;
We walk by faith as strangers here
Till Christ shall call us home.
HYMN 27. (C. M.) Assurance of Heaven; or, a Saint prepared to die, 2 Tim. iv. 6–8. 1.
I
Death may dissolve my body now,And bear my spirit home;
Why do my minutes move so slow,
Nor my salvation come?
II
With heavenly weapons I have foughtThe battles of the Lord,
Finish'd my course, and kept the faith,
And wait the sure reward.
III
God has laid up in heaven for meA crown which cannot fade;
The righteous Judge at that great day
Shall place it on my head.
IV
Nor hath the King of grace decreedThis prize for me alone;
But all that love and long to see
Th'appearance of his Son.
V
Jesus, the Lord, shall guard me safeFrom every ill design;
And to his heavenly kingdom keep
This feeble soul of mine.
VI
God is my everlasting aid,And hell shall rage in vain;
To him be highest glory paid,
And endless praise—Amen.
HYMN 28. (C. M.) The Triumph of Christ over the Enemies of his Church, Isaiah lxiii. 1–3, &c.
I
What mighty man, or mighty God,Comes travelling in state,
Along the Idumean road
Away from Bozrah's gate?
II
The glory of his robes proclaim'Tis some victorious king:
‘'Tis I, the Just, th'Almighty One,
‘That your salvation bring.’
III
‘Why, mighty Lord,’ thy saints enquire,‘Why thine apparel red?
‘And all thy vesture stain'd like those
‘Who in the wine-press tread?’
IV
‘I by myself have trod the press,‘And crush'd my foes alone,
‘My wrath hath struck the rebels dead,
‘My fury stamp'd them down.
V
‘'Tis Edom's blood that dyes my robes‘With joyful scarlet stains,
‘The triumph that my raiment wears
‘Sprung from their bleeding veins.
VI
‘Thus shall the nations be destroy'd‘That dare insult my saints,
‘I have an arm t'avenge their wrongs
‘An ear for their complaints.’
HYMN 29. (C. M.) The Ruin of Antichrist, Isaiah lxiii. 4–7.
I
‘I lift my banners,’ saith the Lord,‘Where Antichrist has stood,
‘The city of my gospel-foes
‘Shall be a field of blood.
II
‘My heart has study'd just revenge,‘And now the day appears,
‘The day of my redeem'd is come
‘To wipe away their tears.
III
‘Quite weary is my patience grown,‘And bids my fury go;
‘Swift as the light'ning it shall move
‘And be as fatal too.
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IV
‘I call for helpers but in vain:‘Then has my gospel none?
‘Well, mine own arm has might enough
‘To crush my foes alone.
V
‘Slaughter and my devouring sword,‘Shall walk the streets around,
‘Babel shall reel beneath my stroke,
‘And stagger to the ground.’
VII
Thy honours, O victorious King!Thine own right hand shall raise,
While we thy awful vengeance sing,
And our Deliverer praise.
HYMN 30. (L. M.) Prayer for Deliverance answered, Isaiah xxvi. 8–12, 20, 21.
I
In thine own ways, O God of love,We wait the visits of thy grace,
Our souls desire is to thy name,
And the remembrance of thy face.
II
My thoughts are searching, Lord, for thee,'Mongst the black shades of lonesome night;
My earnest cries salute the skies
Before the dawn restore the light.
III
Look, how rebellious men derideThe tender patience of my God;
But they shall see thy lifted hand,
And feel the scourges of thy rod.
IV
Hark, th'eternal rends the skyA mighty voice before him goes,
A voice of music to his friends,
But threatening thunder to his foes.
V
Come, children, to your father's arms,Hide in the chambers of my grace,
Till the fierce storms be overblown,
And my revenging fury cease.
VI
My sword shall boast its thousands slain,And drink the blood of haughty kings,
While heavenly peace around my flock
Stretches its soft and shady wings.
HYMN 32. (C. M.) Strength from Heaven, Isaiah xl. 27–30.
I
Whence do our mournful thoughts arise?And where's our courage fled?
Has restless sin and raging hell
Struck all our comforts dead?
II
Have we forgot th'Almighty nameThat form'd the earth and sea?
And can an all-creating arm
Grow weary or decay?
III
Treasures of everlasting mightIn our Jehovah dwell;
He gives the conquest to the weak,
And treads their foes to hell.
IV
Mere mortal power shall fade and die,And youthful vigour cease;
But we that wait upon the Lord
Shall feel our strength increase.
V
The saints shall mount on eagles' wings,And taste the promis'd bliss,
Till their unwearied feet arrive
Where perfect pleasure is.
HYMN 39. (C. M.) God's tender Care of his Church, Isaiah xlix. 13, &c.
I
Now shall my inward joys ariseAnd burst into a song,
Almighty love inspires my heart,
And pleasure tunes my tongue.
II
God on his thirsty Sion-hillSome mercy-drops has thrown,
And solemn oaths have bound his love
To shower salvation down.
III
Why do we then indulge our fears,Suspicions and complaints?
Is he a God, and shall his grace
Grow weary of his saints?
IV
Can a kind woman e'er forgetThe infant of her womb,
And 'mongst a thousand tender thoughts
Her suckling have no room?
V
‘Yet,’ saith the Lord, ‘should nature change,‘And mothers monsters prove,
‘Sion still dwells upon the heart
‘Of everlasting Love.
VI
‘Deep on the palms of both my hands‘I have engrav'd her name,
‘My hands shall raise her ruin'd walls,
‘And build her broken frame.’
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HYMN 40. (L. M.) The Business and Blessedness of glorified Saints, Rev. vii. 13, &c.
I
‘What happy men, or angels, these‘That all their robes are spotless white?
‘Whence did this glorious troop arrive
‘At the pure realms of heavenly light?’
II
From tort'ring racks and burning fires,And seas of their own blood they came;
But nobler blood has wash'd their robes,
Flowing from Christ the dying Lamb.
III
Now they approach th'Almighty throne,With loud hosannas night and day,
Sweet anthems to the great Three One
Measure their blest eternity.
IV
No more shall hunger pain their souls,He bids their parching thirst be gone,
And spreads the shadow of his wings
To screen them from the scorching sun.
V
The Lamb that fills the middle throneShall shed around his milder beams,
There shall they feast on his rich love,
And drink full joys from living streams.
VI
Thus shall their mighty bliss renewThro' the vast round of endless years,
And the soft hand of sovereign grace
Heals all their wounds, and wipes their tears.
HYMN 41. (L. M.) The same; or, the Martyrs glorified, Rev. vii. 13, &c.
I
‘These glorious minds, how bright they shine!‘Whence all their white array?
‘How came they to the happy seats
‘Of everlasting day?’
II
From tort'ring pains to endless joysOn fiery wheels they rode,
And strangely wash'd their raiment white
In Jesus' dying blood.
III
Now they approach a spotless God,And bow before his throne;
Their warbling harps and sacred songs
Adore the Holy One.
IV
The unveil'd glories of his faceAmongst his saints reside,
While the rich treasure of his grace
Sees all their wants supply'd.
V
Tormenting thirst shall leave their souls,And hunger flee as fast;
The fruit of life's immortal tree
Shall be their sweet repast.
VI
The Lamb shall lead his heavenly flockWhere living fountains rise,
And Love divine shall wipe away
The sorrows of their eyes.
HYMN 42. (C. M.) Divine Wrath and Mercy, Nahum i. 2, &c.
I
Adore and tremble, for our GodIs a consuming fire;
His jealous eyes his wrath inflame,
And raise his vengeance higher.
II
Almighty vengeance how it burns!How bright his fury glows!
Vast magazines of plagues and storms
Lie treasur'd for his foes.
III
Those heaps of wrath by slow degreesAre forc'd into a flame,
But kindled, O how fierce they blaze!
And rend all nature's frame.
IV
At his approach the mountains flee,And seek a watery grave:
The frighted sea makes haste away,
And shrinks up every wave.
V
Thro' the wide air the weighty rocksAre swift as hail-stones hurl'd:
Who dares engage his fiery rage
That shakes the solid world?
VI
Yet, mighty God, thy sovereign graceSits regent on the throne,
The refuge of thy chosen race
When wrath comes rushing down.
VII
Thy hand shall on rebellious kingsA fiery tempest pour,
While we beneath thy sheltering wings
Thy just revenge adore.
HYMN 45. (C. M.) The Last Judgment, Rev. xxi. 5–8.
I
See where the great incarnate GodFills a majestic throne,
While from the skies his awful voice
Bears the last judgment down.
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II
‘I am the first, and I the last,‘Thro' endless years the same;
‘I AM is my memorial still,
‘And my eternal name.
III
‘Such favours as a God can give‘My royal grace bestows;
‘Ye thirsty souls, come taste the streams
‘Where life and pleasure flows.
IV
‘The saint that triumphs o'er his sins,‘I'll own him for a son,
‘The whole creation shall reward
‘The conquest he has won.
V
‘But bloody hands and hearts unclean,‘And all the lying race,
‘The faithless and the scoffing crew,
‘That spurn at offer'd grace;
VI
‘They shall be taken from my sight,‘Bound fast in iron chains,
‘And headlong plung'd into the lake
‘Where fire and darkness reigns.’
VII
O may I stand before the Lamb,When earth and seas are fled!
And hear the Judge pronounce my name
With blessings on my head!
VIII
May I with those for ever dwellWho here were my delight,
While sinners banish'd down to hell
No more offend my sight.
HYMN 48. (L. M.) The Christian Race, Isaiah xl. 28–31.
I
Awake, our souls, away, our fears,Let every trembling thought be gone;
Awake and run the heavenly race,
And put a cheerful courage on.
II
True, 'tis a strait and thorny road,And mortal spirits tire and faint;
But they forget the mighty God
That feeds the strength of every saint—
III
Thee, mighty God, whose matchless powerIs ever new and ever young,
And firm endures while endless years
Their everlasting circles run.
IV
From thee the overflowing spring,Our souls shall drink a fresh supply,
While such as trust their native strength
Shall melt away, and drop and die.
V
Swift as an eagle cuts the airWe'll mount aloft to thine abode,
On wings of love our souls shall fly,
Nor tire amidst the heavenly road.
HYMN 49. (C. M.) The Works of Moses and the Lamb, Rev. xv. 3.
I
How strong thine arm is, mighty God,Who would not fear thy name!
Jesus, how sweet thy graces are!
Who would not love the Lamb!
II
He has done more than Moses did,Our Prophet and our King;
From bonds of hell he freed our souls
And taught our lips to sing.
III
In the Red Sea by Moses' handTh'Egyptian host was drown'd;
But his own blood hides all our sins,
And guilt no more is found.
IV
When thro' the desert Israel went,With manna they were fed;
Our Lord invites us to his flesh,
And calls it living bread.
V
Moses beheld the promis'd land,Yet never reach'd the place;
But Christ shall bring his followers home
To see his Father's face.
VI
Then shall our love and joy be full,And feel a warmer flame,
And sweeter voices tune the song
Of Moses and the Lamb.
HYMN 50. (C. M.) The Song of Zacharias, and the Message of John the Baptist; or, Light and Salvation by Jesus Christ, Luke i. 68, &c. John i. 29, 32.
I
Now be the God of Israel bless'dWho makes his truth appear,
His mighty hand fulfils his word,
And all the oaths he sware.
II
Now he bedews old David's rootWith blessings from the skies;
He makes the branch of promise grow,
The promis'd Horn arise.
III
John was the prophet of the LordTo go before his face,
The herald which our Saviour God
Sent to prepare his ways.
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IV
He makes the great salvation known,He speaks of pardon'd sins;
While grace divine and heavenly love
In its own glory shines.
V
‘Behold the Lamb of God, (he cries)‘That takes our guilt away:
‘I saw the Spirit o'er his head
On his baptising day.
VI
‘Be ev'ry vale exalted high,‘Sink every mountain low,
‘The proud must stoop, and humble souls
‘Shall his salvation know.
VII
‘The heathen realms with Israel's land‘Shall join in sweet accord;
‘And all that's born of man shall see
‘The glory of the Lord.
VIII
‘Behold the morning star arise,‘Ye that in darkness sit:
‘He marks the path that leads to peace,
‘And guides our doubtful feet.’
HYMN 51. (S. M.) Preserving Grace, Jude ver 24, 25.
I
To God the only wise,Our Saviour and our King,
Let all the saints below the skies
Their humble praises bring.
II
'Tis his almighty love,His counsel, and his care,
Preserves us safe from sin and death,
And every hurtful snare.
III
He will present our soulsUnblemish'd and complete,
Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.
IV
Then all the chosen seedShall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.
V
To our Redeemer GodWisdom and power belongs,
Immortal crowns of majesty,
And everlasting songs.
HYMN 52. (C. M.) Baptism, Matt. xxviii. 19. Acts ii. 38.
I
'Twas the commission of our Lord,‘Go, teach the nations, and baptize;’
The nations have receiv'd the word
Since he ascended to the skies.
II
He sits upon th'eternal hills,With grace and pardon in his hands,
And sends his covenant with the seals,
To bless the distant British lands.
III
‘Repent, and be baptiz'd, (he saith)‘For the remission of your sins;’
And thus our sense assists our faith,
And shews us what his gospel means.
IV
Our souls he washes in his blood,As water makes the body clean;
And the good Spirit from our God
Descends like purifying rain.
V
Thus we engage ourselves to thee,And seal our covenant with the Lord:
O may the great eternal Three
In heaven our solemn vows record!
HYMN 53. (L. M.) The Holy Scriptures, Heb. i. 1, 2. 2 Tim. iii. 15, 16. Psalm cxlvii. 19, 20.
I
God who in various methods toldHis mind and will to saints of old
Sent down his Son, with truth and grace,
To teach us in these latter days.
II
Our nation reads the written word,That book of life, that sure record:
The bright inheritance of heaven
Is by thy sweet conveyance given.
III
God's kindest thoughts are here express'd,Able to make us wise and bless'd;
The doctrines are divinely true,
Fit for reproof and comfort too.
IV
Ye British isles, who read his loveIn long epistles from above,
(He hath not sent his sacred word
To every land) Praise ye the Lord.
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HYMN 54. (L. M.) Electing Grace; or, Saints beloved in Christ, Eph. i. 3, &c.
I
Jesus, we bless thy Father's name;Thy God and ours are both the same:
What heavenly blessings from his throne
Flow down to sinners thro' his Son!
II
‘Christ be my first elect,’ he said,Then chose our souls in Christ our head,
Before he gave the mountains birth,
Or laid foundations for the earth.
III
Thus did eternal Love beginTo raise us up from death and sin:
Our characters were then decreed,
‘Blameless in love, a holy seed.’
IV
Predestinated to be sons,Born by degrees, but chose at once;
A new regenerated race
To praise the glory of his grace.
V
With Christ our Lord we share our partIn the affections of his heart,
Nor shall our souls be thence remov'd
Till he forgets his first belov'd.
HYMN 55. (C. M.) Hezekiah's Song; or, Sickness and Recovery, Isaiah xxxviii. 9, &c.
I
When we are rais'd from deep distressOur God deserves a song;
We take the pattern of our praise
From Hezekiah's tongue.
II
The gates of the devouring graveAre open'd wide in vain,
If he that holds the keys of death
Commands them fast again.
III
Pains of the flesh are wont t'abuseOur minds with slavish fears;
‘Our days are past, and we shall lose
‘The remnant of our years.’
IV
We chatter with a swallow's voice,Or like a dove we mourn,
With bitterness instead of joys,
Afflicted and forlorn.
V
Jehovah speaks the healing word,And no disease withstands;
Fevers and plagues obey the Lord,
And fly at his commands.
VI
If half the strings of life should break,He can our frame restore;
He casts our sins behind his back,
And they are found no more.
HYMN 56. (C. M.) The Song of Moses and the Lamb; or, Babylon falling, Rev. xv. 3. xvi. 19. xvii. 6.
I
We sing the glories of thy love,We sound thy dreadful name;
The Christian Church unites the songs
Of Moses and the Lamb.
II
Great God, how wondrous are thy worksOf vengeance and of grace!
Thou King of saints, Almighty Lord,
How just and true thy ways!
III
Who dares refuse to fear thy name,Or worship at thy throne?
Thy judgments speak thine holiness
Thro' all the nations known.
IV
Great Babylon, that rules the earth,Drunk with the martyrs blood,
Her crimes shall speedily awake
The fury of our God.
V
The cup of wrath is ready mix'd,And she must drink the dregs;
Strong is the Lord her sovereign judge,
And shall fulfil the plagues.
HYMN 57. (C. M.) Original Sin; or, the First and Second Adam, Rom. v. 12. Psalm li. 5. Job xiv. 4.
I
Backward with humble shame we lookOn our original;
How is our nature dash'd and broke
In our first father's fall!
II
To all that's good averse and blind,But prone to all that's ill:
What dreadful darkness veils our mind!
How obstinate our will.
III
Conceiv'd in sin (O wretched state!)Before we draw our breath,
The first young pulse begins to beat
Iniquity and death.
IV
How strong in our degenerate bloodThe old corruption reigns,
And mingling with the crooked flood,
Wanders thro' all our veins!
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V
Wild and unwholesome as the rootWill all the branches be;
How can we hope for living fruit
From such a deadly tree?
VI
What mortal power from things uncleanCan pure productions bring?
Who can command a vital stream
From an infected spring?
VII
Yet, mighty God, thy wondrous loveCan make our nature clean,
While Christ and grace prevail above
The tempter, death, and sin.
VIII
The second Adam shall restoreThe ruins of the first,
Hosanna to that sovereign power
That new creates our dust.
HYMN 58. (L. M.) The Devil vanquished; or, Michael's War with the Dragon, Rev. xii. 7.
I
Let mortal tongues attempt to singThe wars of heaven, when Michael stood
Chief general of the Eternal King,
And fought the battles of our God.
II
Against the dragon and his hostThe armies of the Lord prevail;
In vain they rage, in vain they boast,
Their courage sinks, their weapons fail.
III
Down to the earth was Satan thrown,Down to the earth his legions fell;
Then was the trump of triumph blown,
And shook the dreadful deeps of hell.
IV
Now is the hour of darkness past,Christ hath assum'd his reigning power;
Behold the great accuser cast
Down from the skies, to rise no more.
V
'Twas by thy blood, immortal Lamb,Thine armies trod the tempter down;
'Twas by thy word and powerful name,
They gain'd the battle and renown.
VI
Rejoice, ye heavens; let every starShine with new glories round the sky;
Saints, while ye sing the heavenly war,
Raise your Deliverer's name on high.
HYMN 59. (L. M.) Babylon fallen, Rev. xviii. 20, 21.
I
In Gabriel's hand a mighty stoneLies, a fair type of Babylon:
‘Prophets rejoice, and, all ye saints,
‘God shall avenge your long complaints.
II
He said, and dreadful as he stood,He sunk the mill-stone in the flood:
‘Thus terribly shall Babel fall;
‘Thus, and no more, be found at all.’
HYMN 60. (L. M.) The Virgin Mary's Song; or, the promised Messiah born, Luke i. 46, &c.
I
Our souls shall magnify the Lord,In God the Saviour we rejoice;
While we repeat the virgin's song,
May the same spirit tune our voice.
II
The highest saw her low estate,And mighty things his hand hath done:
His overshadowing power and grace
Makes her the mother of his Son.
III
Let every nation call her bless'd,And endless years prolong her fame;
But God alone must be ador'd;
Holy and reverend is his name.
IV
To those that fear and trust the LordHis mercy stands for ever sure:
From age to age his promise lives,
And the performance is secure.
V
He spake to Abra'm and his seed,‘In thee shall all the earth be bless'd;’
The memory of that ancient word
Lay long in his eternal breast.
VI
But now no more shall Israel wait,No more the gentiles lie forlorn:
Lo, the desire of nations comes,
Behold the promis'd seed is born!
HYMN 61. (L. M.) Christ our High-Priest and King, and Christ coming to Judgment, Rev. i. 5–7.
I
Now to the Lord, that makes us knowThe wonders of his dying love,
Be humble honours paid below,
And strains of nobler praise above.
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II
'Twas he that cleans'd our foulest sins,And wash'd us in his richest blood;
'Tis he that makes us priests and kings,
And brings us rebels near to God.
III
To Jesus our atoning Priest,To Jesus our superior King,
Be everlasting power confess'd,
And every tongue his glory sing.
IV
Behold, on flying clouds he comes,And every eye shall see him move;
Tho' with our sins we pierc'd him once,
Then he displays his pardoning love.
V
The unbelieving world shall wailWhile we rejoice to see the day:
Come, Lord; nor let thy promise fail,
Nor let thy chariots long delay.
HYMN 62. (C. M.) Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, worshipped by all the Creation, Rev. v. 11–13.
I
Come let us join our cheerful songsWith angels round the throne;
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues
But all their joys are one.
II
‘Worthy the Lamb that dy'd,’ they cry,‘To be exalted thus:’
‘Worthy the Lamb,’ our lips reply,
‘For he was slain for us.’
III
Jesus is worthy to receiveHonour and power divine;
And blessings more than we can give,
Be, Lord, for ever thine.
IV
Let all that dwell above the sky,And air, and earth, and seas,
Conspire to lift thy glories high,
And speak thine endless praise.
V
The whole creation join in oneTo bless the sacred name
Of him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb.
HYMN 63. (L. M.) Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation, Rev. v. 12.
I
What equal honours shall we bringTo thee, O Lord our God, the Lamb,
When all the notes that angels sing
Are far inferior to thy name?
II
Worthy is he that once was slain,The Prince of Peace that groan'd and dy'd,
Worthy to rise, and live, and reign
At his Almighty Father's side.
III
Power and dominion are his due,Who stood comdemn'd at Pilate's bar:
Wisdom belongs to Jesus too,
Tho' he was charg'd with madness here.
IV
All riches are his native right,Yet he sustain'd amazing loss:
To him ascribe eternal might,
Who left his weakness on the cross.
V
Honour immortal must be paid,Instead of scandal and of scorn:
While glory shines around his head,
And a bright crown without a thorn.
VI
Blessings for ever on the Lamb,Who bore the curse for wretched men:
Let angels sound his sacred name,
And every creature say, Amen.
HYMN 64. (S. M.) Adoption 1 John iii. 1, &c. Gal. iv. 6.
I
Behold what wondrous graceThe Father hath bestow'd
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them sons of God!
II
'Tis no surprising thingThat we should be unknown;
The jewish world knew not their King,
God's everlasting Son.
III
Nor doth it yet appearHow great we must be made;
But when we see our Saviour here,
We shall be like our head.
IV
A hope so much divineMay trials well endure,
May purge our souls from sense and sin,
As Christ the Lord is pure.
V
If in my Father's loveI share a filial part,
Send down thy Spirit like a dove
To rest upon my heart.
VI
We would no longer lieLike slaves beneath the throne;
My faith shall Abba, Father, cry,
And thou the kindred own.
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HYMN 65. (L. M.) The Kingdoms of the World become the Kingdoms of our Lord; or, the Day of Judgment, Rev. xi. 15–18.
I
Let the seventh angel sound on high,Let shouts be heard thro' all the sky;
Kings of the earth, with glad accord
Give up your kingdoms to the Lord.
II
Almighty God, thy power assume,Who wast, and art, and art to come:
Jesus, the Lamb, who once was slain,
For ever live, for ever reign.
III
The angry nations fret and roar,That they can slay the saints no more;
On wings of vengeance flies our God
To pay the long arrears of blood.
IV
Now must the rising dead appear,Now the decisive sentence hear;
Now the dear martyrs of the Lord
Receive an infinite reward.
HYMN 66. (L. M.) Christ the King at his Table, Sol. Song. i. 2–5, 12, 13, 17.
I
Let him embrace my soul, and proveMine interest in his heavenly love:
The voice that tells me, ‘Thou art mine,’
Exceeds the blessings of the vine.
II
On thee th'anointing Spirit came,And spreads the savour of thy name;
That oil of gladness and of grace
Draws virgin souls to meet thy face.
III
Jesus, allure me by thy charms,My soul shall fly into thine arms:
Our wandering feet thy favours bring
To the fair chambers of the king.
IV
Wonder and pleasure tunes our voiceTo speak thy praises, and our joys:
Our memory keeps this love of thine
Beyond the taste of richest wine.
V
Tho' in ourselves deform'd we are,And black as Kedar's tents appear,
Yet when we put thy beauties on,
Fair as the courts of Solomon.
VI
While at his table sits the King,He loves to see us smile and sing;
Our graces are our best perfume,
And breathe like spikenard round the room.
VII
As myrrh new-bleeding from the tree,Such is a dying Christ to me;
And while he makes my soul his guest,
My bosom, Lord, shall be thy rest.
VIII
No beams of cedar or of firCan with thy courts on earth compare;
And here we wait until thy love
Raise us to nobler seats above.
HYMN 67. (L. M.) Seeking the Pastures of Christ the Shepherd, Sol. Song. i. 7.
I
Thou whom my soul admires aboveAll earthly joy, and earthly love,
Tell me, dear Shepherd, let me know,
Where doth thy sweetest pasture grow?
II
Where is the shadow of that rock,That from the sun defends thy flock?
Fain would I feed among thy sheep,
Among them rest, among them sleep.
III
Why should thy bride appear like oneThat turns aside to paths unknown?
My constant feet would never rove,
Would never seek another love.
IV
The footsteps of thy flock I see;Thy sweetest pastures here they be;
A wondrous feast thy love prepares,
Bought with thy wounds, and groans, and tears.
V
His dearest flesh he makes my food,And bids me drink his richest blood;
Here to these hills my soul will come
Till my beloved lead me home.
HYMN 68. (L. M.) The Banquet of Love, Sol. Song ii. 1–4, 6, 7.
I
Behold the Rose of Sharon here,The Lily which the vallies bear;
Behold the Tree of Life, that gives
Refreshing fruit and healing leaves.
II
Amongst the thorns so lilies shine;Amongst wild gourds the noble vine;
So in mine eyes my Saviour proves
Amidst a thousand meaner loves.
III
Beneath his cooling shade I satTo shield me from the burning heat;
Of heavenly fruit he spreads a feast
To feed my eyes and please my taste.
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IV
Kindly he brought me to the placeWhere stands the banquet of his grace,
He saw me faint, and o'er my head
The banner of his love he spread.
V
With living bread and generous wineHe cheers this sinking heart of mine;
And opening his own heart to me,
He shews his thoughts, how kind they be.
VI
O never let my Lord departLie down and rest upon my heart;
I charge my sins not once to move,
Nor stir, nor wake, nor grieve my love.
HYMN 69. (L. M.) Christ appearing to his Church, and seeking her Company, Sol. Song ii. 8–13.
I
The voice of my beloved soundsOver the rocks and rising grounds,
O'er hills of guilt and seas of grief,
He leaps, he flies to my relief.
II
Now thro' the veil of flesh I seeWith eyes of love he looks at me;
Now in the gospel's clearest glass
He shews the beauties of his face.
III
Gently he draws my heart alongBoth with his beauties and his tongue;
‘Rise,’ saith my Lord, ‘make haste away;
‘No mortal joys are worth thy stay.
IV
‘The Jewish wintry state is gone,‘The mists are fled, the spring comes on,
‘The sacred turtle dove we hear
‘Proclaim the new, the joyful year.
V
‘Th'immortal vine of heavenly root‘Blossoms and buds, and gives her fruit:’
Lo, we are come to taste the wine;
Our souls rejoice and bless the vine.
VI
And when we hear our Jesus say,‘Rise up, my love, make haste away!’
Our hearts would fain out-fly the wind,
And leave all earthly loves behind.
HYMN 70. (L. M.) Christ inviting and the Church answering the Invitation, Sol. Song ii. 14, 16, 17.
I
Hark, the Redeemer from on highSweetly invites his favourites nigh;
From caves of darkness and of doubt,
He gently speaks, and calls us out:
II
‘My dove who hidest in the rock,‘Thine heart almost with sorrow broke,
‘Lift up thy face, forget thy fear,
‘And let thy voice delight mine ear.
III
‘Thy voice to me sounds ever sweet;‘My graces in thy countenance meet;
‘Tho' the vain world thy face despise,
‘'Tis bright and comely in mine eyes.’
IV
Dear Lord, our thankful heart receivesThe hope thine invitation gives:
To thee our joyful lips shall raise
The voice of prayer, and of praise.
V
I am my love's, and he is mine;Our hearts, our hopes, our passions join:
Nor let a motion, nor a word,
Nor thought arise to grieve my Lord.
VI
My soul to pastures fair he leads,Amongst the lilies where he feeds;
Amongst the saints (whose robes are white
Wash'd in his blood) is his delight.
VII
Till the day break, and shadows flee,Till the sweet dawning light I see,
Thine eyes to me-ward often turn,
Nor let my soul in darkness mourn.
VIII
Be like a hart on mountains green,Leap o'er the hills of fear and sin;
Nor guilt nor unbelief divide,
My love, my Saviour from my side.
HYMN 71. (L. M.) Christ found in the Street, and brought to the Church, Sol. Song iii. 1–5.
I
Often I seek my Lord by night,Jesus, my love, my soul's delight;
With warm desire and restless thought
I seek him oft, but find him not.
II
Then I arise, and search the streetTill I my Lord, my Saviour meet;
I ask the watchman of the night,
‘Where did you see my soul's delight?’
III
Sometimes I find him in my way,Directed by a heavenly ray;
I leap for joy to see his face,
And hold him fast in mine embrace.
IV
I bring him to my mother's home,Nor does my Lord refuse to come,
To Sion's sacred chambers, where
My soul first drew the vital air.
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V
He gives me there his bleeding heart,Pierc'd for my sake with deadly smart;
I give my soul to him, and there
Our loves their mutual tokens share.
VI
I charge you all, ye earthly toys,Approach not to disturb my joys;
Nor sin nor hell come near my heart,
Nor cause my Saviour to depart.
HYMN 72. (L. M.) The Coronation of Christ, and Espousals of the Church, Sol. Song iii. 2.
I
Daughters of Sion, come, beholdThe crown of honour and of gold,
Which the glad church with joys unknown
Plac'd on the head of Solomon.
II
Jesus, thou everlasting King,Accept the tribute which we bring,
Accept the well-deserv'd renown,
And wear our praises as thy crown.
III
Let every act of worship beLike our espousals, Lord, to thee;
Like the dear hour when from above
We first receiv'd thy pledge of love.
IV
The gladness of that happy day,Our hearts would wish it long to stay,
Nor let our faith forsake its hold,
Nor comfort sink, nor love grow cold.
V
Each following minute as it flies,Increase thy praise, improve our joys,
Till we are rais'd to sing thy name
At the great supper of the Lamb.
VI
O that the months would roll away,And bring that coronation-day!
The king of grace shall fill the throne
With all his Father's glories on.
HYMN 73. (L. M.) The Churches Beauty in the Eyes of Christ, Sol. Song iv. 1, 10, 11, 7, 9, 8.
I
Kind is the speech of Christ our Lord,Affection sounds in every word,
‘Lo, thou art fair, my love,’ he cries,
‘Not the young doves have sweeter eyes.
II
‘Sweet are thy lips, thy pleasing voice‘Salutes mine ear with secret joys,
‘No spice so much delights the smell,
‘Nor milk nor honey taste so well.
III
‘Thou art all fair, my bride, to me,‘I will behold no spot in thee.’
What mighty wonders love performs,
And puts a comeliness on worms!
IV
Defil'd and loathsome as we are,He makes us white, and calls us fair;
Adorns us with that heavenly dress,
His graces, and his righteousness.
V
‘My sister and my spouse,’ he cries,‘Bound to my heart by various ties,
‘Thy powerful love my heart detains
‘In strong delight and pleasing chains.’
VI
He calls me from the leopard's den,From this wild world of beasts and men,
To Sion where his glories are;
Not Lebanon is half so fair.
VII
Nor dens of prey, nor flowery plains,Nor earthly joys, nor earthly pains
Shall hold my feet, or force my stay,
When Christ invites my soul away.
HYMN 74. (L. M.) The Church the Garden of Christ, Sol. Song iv. 12, 14, 15. and v. 1.
I
We are a garden wall'd around,Chosen and made peculiar ground;
A little spot inclos'd by grace
Out of the world's wide wilderness.
II
Like trees of myrrh and spice we standPlanted by God the Father's hand;
And all his springs in Sion flow
To make the young plantation grow.
III
Awake, O heavenly wind, and come,Blow on this garden of perfume;
Spirit divine, descend and breathe
A gracious gale on plants beneath.
IV
Make our best spices flow abroadTo entertain our Saviour God:
And faith, and love, and joy appear,
And every grace be active here.
V
Let my beloved come, and tasteHis pleasant fruits at his own feast:
‘I come, my spouse, I come,’ he cries,
With love and pleasure in his eyes.
VI
Our Lord into his garden comes,Well pleas'd to smell our poor perfumes,
And calls us to a feast divine,
Sweeter than honey, milk, or wine.
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VII
‘Eat of the tree of life, my friends,‘The blessings that my Father sends;
‘Your taste shall all my dainties prove,
‘And drink abundance of my love.’
VIII
Jesus, we will frequent thy board,And sing the bounties of our Lord:
But the rich food on which we live
Demands more praise than tongues can give.
HYMN 75. (L. M.) The Description of Christ the Beloved, Sol. Song v. 9–12, 14–16.
I
The wondering world inquires to knowWhy I should love my Jesus so:
‘What are his charms,’ say they, ‘above
‘The objects of a mortal love?’
II
Yes, my beloved, to my sight,Shews a sweet mixture, red and white:
All human beauties, all divine
In my beloved meet and shine.
III
White is his soul, from blemish free;Red with the blood he shed for me;
The fairest of ten thousand fairs:
A sun amongst ten thousand stars.
IV
His head the finest gold excels,There wisdom in perfection dwells;
And glory like a crown adorns
Those temples once beset with thorns.
V
Compassions in his heart are found,Hard by the signals of his wound;
His sacred side no more shall bear
The cruel scourge, the piercing spear.
VI
His hands are fairer to beholdThan diamonds set in rings of gold;
Those heavenly hands that on the tree
Were nail'd, and torn, and bled for me.
VII
Tho' once he bow'd his feeble knees,Loaded with sins and agonies,
Now on the throne of his command
His legs like marble pillars stand.
VIII
His eyes are majesty and love,The eagle temper'd with the dove:
No more shall trickling sorrows roll
Thro' those dear windows of his soul.
IX
His mouth, that pour'd out long complaints,Now smiles and cheers his fainting saints:
His countenance more graceful is
Than Lebanon with all its trees.
X
All over glorious is my Lord,Must be belov'd, and yet ador'd:
His worth if all the nations knew,
Sure the whole earth would love him too.
HYMN 76. (L. M.) Christ dwells in Heaven, but visits on Earth, Sol. Song vi. 1–3, 12.
I
When strangers stand and hear me tellWhat beauties in my Saviour dwell;
Where he is gone, they fain would know,
That they may seek and love him too.
II
My best beloved keeps his throneOn hills of light, in worlds unknown;
But he descends, and shows his face
In the young gardens of his grace.
III
In vineyards planted by his hand,Where fruitful trees in order stand;
He feeds among the spicy beds,
Where lilies show their spotless heads.
IV
He has engross'd my warmest love,No earthly charms my soul can move:
I have a mansion in his heart,
Nor death nor hell shall make us part.
V
He takes my soul e'er I'm aware,And shows me where his glories are;
No chariot of Amminadib
The heavenly rapture can describe.
VI
O may my spirit daily riseOn wings of faith above the skies,
Till death shall make my last remove
To dwell for ever with my love.
HYMN 77. (L. M.) The Love of Christ to the Church, in his Language to her, and Provisions for her, Sol. Song vii. 5, 6, 9, 12, 13.
I
Now in the galleries of his graceAppears the king, and thus he says,
‘How fair my saints are in my sight!
‘My love how pleasant for delight!’
II
Kind is thy language, Sovereign Lord,There's heavenly grace in every word:
From that dear mouth a stream divine
Flows sweeter than the choicest wine.
III
Such wondrous love awakes the lipOf saints that were almost asleep,
To speak the praises of thy name,
And makes our cold affections flame.
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IV
These are the joys he lets us knowIn fields and villages below,
Gives us a relish of his love,
But keeps his noblest feast above.
V
In paradise within the gatesAn higher entertainment waits;
Fruits new and old laid up in store,
Where we shall feed, but thirst no more.
HYMN 78. (L. M.) The Strength of Christ's Love, and the Soul's Jealousy of her own, Sol. Song viii. 5–7, 13, 14.
I
Who is this fair one in distress,That travels from the wilderness?
And press'd with sorrows and with sins,
On her beloved Lord she leans.
II
This is the spouse of Christ our God,Bought with the treasure of his blood:
And her request and her complaint
Is but the voice of every saint.
III
‘O let my name engraven stand,‘Both on thy heart and on thy hand:
‘Seal me upon thine arm; and wear
‘That pledge of love for ever there.
IV
‘Stronger than death thy love is known,‘Which floods of wrath could never drown;
‘And hell and earth in vain combine
‘To quench a fire so much divine.
V
‘But I am jealous of my heart,‘Lest it should once from thee depart;
‘Then let thy name be well imprest
‘As a fair signet on my breast.
VI
‘Till thou hast brought me to thy home,‘Where fears and doubts can never come,
‘Thy count'nance let me often see,
‘And often thou shalt hear from me.
VII
‘Come, my beloved, haste away,‘Cut short the hours of thy delay,
‘Fly like a youthful hart or roe
‘Over the hills where spices grow.’
HYMN 79. (L. M.) A Morning Hymn, Psalm xix. 5, 8. and lxxiii. 24, 25.
I
God of the morning, at whose voiceThe cheerful sun makes haste to rise,
And like a giant doth rejoice
To run his journey thro' the skies;
II
From the fair chambers of the eastThe circuit of his race begins,
And, without weariness or rest,
Round the whole earth he flies and shines:
III
O like the sun may I fulfilTh'appointed duties of the day,
With ready mind and active will
March on and keep my heavenly way.
IV
But I shall rove and lose the race,If God my sun should disappear,
And leave me in this world's wild maze
To follow every wandering star.
V
Lord, thy commands are clean and pure,Enlightening our beclouded eyes,
Thy threatenings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.
VI
Give me thy counsels for my guide,And then receive me to thy bliss;
All my desires and hopes beside
Are faint and cold compar'd with this.
HYMN 80. (L. M.) An Evening Hymn, Psalm iv. 8. and iii. 5, 6. and cxliii. 8.
I
Thus far the Lord has led me on,Thus far his power prolongs my days;
And every evening shall make known
Some fresh memorial of his grace.
II
Much of my time has run to waste,And I perhaps am near my home;
But he forgives my follies past,
He gives me strength for days to come.
III
I lay my body down to sleep,Peace is the pillow for my head,
While well-appointed angels keep
Their watchful stations round my bed.
IV
In vain the sons of earth or hellTell me a thousand frightful things,
My God in safety makes me dwell
Beneath the shadow of his wings.
V
Faith in his name forbids my fear:O may thy presence ne'er depart!
And in the morning make me hear
The love and kindness of thy heart.
VI
Thus when the night of death shall come,My flesh shall rest beneath the ground,
And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb,
With sweet salvation in the sound.
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HYMN 81. (L. M.) A Song for Morning or Evening, Lam. iii. 23. Isaiah xlv. 7.
I
My God, how endless is thy love!Thy gifts are every evening new,
And morning mercies from above
Gently distil like early dew.
II
Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,Great guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.
III
I yield my powers to thy command,To thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from thine hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
HYMN 82. (L. M.) God far above Creatures; or, Man vain and mortal, Job. iv. 17–21.
I
Shall the vile race of flesh and bloodContend with their creator, God?
Shall mortal worms presume to be
More holy, wise, or just than he?
II
Behold he puts his trust in noneOf all the spirits round his throne;
Their natures, when compar'd with his,
Are neither holy, just, or wise.
III
But how much meaner things are theyWho spring from dust and dwell in clay!
Touch'd by the finger of thy wrath,
We faint and vanish like the moth.
IV
From night to day, from day to night,We die by thousands in thy sight;
Bury'd in dust whole nations lie
Like a forgotten vanity.
V
Almighty power, to thee we bow;How frail are we, how glorious thou!
No more the sons of earth shall dare
With an eternal God compare.
HYMN 83. (C. M.) Afflictions and Death under Providence, Job. v. 6–8.
I
Not from the dust affliction grows,Nor troubles rise by chance;
Yet we are born to care and woes,
A sad inheritance.
II
As sparks break out from burning coals,And still are upwards borne,
So grief is rooted in our souls,
And man grows up to mourn.
III
Yet with my God I leave my cause,And trust his promis'd grace;
He rules me by his well-known laws
Of love and righteousness.
IV
Not all the pains that e'er I boreShall spoil my future peace,
For death and hell can do no more
Than what my Father please.
HYMN 84. (L. M.) Salvation, Righteousness, and Strength in Christ, Isaiah xlv. 21–25.
I
Jehovah speaks, let Israel hear,Let all the earth rejoice and fear,
While God's eternal Son proclaims
His sovereign honours and his names:
II
‘I am the Last, and I the First,‘The Saviour God, and God the Just;
‘There's none beside pretends to shew
‘Such justice and salvation too.
III
‘Ye that in shades of darkness dwell,‘Just on the verge of death and hell,
‘Look up to me from distant lands,
‘Light, life and heaven are in my hands.
IV
‘I by my holy name have sworn,‘Nor shall the word in vain return,
‘To me shall all things bend the knee,
‘And every tongue shall swear to me.
V
‘In me alone shall men confess‘Lies all their strength and righteousness;
‘But such as dare despise my name,
‘I'll clothe them with eternal shame.
VI
‘In me the Lord, shall all the seed‘Of Israel from their sins be freed,
‘And by their shining graces prove
‘Their interest in my pardoning love.’
HYMN 85. (S. M.) The same.
[The Lord on high proclaims]
I
The Lord on high proclaimsHis Godhead from his throne;
‘Mercy and Justice are the names
‘By which I will be known.
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II
‘Ye dying souls that sit‘In darkness and distress,
‘Look from the borders of the pit
‘To my recovering grace.’
III
Sinners shall hear the sound;Their thankful tongues shall own
‘Our righteousness and strength is found
‘In thee, the Lord alone.’
IV
In thee shall Israel trust,And see their guilt forgiven;
God will pronounce the sinners just,
And take the saints to heaven.
HYMN 86. (C. M.) God Holy, Just, and Sovereign, Job. ix. 2–10.
I
How should the sons of Adam's raceBe pure before their God?
If he contend in righteousness
We fall beneath his rod.
II
To vindicate my words and thoughtsI'll make no more pretence;
Not one of all my thousand faults
Can bear a just defence.
III
Strong is his arm, his heart is wise;What vain presumers dare
Against their Maker's hand to rise,
Or tempt th'unequal war?
IV
Mountains by his almighty wrathFrom their old seats are torn;
He shakes the earth from south to north,
And all her pillars mourn.
V
He bids the sun forbear to rise,Th'obedient sun forbears:
His hand with sackcloth spreads the skies
And seals up all the stars.
VI
He walks upon the stormy sea,Flies on the stormy wind;
There's none can trace his wondrous way,
Or his dark footsteps find.
HYMN 87. (L. M.) God dwells with the Humble and Penitent, Isaiah lvii. 15, 16.
I
Thus saith the High and Lofty One,‘I sit upon my holy throne,
‘My name is God, I dwell on high,
‘Dwell in my own eternity.
II
‘But I descend to worlds below,‘On earth I have a mansion too,
‘The humble spirit and contrite
‘Is an abode of my delight.
III
‘The humble soul my words revive,‘I bid the mourning sinner live,’
Heal all the broken hearts I find,
And ease the sorrows of the mind.
IV
‘When I contend against their sin‘I make them know how vile they've been;
‘But should my wrath for ever smoke
‘Their souls would sink beneath my stroke.’
V
O may thy pardoning grace be nigh,Lest we should faint, despair, and die!
Thus shall our better thoughts approve
The methods of thy chastening love.
HYMN 88. (L. M.) Life the Day of Grace and Hope, Eccl. x. 4–6, 10.
I
Life is the time to serve the Lord,The time to insure the great reward
And while the lamp holds out to burn
The vilest sinner may return.
II
Life is the hour that God has givenTo 'scape from hell, and fly to heaven,
The day of grace, and mortals may
Secure the blessings of the day.
III
The living know that they must die,But all the dead forgotten lie,
Their memory and their sense is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.
IV
Their hatred and their love is lost,Their envy bury'd in the dust;
They have no share in all that's done
Beneath the circuit of the sun.
V
Then what my thoughts design to do,My hands, with all your might pursue,
Since no device, nor work is found,
Nor faith, nor hope beneath the ground.
VI
There are no acts of pardon pastIn the cold grave to which we haste,
But darkness, death, and long despair
Reign in eternal silence there.
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HYMN 89. (L. M.) Youth and Judgment, Eccles. xi. 9.
I
Ye sons of Adam, vain and young,Indulge your eyes, indulge your tongue,
Taste the delights your souls desire,
And give a loose to all your fire:
II
Pursue the pleasures you design,And cheer your hearts with songs and wine,
Enjoy the day of mirth; but know
There is a day of judgment too.
III
God from on high beholds your thoughts,His book records your secret faults;
The works of darkness you have done
Must all appear before the sun.
IV
The vengeance to your follies dueShould strike your hearts with terror thro';
How will ye stand before his face,
Or answer for his injur'd grace?
V
Almighty God, turn off their eyesFrom these alluring vanities;
And let the thunder of thy word
Awake their souls to fear the Lord.
HYMN 90. (C. M.) The same.
[Lo the young tribes of Adam rise]
I
Lo the young tribes of Adam rise,And thro' all nature rove,
Fulfil the wishes of their eyes,
And taste the joys they love.
II
They give a loose to wild desires,But let the sinners know
The strict account that God requires
Of all the works they do.
III
The Judge prepares his throne on high,The frighted earth and seas
Avoid the fury of his eye,
And flee before his face.
IV
How shall I bear that dreadful day,And stand the fiery test?
I give all mortal joys away
To be for ever blest.
HYMN 91. (L. M.) Advice to Youth; or, old Age and Death in an unconverted State, Eccles. xii. 1, 7. Isaiah lxv. 20.
I
Now in the heat of youthful bloodRemember your Creator God,
Behold the months come hastening on
When you shall say, ‘My joys are gone.’
II
Behold, the aged sinner goesLaden with guilt and heavy woes
Down to the regions of the dead,
With endless curses on his head.
III
The dust returns to dust again,The soul in agonies of pain
Ascends to God, not there to dwell,
But hears her doom, and sinks to hell.
IV
Eternal King, I fear thy name,Teach me to know how frail I am;
And when my soul must hence remove,
Give me a mansion in thy love.
HYMN 92. (S. M.) Christ the Wisdom of God, Prov. viii. 1, 22–32.
I
Shall Wisdom cry aloud,And not her speech be heard?
The voice of God's eternal word,
Deserves it no regard?
II
‘I was his chief delight,‘His everlasting Son,
‘Before the first of all his works,
‘Creation, was begun.
III
‘Before the flying clouds,‘Before the solid land,
‘Before the fields, before the floods
‘I dwelt at his right hand.
IV
‘When he adorn'd the skies,‘And built them, I was there
‘To order where the sun should rise,
‘And marshal every star.
V
‘When he pour'd out the sea,‘And spread the flowing deep,
‘I gave the flood a firm decree
‘In its own bounds to keep.
VI
‘Upon the empty air‘The earth was balanc'd well;
‘With joy I saw the mansion where
‘The sons of men should dwell.
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VII
‘My busy thoughts at first‘On their salvation ran,
‘Ere sin was born, or Adam's dust
‘Was fashion'd to a man.
VIII
‘Then come, receive my grace,‘Ye children, and be wise;
‘Happy the man that keeps my ways;
‘The man that shuns them dies.’
HYMN 93. (L. M.) Christ, or Wisdom, obeyed or resisted, Prov. viii. 34–36.
I
Thus saith the wisdom of the Lord,‘Blest is the man that hears my word,
‘Keeps daily watch before my gates,
‘And at my feet for mercy waits.
II
‘The soul that seeks me shall obtain‘Immortal wealth and heavenly gain;
‘Immortal life is his reward,
‘Life, and the favour of the Lord.
III
‘But the vile wretch that flies from me‘Doth his own soul an injury;
‘Fools that against my grace rebel
‘Seek death, and love the road to hell.’
HYMN 94. (C. M.) Justification by Faith, not by Works; or, the Law condemns, Grace justifies, Rom. iii. 19–22.
I
Vain are the hopes the sons of menOn their own works have built;
Their hearts by nature all unclean,
And all their actions guilt.
II
Let Jew and gentile stop their mouthsWithout a murmuring word,
And the whole race of Adam stand
Guilty before the Lord.
III
In vain we ask God's righteous lawTo justify us now,
Since to convince and to condemn
Is all the law can do.
IV
Jesus, how glorious is thy grace,When in thy name we trust,
Our faith receives a righteousness
That makes the sinner just.
HYMN 95. (C. M.) Regeneration, John i. 13. iii. 3. &c.
I
Not all the outward forms on earth,Nor rites that God has given,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
Can raise a soul to heaven.
II
The sovereign will of God aloneCreates us heirs of grace;
Born in the image of his Son
A new peculiar race.
III
The Spirit like some heavenly windBlows on the sons of flesh,
New models all the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh.
IV
Our quicken'd souls awake, and riseFrom the long sleep of death;
On heavenly things we fix our eyes,
And praise employs our breath.
HYMN 96. (C. M.) Election excludes boasting, 1 Cor. i. 26–31.
I
But few among the carnal wise,But few of noble race,
Obtain the favour of thine eyes,
Almighty King of grace.
II
He takes the men of meanest nameFor sons and heirs of God;
And thus he pours abundant shame
On honourable blood.
III
He calls the fool, and makes him knowThe mysteries of his grace,
To bring aspiring wisdom low,
And all its pride abase.
IV
Nature has all its glories lostWhen brought before his throne;
No flesh shall in his presence boast
But in the Lord alone.
HYMN 97. (L. M.) Christ our Wisdom, Righteousness, &c. 1 Cor. i. 30.
I
Bury'd in shadows of the nightWe lie till Christ restores the light;
Wisdom descends to heal the blind,
And chase the darkness of the mind.
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II
Our guilty souls are drown'd in tearsTill his atoning blood appears,
Then we awake from deep distress,
And sing, ‘The Lord our Righteousness.’
III
Our very frame is mix'd with sin,His Spirit makes our natures clean;
Such virtues from his sufferings flow,
At once to cleanse and pardon too.
VI
Jesus beholds where Satan reigns,Binding his slaves in heavy chains;
He sets the prisoners free, and breaks
The iron bondage from our necks.
V
Poor helpless worms in thee possessGrace, wisdom, power and righteousness;
Thou art our mighty All, and we
Give our whole selves, O Lord, to thee.
HYMN 98. (S. M.) The same.
[How heavy is the night]
I
How heavy is the nightThat hangs upon our eyes,
Till Christ with his reviving light
Over our souls arise!
II
Our guilty spirits dreadTo meet the wrath of heaven,
But, in his righteousness array'd,
We see our sins forgiven.
III
Unholy and impureAre all our thoughts and ways;
His hands infected nature cure
With sanctifying grace.
IV
The powers of hell agreeTo hold our souls in vain;
He sets the sons of bondage free,
And breaks the cursed chain.
V
Lord, we adore thy waysTo bring us near to God,
Thy sovereign power, thy healing grace,
And thine atoning blood.
HYMN 99. (C. M.) Stones made Children of Abraham; or, Grace not conveyed by Religious Parents, Matt. iii. 9.
I
Vain are the hopes that rebels placeUpon their birth and blood,
Descended from a pious race;
(Their fathers now with God.)
II
He from the caves of earth and hellCan take the hardest stones,
And fill the house of Abra'm well
With new-created sons.
III
Such wondrous power doth he possessWho form'd our mortal frame,
Who call'd the world from emptiness,
The world obey'd and came.
HYMN 100. (L. M.) Believe and be saved, John iii. 16–18.
I
Not to condemn the sons of menDid Christ, the Son of God, appear;
No weapons in his hands are seen,
No flaming sword, nor thunder there.
II
Such was the pity of our God,He lov'd the race of man so well,
He sent his Son to bear our load
Of sins, and save our souls from hell.
III
Sinners, believe the Saviour's word,Trust in his mighty name and live;
A thousand joys his lips afford,
His hands a thousand blessings give.
VI
But vengeance and damnation liesOn rebels who refuse the grace;
Who God's eternal Son despise
The hottest hell shall be their place.
HYMN 101. (L. M.) Joy in Heaven for a repenting Sinner, Luke xv. 7, 10.
I
Who can describe the joys that riseThro' all the courts of paradise
To see a prodigal return,
To see an heir of glory born?
II
With joy the Father doth approveThe fruit of his eternal love;
The Son with joy looks down and sees
The purchase of his agonies.
III
The Spirit takes delight to viewThe holy soul he form'd anew;
And saints and angels join to sing
The growing empire of their King
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HYMN 102. (L. M.) The Beatitudes, Matt. v. 3–12.
I
Bless'd are the humble souls that seeTheir emptiness and poverty;
Treasures of grace to them are given,
And crowns of joy laid up in heaven.
II
Bless'd are the men of broken heart,Who mourn for sin with inward smart;
The blood of Christ divinely flows,
A healing balm for all their woes.
III
Bless'd are the meek, who stand afarFrom rage and passion, noise and war;
God will secure their happy state,
And plead their cause against the great.
IV
Bless'd are the souls that thirst for grace,Hunger and long for righteousness,
They shall be well supply'd and fed,
With living streams and living bread.
V
Bless'd are the men whose bowels moveAnd melt with sympathy and love;
From Christ the Lord shall they obtain
Like sympathy and love again.
VI
Bless'd are the pure, whose hearts are cleanFrom the defiling powers of sin,
With endless pleasure they shall see
A God of spotless purity.
VII
Bless'd are the men of peaceful life,Who quench the coals of growing strife,
They shall be call'd the heirs of bliss,
The sons of God, the God of peace.
VIII
Bless'd are the sufferers who partakeOf pain and shame for Jesus' sake;
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.
HYMN 103. (C. M.) Not ashamed of the Gospel, 2 Tim. i. 12.
I
I'm not asham'd to own my Lord,Or to defend his cause,
Maintain the honour of his word,
The glory of his cross.
II
Jesus, my God, I know his name,His name is all my trust,
Nor will he put my soul to shame,
Nor let my hope be lost.
III
Firm as his throne his promise stands,And he can well secure
What I've committed to his hands
Till the decisive hour.
IV
Then will he own my worthless nameBefore his Father's face,
And in the new Jerusalem
Appoint my soul a place.
HYMN 104. (C. M.) A State of Nature and of Grace, 1 Cor. vi. 10, 11.
I
Not the malicious or profane,The wanton or the proud,
Nor thieves, nor slanderers shall obtain
The kingdom of our God.
II
Surprising grace! And such were weBy nature and by sin,
Heirs of immortal misery,
Unholy and unclean.
III
But we are wash'd in Jesus' blood,We're pardon'd through his name;
And the good Spirit of our God
Has sanctify'd our frame.
IV
O for a persevering powerTo keep thy just commands!
We would defile our hearts no more,
No more pollute our hands.
HYMN 105. (C. M.) Heaven invisible and holy, 1 Cor. ii. 9, 10. Rev. xxi. 27.
I
Nor eye has seen, nor ear has heard,Nor sense nor reason known
What joys the father has prepar'd
For those that love the Son.
II
But the good Spirit of the LordReveals a heaven to come:
The beams of glory in his word
Allure and guide us home.
III
Pure are the joys above the sky,And all the region peace;
No wanton lips, nor envious eye
Can see or taste the bliss.
IV
Those holy gates for ever barPollution, sin, and shame;
None shall obtain admittance there
But followers of the Lamb.
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V
He keeps the Father's book of life,There all their names are found;
The hypocrite in vain shall strive
To tread the heavenly ground.
HYMN 106. (S. M.) Dead to Sin by the Cross of Christ, Rom. vi. 1, 2, 6.
I
Shall we go on to sinBecause thy grace abounds,
Or crucify the Lord again,
And open all his wounds?
II
Forbid it, mighty God,Nor let it e'er be said
That we whose sins are crucified
Should raise them from the dead.
III
We will be slaves no more,Since Christ has made us free,
Has nail'd our tyrants to his cross,
And bought our liberty.
HYMN 107. (L. M.) The Fall and Recovery of Man; or, Christ and Satan at Enmity, Gen. iii. 1, 15, 17. Gal. iv. 4. Col. ii. 15.
I
Deceiv'd by subtle snares of hellAdam our head, our father fell,
When Satan in the serpent hid
Propos'd the fruit that God forbid.
II
Death was the threatening; death beganTo take possession of the man;
His unborn race receiv'd the wound,
And heavy curses smote the ground.
III
But Satan found a worse reward;Thus saith the vengeance of the Lord,
‘Let everlasting hatred be
‘Betwixt the woman's seed and thee.
IV
‘The woman's seed shall be my Son,‘He shall destroy what thou hast done,
‘Shall break thy head, and only feel
‘Thy malice raging at his heel.’
V
He spake; and bid four thousand yearsRoll on; at length his Son appears;
Angels with joy descend to earth,
And sing the young Redeemer's birth.
VI
Lo, by the sons of hell he dies;But, as he hung 'twixt earth and skies,
He gave their prince a fatal blow,
And triumph'd o'er the powers below.
HYMN 108. (S. M.) Christ unseen and beloved, 1 Pet. i. 8.
I
Not with our mortal eyesHave we beheld the Lord,
Yet we rejoice to hear his name,
And love him in his word.
II
On earth we want the sightOf our Redeemer's face,
Yet, Lord, our inmost thoughts delight
To dwell upon thy grace.
III
And when we taste thy love,Our joys divinely grow
Unspeakable, like those above,
And heaven begins below.
HYMN 109. (L. M.) The Value of Christ and his Righteousness, Phil. iii. 7–9.
I
No more, my God, I boast no moreOf all the duties I have done;
I quit the hopes I held before
To trust the merits of thy Son.
II
Now for the love I bear his nameWhat was my gain I count my loss,
My former pride I call my shame,
And nail my glory to his cross.
III
Yes, and I must and will esteemAll things but loss for Jesus' sake:
O may my soul be found in him,
And of his righteousness partake.
IV
The best obedience of my handsDares not appear before thy throne;
But faith can answer thy demands
By pleading what my Lord has done.
HYMN 110. (C. M.) Death and immediate Glory, 2 Cor. v. 1, 5–8.
I
There is a house not made with hands,Eternal and on high:
And here my spirit waiting stands
Till God shall bid it fly.
II
Shortly this prison of my clayMust be dissolv'd and fall,
Then, O my soul, with joy obey
Thy heavenly Father's call.
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III
'Tis he by his almighty graceThat forms thee fit for heaven,
And as an earnest of the place,
Has his own Spirit given.
IV
We walk by faith of joys to come,Faith lives upon his word;
But while the body is our home
We're absent from the Lord.
V
'Tis pleasant to believe thy grace,But we had rather see;
We would be absent from the flesh,
And present, Lord, with thee.
HYMN 111. (C. M.) Salvation by Grace, Titus iii. 3–7.
I
Lord, we confess our numerous faults,How great our guilt has been!
Foolish and vain were all our thoughts,
And all our lives were sin.
II
But O, my soul, for ever praiseFor ever love his name,
Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.
III
'Tis not by works of righteousnessWhich our own hands have done;
But we are saved by sovereign grace
Abounding thro' his Son.
IV
'Tis from the mercy of our GodThat all our hopes begin;
'Tis by the water and the blood
Our souls are wash'd from sin.
V
'Tis thro' the purchase of his deathWho hung upon the tree,
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
On such dry bones as we.
VI
Rais'd from the dead we live anew;And justify'd by grace
We shall appear in glory too,
And see our Father's face.
HYMN 112. (C. M.) The Brazen Serpent; or, looking to Jesus, John iii. 14–16.
I
So did the Hebrew prophet raiseThe brazen serpent high,
The wounded felt immediate ease,
The camp forbore to die.
II
‘Look upward in the dying hour,‘And live,’ the prophet cries;
But Christ performs a nobler cure
When Faith lifts up her eyes.
III
High on the cross the Saviour hung,High in the heavens he reigns:
Here sinners by th'old serpent stung
Look, and forget their pains.
IV
When God's own Son is lifted up,A dying world revives,
The Jew beholds the glorious hope,
Th'expiring Gentile lives.
HYMN 113. (C. M.) Abraham's Blessings on the Gentiles, Gen. xvii. 7. Rom. xv. 8. Mark x. 14.
I
How large the promise! how divineTo Abr'am and his seed!
‘I'll be a God to thee and thine,
‘Supplying all their need.’
II
The words of his extensive loveFrom age to age endure;
The angel of the covenant proves,
And seals the blessing sure
III
Jesus the ancient faith confirmsTo our great fathers given;
He takes young children to his arms,
And calls them heirs of heaven.
IV
Our God, how faithful are his ways!His love endures the same;
Nor from the promise of his grace
Blots out the children's name.
HYMN 114. (C. M.) The same, Rom. xi. 16, 17.
[Gentiles by nature we belong]
I
Gentiles by nature we belongTo the wild olive-wood;
Grace took us from the barren tree,
And grafts us in the good.
II
With the same blessings grace endowsThe Gentile and the Jew;
If pure and holy be the root,
Such are the branches too.
III
Then let the children of the saintsBe dedicate to God;
Pour out thy Spirit on them, Lord,
And wash them in thy blood.
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IV
Thus to the parents and their seedShall thy salvation come,
And numerous households meet at last
In one eternal home.
HYMN 115. (C. M.) Conviction of Sin by the Law, Rom. vii. 8, 9, 14, 24.
I
Lord, how secure my conscience was,And felt no inward dread!
I was alive without the law,
And thought my sins were dead.
II
My hopes of heaven were firm and bright;But since the precept came
With a convincing power and light,
I find how vile I am.
III
My guilt appear'd but small before,Till terribly I saw
How perfect, holy, just, and pure,
Was thine eternal law.
IV
Then felt my soul the heavy loadMy sins reviv'd again,
I had provok'd a dreadful God,
And all my hopes were slain.
V
I'm like a helpless captive soldUnder the power of sin;
I cannot do the good I would,
Nor keep my conscience clean.
VI
My God, I cry with every breathFor some kind power to save,
To break the yoke of sin and death,
And thus redeem the slave.
HYMN 116. (L. M.) Love to God and our Neighbour, Matt. xxii. 37–40.
I
Thus saith the first, the great command,‘Let all thy inward powers unite
‘To love thy Maker and thy God,
‘With utmost vigour and delight.
II
‘Then shall thy neighbour next in place‘Share thine affections and esteem,
‘And let thy kindness to thyself
‘Measure and rule thy love to him.’
III
This is the sense that Moses spoke,This did the prophets preach and prove,
For want of this the law is broke,
And the whole law's fulfill'd by love.
IV
But Oh! how base our passions are!How cold our charity and zeal!
Lord, fill our souls with heavenly fire,
Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.
HYMN 117. (L. M.) Election sovereign and free, Rom. ix. 21–23, 20.
I
Behold the potter and the clay,He forms his vessels as he please:
Such is our God, and such are we,
The subjects of his high decrees.
II
Doth not the workman's power extendO'er all the mass, which part to choose
And mould it for a nobler end,
And which to leave for viler use?
III
May not the sovereign Lord on highDispense his favours as he will,
Choose some to life while others die,
And yet be just and gracious still?
IV
What if to make his terror known,He lets his patience long endure,
Suffering vile rebels to go on
And seal their own destruction sure!
V
What if he means to shew his grace,And his electing love employs
To mark out some of mortal race,
And form them fit for heavenly joys!
VI
Shall man reply against the Lord,And call his Maker's ways unjust,
The thunder of whose dreadful word
Can crush a thousand worlds to dust?
VII
But, O my soul, if truths so brightShould dazzle and confound thy sight,
Yet still his written will obey,
And wait the great decisive day.
VIII
Then shall he make his justice known,And the whole world before his throne
With joy or terror shall confess
The glory of his righteousness.
HYMN 118. (S. M.) Moses and Christ; or, Sins against the Law and Gospel, John i. 17. Heb. iii. 3. 5, 6. and x. 28, 29.
I
The law by Moses came,But peace, and truth, and love,
Were brought by Christ, a nobler name,
Descending from above.
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II
Amidst the house of GodTheir different works were done;
Moses a faithful servant stood,
But Christ a faithful Son.
III
Then to his new commandsBe strict obedience paid;
O'er all his Father's house he stands
The sovereign and the head.
IV
The man that durst despiseThe law that Moses brought,
Behold! how terribly he dies
For his presumptuous fault.
V
But sorer vengeance fallsOn that rebellious race,
Who hate to hear when Jesus calls,
And dare resist his grace.
HYMN 119. (C. M.) The different Success of the Gospel, 1 Cor. i. 23, 24. 2 Cor. 2. 16. 1 Cor. iii. 6, 7.
I
Christ and his cross is all our theme;The mysteries that we speak
Are scandal in the Jew's esteem,
And folly to the Greek.
II
But souls enlighten'd from aboveWith joy receive the word;
They see what wisdom, power, and love
Shines in their dying Lord.
III
The vital savour of his nameRestores their fainting breath;
But unbelief perverts the same
To guilt, despair, and death.
IV
Till God diffuse his graces down,Like showers of heavenly rain,
In vain Apollos sows the ground,
And Paul may plant in vain.
HYMN 120. (C. M.) Faith of Things unseen, Heb. xi. 1, 3, 8, 10.
I
Faith is the brightest evidenceOf things beyond our sight,
Breaks thro' the clouds of flesh and sense,
And dwells in heavenly light.
II
It sets times past in present view,Brings distant prospects home,
Of things a thousand years ago,
Or thousand years to come.
III
By faith we know the worlds were madeBy God's almighty word;
Abra'm, to unknown countries led,
By faith obey'd the Lord.
IV
He sought a city fair and high,Built by th'eternal hands;
And faith assures us, tho' we die,
That heavenly building stands.
HYMN 121. (C. M.) Children devoted to God, Gen. xvii. 7, 10. Acts xvi. 14, 15, 33.
(For those who practise Infant Baptism.)
I
Thus saith the mercy of the Lord,‘I'll be a God to thee;
‘I'll bless thy numerous race, and they
‘Shall be a seed for me.’
II
Abra'm believ'd the promis'd graceAnd gave his sons to God;
But water seals the blessing now,
That once was seal'd with blood.
III
Thus Lydia sanctify'd her houseWhen she receiv'd the word;
Thus the believing jailor gave
His household to the Lord.
IV
Thus later saints, eternal King,Thine ancient truth embrace;
To thee their infant-offspring bring,
And humbly claim the grace.
HYMN 122. (L. M.) Believers buried with Christ in Baptism, Rom. vi. 3. &c.
I
Do we not know that solemn word,That we are bury'd with the Lord,
Baptiz'd into his death, and then
Put off the body of our sin?
II
Our souls receive diviner breath,Rais'd from corruption, guilt and death;
So from the grave did Christ arise,
And lives to God above the skies.
III
No more let sin or Satan reignOver our mortal flesh again;
The various lusts we serv'd before
Shall have dominion now no more.
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HYMN 123. (C. M.) The repenting Prodigal, Luke xv. 13, &c.
I
Behold the wretch whose lust and wineHad wasted his estate,
He begs a share among the swine,
To taste the husks they eat!
II
‘I die with hunger here, (he cries)‘I starve in foreign lands,
‘My father's house has large supplies,
‘And bounteous are his hands.
III
‘I'll go, and with a mournful tongue‘Fall down before his face,
‘Father I've done thy justice wrong,
‘Nor can deserve thy grace.’
IV
He said, and hasten'd to his homeTo seek his father's love;
The father saw the rebel come,
And all his bowels move.
V
He ran, and fell upon his neck,Embrac'd and kiss'd his son;
The rebel's heart with sorrow brake
For follies he had done.
VI
‘Take off his clothes of shame and sin,’(The father gives command)
‘Dress him in garments white and clean,
‘With rings adorn his hand.
VII
‘A day of feasting I ordain,‘Let mirth and joy abound;
‘My son was dead, and lives again,
‘Was lost and now is found.’
HYMN 124. (L. M.) The first and second Adam, Rom. v. 12, &c.
I
Deep in the dust before thy throneOur guilt and our disgrace we own;
Great God, we own th'unhappy name
Whence sprang our nature and our shame;
II
Adam, the sinner: at his fallDeath like a conqu'ror seiz'd us all;
A thousand new born babes are dead
By fatal union to their head.
III
But whilst our spirits fill'd with aweBehold the terrors of thy law,
We sing the honours of thy grace,
That sent to save our ruin'd race.
IV
We sing thine everlasting Son,Who join'd our nature to his own;
Adam the second, from the dust
Raises the ruins of the first.
V
By the rebellion of one manThrough all his seed the mischief ran;
And by one man's obedience now
Are all his seed made righteous too.
VI
Where sin did reign, and death abound,There have the sons of Adam found
Abounding life; there glorious grace
Reigns thro' the Lord our righteousness.
HYMN 125. (C. M.) Christ's Compassion to the weak and tempted, Heb. iv. 15, 16, and v. 7. Matt. xii. 20.
I
With joy we meditate the graceOf our High Priest above;
His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels melt with love.
II
Touch'd with a sympathy withinHe knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For he has felt the same.
III
But spotless, innocent and pureThe great Redeemer stood,
While Satan's fiery darts he bore,
And did resist to blood.
IV
He in the days of feeble fleshPour'd out his cries and tears,
And in his measure feels afresh
What every member bears.
V
He'll never quench the smoking flax,But raise it to a flame;
The bruised reed he never breaks,
Nor scorns the meanest name.
VI
Then let our humble faith addressHis mercy and his power,
We shall obtain delivering grace
In the distressing hour.
HYMN 126. (L. M.) Charity and Uncharitableness, Rom. xiv. 17, 19. 1 Cor. x. 32.
I
Not different food, or different dress,Compose the kingdom of our Lord,
But peace and joy and righteousness,
Faith and obedience to his word.
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II
When weaker christians we despiseWe do the gospel mighty wrong,
For God the gracious and the wise
Receives the feeble with the strong.
III
Let pride and wrath be banish'd hence,Meekness and love our souls pursue;
Nor shall our practice give offence
To saints, the gentile or the Jew.
HYMN 127. (L. M.) Christ's Invitation to Sinners; or, Humility and Pride, Matt. xi. 28–30.
I
‘Come hither, all ye weary souls,‘Ye heavy laden sinners, come,
‘I'll give you rest from all your toils,
‘And raise you to my heavenly home.
II
‘They shall find rest that learn of me;‘I'm of a meek and lowly mind;
‘But passion rages like the sea,
‘And pride is restless as the wind.
III
‘Blest is the man whose shoulders take‘My yoke, and bear it with delight;
‘My yoke is easy to his neck,
‘My grace shall make the burden light.’
IV
Jesus, we come at thy command,With faith and hope and humble zeal
Resign our spirits to thy hand,
To mould and guide us at thy will.
HYMN 128. (L. M.) The Apostles' Commission; or, the Gospel attested by Miracles, Mark xvi. 15, &c. Matt. xxviii. 18, &c.
I
‘Go preach my gospel,’ saith the Lord,‘Bid the whole earth my grace receive;
‘He shall be sav'd that trusts my word,
‘He shall be damn'd that won't believe.
II
‘I'll make your great commission known,‘And ye shall prove my gospel true
‘By all the works that I have done,
‘By all the wonders ye shall do.
III
‘Go heal the sick, go raise the dead,‘Go cast out devils in my name;
‘Nor let my prophets be afraid,
‘Tho' Greeks reproach, and Jews blaspheme.
IV
‘Teach all the nations my commands,‘I'm with you till the world shall end;
‘All power is trusted to my hands,
‘I can destroy, and I defend.’
V
He spake, and light shone round his head,On a bright cloud to heaven he rode;
They to the farthest nations spread
The grace of their ascended God.
HYMN 129. (L. M.) Submission and Deliverance; or, Abraham offering his Son, Gen. xxii. 6, &c.
I
Saints, at your Father's heavenly wordGive up your comforts to the Lord;
He shall restore what you resign,
Or grant you blessings more divine.
II
So Abraham with obedient handLed forth his son at God's command,
The wood, the fire, the knife he took,
His arm prepar'd the dreadful stroke.
III
‘Abraham, forbear, (the angel cry'd)‘Thy faith is known, thy love is try'd,
‘Thy son shall live, and in thy seed
‘Shall the whole earth be bless'd indeed.’
IV
Just in the last distressing hourThe Lord displays delivering power;
The mount of danger is the place
Where we shall see surprising grace.
HYMN 130. (L. M.) Love and Hatred, Phil. ii. 2. Eph. iv. 30, &c.
I
Now by the bowels of my God,His sharp distress, his sore complaints,
By his last groans, his dying blood,
I charge my soul to love the saints.
II
Clamour, and wrath and war be gone,Envy and spite for ever cease,
Let bitter words no more be known
Amongst the saints, the sons of peace.
III
The Spirit like a peaceful doveFlies from the realms of noise and strife;
Why should we vex and grieve his love,
Who seals our souls to heavenly life?
IV
Tender and kind be all our thoughts,Thro' all our lives let mercy run;
So God forgives our numerous faults
For the dear sake of Christ his Son.
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HYMN 131. (L. M.) The Pharisee and the Publican, Luke xviii. 10, &c.
I
Behold how sinners disagreeThe Publican and Pharisee!
One doth his righteousness proclaim,
The other owns his guilt and shame.
II
This man at humble distance stands,And cries for grace with lifted hands;
That boldly rises near the throne,
And talks of duties he has done.
III
The Lord their different language knows,And different answers he bestows;
The humble soul with grace he crowns,
Whilst on the proud his anger frowns.
IV
Dear Father, let me never beJoin'd with the boasting Pharisee;
I have no merits of my own,
But plead the sufferings of thy Son.
HYMN 132. (L. M.) Holiness and Grace, Tit. ii. 10–13.
I
So let our lips and lives expressThe holy gospel we profess,
So let our works and virtues shine
To prove the doctrine all divine.
II
Thus shall we best proclaim abroadThe honours of our Saviour God;
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.
III
Our flesh and sense must be deny'd,Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temperance, truth and love
Our inward piety approve.
IV
Religion bears our spirits up,While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his word.
HYMN 133. (C. M.) Love and Charity, 1 Cor. xiii. 2–7, 13.
I
Let Pharisees of high esteemTheir faith and zeal declare,
All their religion is a dream
If love be wanting there.
II
Love suffers long with patient eye,Nor is provok'd in haste,
She lets the present injury die,
And long forgets the past.
III
Malice and rage, those fires of hell,She quenches with her tongue;
Hopes, and believes, and thinks no ill,
Tho' she endure the wrong.
IV
She nor desires nor seeks to knowThe scandals of the time;
Nor looks with pride on those below,
Nor envies those that climb.
V
She lays her own advantage byTo seek her neighbour's good;
So God's own Son came down to die,
And bought our lives with blood.
VI
Love is the grace that keeps her powerIn all the realms above;
There faith and hope are known no more,
But saints for ever love.
HYMN 134. (L. M.) Religion vain without Love, 1 Cor. xiii. 1–3.
I
Had I the tongues of Greeks and Jews,And nobler speech that angels use,
If love be absent, I am found
Like tinkling brass, an empty sound.
II
Were I inspir'd to preach and tellAll that is done in heaven and hell,
Or could my faith the world remove,
Still I am nothing without love.
III
Should I distribute all my storeTo feed the bowels of the poor,
Or give my body to the flame
To gain a martyr's glorious name;
IV
If love to God and love to menBe absent, all my hopes are vain;
Nor tongues, nor gifts, nor fiery zeal
The work of love can e'er fulfil.
HYMN 135. (L. M.) The Love of Christ shed abroad in the Heart, Eph. iii. 16, &c.
I
Come, dearest Lord, descend and dwellBy faith and love in every breast;
Then shall we know, and taste, and feel
The joys that cannot be express'd.
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II
Come, fill our hearts with inward strength,Make our enlarged souls possess,
And learn the height, and breadth, and length
Of thine unmeasurable grace.
III
Now to the God, whose power can doMore than our thoughts or wishes know,
Be everlasting honours done
By all the church, thro' Christ his Son.
HYMN 136. (C. M.) Sincerity and Hypocrisy; or, Formality in Worship, John iv. 24. Psalm cxxxix. 23, 24.
I
God is a Spirit just and wise,He sees our inmost mind;
In vain to heaven we raise our cries
And leave our souls behind.
II
Nothing but truth before his throneWith honour can appear,
The painted hypocrites are known
Thro' the disguise they wear.
III
Their lifted eyes salute the skies,Their bending knees the ground;
But God abhors the sacrifice
Where not the heart is found.
IV
Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways,And make my soul sincere;
Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.
HYMN 137. (L. M.) Salvation by Grace in Christ, 2 Tim. i. 9, 10.
I
Now to the power of God supremeBe everlasting honours given,
He saves from hell, (we bless his name)
He calls our wandering feet to heaven.
II
Not for our duties or deserts,But of his own abounding grace,
He works salvation in our hearts,
And forms a people for his praise.
III
'Twas his own purpose that begunTo rescue rebels doom'd to die;
He gave us grace in Christ his Son
Before he spread the starry sky.
IV
Jesus the Lord appears at last,And makes his fathers counsels known;
Declares the great transactions past,
And brings immortal blessings down.
V
He dies; and in that dreadful nightDid all the powers of hell destroy;
Rising he brought our heaven to light,
And took possession of the joy.
HYMN 138. (C. M.) Saints in the Hand of Christ, John x. 28, 29.
I
Firm as the earth thy gospel stands,My Lord, my hope, my trust;
If I am found in Jesus' hands
My soul can ne'er be lost.
II
His honour is engag'd to saveThe meanest of his sheep,
All that his heavenly Father gave
His hands securely keep.
III
Nor death, nor hell, shall e'er removeHis favourites from his breast,
In the dear bosom of his love
They must for ever rest.
HYMN 139. (L. M.) Hope in the Covenant; or, God's Promise and Truth unchangeable, Heb. vi. 17–19.
I
How oft have sin and Satan stroveTo rend my soul from thee, my God!
But everlasting is thy love,
And Jesus seals it with his blood.
II
The oath and promise of the LordJoin to confirm the wondrous grace;
Eternal power performs the word,
And fills all heaven with endless praise.
III
Amidst temptations sharp and longMy soul to this dear refuge flies:
Hope is my anchor firm and strong,
While tempests blow and billows rise.
VI
The gospel bears my spirits up;A faithful and unchanging God
Lays the foundation for my hope
In oaths, and promises, and blood.
HYMN 140. (C. M.) A living and a dead Faith, collected from several Scriptures.
I
Mistaken souls! that dream of heaven,And make their empty boast
Of inward joys, and sins forgiven,
While they are slaves to lust.
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II
Vain are our fancies, airy flights,If faith be cold and dead,
None but a living power unites
To Christ the living head.
III
'Tis faith that changes all the heart,'Tis faith that works by love,
That bids all sinful joys depart,
And lifts the thoughts above.
IV
'Tis faith that conquers earth and hellBy a celestial power;
This is the grace that shall prevail
In the decisive hour.
V
Faith must obey her Father's willAs well as trust his grace;
A pardoning God is jealous still
For his own holiness.
VI
When from the curse he sets us free,He makes our natures clean,
Nor would he send his Son to be
The minister of sin.
VII
His spirit purifies our frame,And seals our peace with God;
Jesus, and his salvation, came
By water and by blood.
HYMN 141. (S. M.) The Humiliation and Exaltation of Christ, Isaiah liii. 1–5, 10–12.
I
Who has believ'd thy word,Or thy salvation known?
Reveal thine arm, almighty Lord,
And glorify thy Son.
II
The Jews esteem'd him hereToo mean for their belief:
Sorrows his chief acquaintance were,
And his companion, grief.
III
They turn'd their eyes away,And treated him with scorn;
But 'twas their grief upon him lay,
Their sorrows he has borne.
IV
'Twas for the stubborn Jews,And gentiles then unknown,
The God of justice pleas'd to bruise
His best beloved Son.
V
‘But I'll prolong his days,‘And make his kingdom stand,
‘My pleasure, (saith the God of grace)
‘Shall prosper in his hand.
VI
‘His joyful soul shall see‘The purchase of his pain,
‘And by his knowledge justify
‘The guilty sons of men.
VII
‘Ten thousand captive slaves‘Releas'd from death and sin,
‘Shall quit their prisons and their graves
‘And own his power divine.
VIII
‘Heaven shall advance my Son‘To joys that earth deny'd;
‘Who saw the follies men had done,
‘And bore their sins, and dy'd.’
HYMN 142. (S. M.) The same, Isaiah liii. 6–9, 12.
[Like sheep we went astray]
I
Like sheep we went astray,And broke the fold of God,
Each wandering in a different way,
But all the downward road.
II
How dreadful was the hourWhen God our wanderings laid,
And did at once his vengeance pour
Upon the Shepherd's head!
III
How glorious was the graceWhen Christ sustain'd the stroke!
His life and blood the Shepherd pays
A ransom for the flock.
IV
His honour and his breathWere taken both away;
Join'd with the wicked in his death,
And made as vile as they.
V
But God shall raise his headO'er all the sons of men,
And make him see a numerous seed
To recompense his pain.
VI
‘I'll give him, (saith the Lord)‘A portion with the strong;
‘He shall possess a large reward,
‘And hold his honours long.’
HYMN 143. (C. M.) Characters of the Children of God, from several Scriptures.
I
So new-born babes desire the breastTo feed, and grow, and thrive;
So saints with joy the gospel taste,
And by the gospel live.
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II
With inward gust their heart approvesAll that the word relates;
They love the men their Father loves,
And hate the works he hates.
III
Not all the flattering baits on earthCan make them slaves to lust;
They can't forget their heavenly birth,
Nor grovel in the dust.
IV
Not all the chains that tyrants useShall bind their souls to vice;
Faith, like a conqueror, can produce
A thousand victories.
V
Grace, like an uncorrupting seedAbides and reigns within;
Immortal principles forbid
The sons of God to sin.
VI
Not by the terrors of a slaveDo they perform his will,
But with the noblest powers they have
His sweet commands fulfil.
VII
They find access at every hour,To God within the vail;
Hence they derive a quickening power,
And joys that never fail.
VIII
O happy souls! O glorious stateOf overflowing grace!
To dwell so near their Father's seat,
And see his lovely face.
IX
Lord, I address thy heavenly throne;Call me a child of thine,
Send down the Spirit of thy Son
To form my heart divine.
X
There shed thy choicest loves abroad,And make my comforts strong:
Then shall I say, ‘My Father, God,’
With an unwavering tongue.
HYMN 144. (C. M.) The witnessing and sealing Spirit, Rom. viii. 14, 16. Eph. i. 13, 14.
I
Why should the children of a kingGo mourning all their days?
Great Comforter, descend and bring
Some tokens of thy grace.
II
Dost thou not dwell in all the saints,And seal the heirs of heaven?
When wilt thou banish my complaints,
And shew my sins forgiven?
III
Assure my conscience of her partIn the Redeemer's blood;
And bear thy witness with my heart,
That I am born of God.
IV
Thou art the earnest of his love,The pledge of joys to come;
And thy soft wings, celestial Dove,
Will safe convey me home.
HYMN 145. (C. M.) Christ and Aaron. Taken from Heb. vii. and ix.
I
Jesus, in thee our eyes beholdA thousand glories more
Than the rich gems and polish'd gold
The sons of Aaron wore.
II
They first their own burnt offerings broughtTo purge themselves from sin;
Thy life was pure without a spot,
And all thy nature clean.
III
Fresh blood as constant as the dayWas on their altar spilt;
But thy one offering takes away
For ever all our guilt.
IV
Their priesthood ran thro' several hands,For mortal was their race;
Thy never-changing office stands
Eternal as thy days.
V
Once in the circuit of a yearWith blood, but not his own,
Aaron within the vail appears
Before the golden throne;
VI
But Christ by his own powerful bloodAscends above the skies,
And in the presence of our God
Shews his own sacrifice.
VII
Jesus, the King of Glory, reignsOn Sion's heavenly hill,
Looks like a lamb that has been slain,
And wears his priesthood still.
VIII
He ever lives to intercedeBefore his Father's face;
Give him, my soul, thy cause to plead,
Nor doubt the Father's grace.
293
HYMN 146. (L. M.) Characters of Christ, borrowed from inanimate Things in Scripture.
I
Go, worship at Immanuel's feet,See in his face what wonders meet;
Earth is too narrow to express
His worth, his glory, or his grace.
II
The whole creation can affordBut some faint shadows of my Lord:
Nature to make his beauties known
Must mingle colours not her own.
III
Is he compar'd to wine or bread?Dear Lord, our souls would thus be fed;
That flesh, that dying blood of thine,
Is bread of life, is heavenly wine.
IV
Is he a tree? The world receivesSalvation from his healing leaves;
That righteous branch, that fruitful bough,
Is David's root and offspring too.
V
Is he a rose? Not Sharon yieldsSuch fragrancy in all her fields:
Or if the lily he assume,
The vallies bless the rich perfume.
VI
Is he a vine? His heavenly rootSupplies the boughs with life and fruit:
O let a lasting union join
My soul the branch to Christ the vine!
VII
Is he the head? Each member lives,And owns the vital powers he gives;
The saints below, and saints above,
Join'd by his Spirit and his love.
VIII
Is he a fountain? There I bathe,And heal the plague of sin and death;
These waters all my soul renew,
And cleanse my spotted garments too.
IX
Is he a fire? He'll purge my dross,But the true gold sustains no loss;
Like a refiner shall he sit,
And tread the refuse with his feet.
X
Is he a rock? How firm he proves!The rock of ages never moves;
Yet the sweet streams that from him flow
Attend us all the desert thro'.
XI
Is he a way? He leads to God,The path is drawn in lines of blood;
There would I walk with hope and zeal,
Till I arrive at Sion's hill.
XII
Is he a door? I'll enter in;Behold the pastures large and green,
A paradise divinely fair,
None but the sheep have freedom there.
XIII
Is he design'd a corner stone,For men to build their heaven upon?
I'll make him my foundation too,
Nor fear the plots of hell below.
XIV
Is he a temple? I adoreTh'indwelling majesty and power;
And still to this most holy place,
Whene'er I pray, I turn my face.
XV
Is he a star? He breaks the night,Piercing the shades with dawning light;
I know his glories from afar,
I know the bright, the morning-star.
XVI
Is he a sun? His beams are grace,His course is joy, and righteousness;
Nations rejoice when he appears
To chase their clouds, and dry their tears.
XVII
O let me climb those higher skies,Where storms and darkness never rise!
There he displays his powers abroad,
And shines and reigns th'incarnate God.
XVIII
Nor earth, nor seas, nor sun, nor stars,Nor heaven his full resemblance bears;
His beauties we can never trace,
Till we behold him face to face.
HYMN 147. (L. M.) The Names and Titles of Christ, from several Scriptures.
I
'Tis from the treasures of his wordI borrow titles for my Lord;
Nor art, nor nature can supply
Sufficient forms of majesty.
II
Bright image of the Father's face,Shining with undiminish'd rays;
Th'eternal God's eternal Son,
The heir and partner of his throne.
294
III
The King of kings, the Lord most High,Writes his own name upon his thigh:
He wears a garment dipp'd in blood,
And breaks the nations with his rod.
IV
Where grace can neither melt nor moveThe Lamb resents his injur'd love,
Awakes his wrath without delay,
And Judah's Lion tears the prey.
V
But when for works of peace he comes,What winning titles he assumes!
Light of the World, and Life of Men;
Nor bears those characters in vain.
VI
With tender pity in his heartHe acts the Mediator's part?
A friend and brother he appears
And well fulfils the names he wears.
VII
At length the Judge his throne ascends,Divides the rebels from his friends,
And saints in full fruition prove
His rich variety of love.
HYMN 148. As the 148th Psalm. The same.
[With cheerful voice I sing]
I
With cheerful voice I singThe titles of my Lord,
And borrow all the names
Of honour from his word:
Nature and art
Can ne'er supply
Sufficient forms
Of majesty.
II
In Jesus we beholdHis Father's glorious face,
Shining for ever bright
With mild and lovely rays:
Th'eternal God's
Eternal Son
Inherits and
Partakes the throne.
III
The sovereign King of kings,The Lord of lords most high,
Writes his own name upon
His garment and his thigh:
His name is call'd
The Word of God;
He rules the earth
With iron rod.
IV
Where promises and graceCan neither melt nor move,
The angry Lamb resents
The injuries of his love;
Awakes his wrath
Without delay,
As lions roar
And tear the prey.
V
But when for works of peaceThe great Redeemer comes,
What gentle characters,
What titles he assumes!
Light of the World,
And life of Men;
Nor will he bear
Those names in vain.
VI
Immense compassion reignsIn our Immanuel's heart,
When he descends to act
A Mediator's part:
He is a friend
And brother too
Divinely kind,
Divinely true.
VII
At length the Lord the JudgeHis awful throne ascends,
And drives the rebels far
From favourites and friends:
Then shall the saints
Completely prove
The heights and depths
Of all his love.
HYMN 149. (L. M.) The Offices of Christ, from several Scriptures.
I
Join all the names of love and powerThat ever men or angels bore
All are too mean to speak his worth,
Or set Immanuel's glory forth.
II
But O what condescending waysHe takes to teach his heavenly grace!
My eyes with joy and wonder see
What forms of love he bears for me.
295
III
The angel of the covenant standsWith his commission in his hands,
Sent from his Father's milder throne
To make the great Salvation known.
IV
Great Prophet, let me bless thy name;By thee the joyful tidings came,
Of wrath appeas'd, of sins forgiven,
Of hell subdu'd, and peace with heaven.
V
My bright example, and my guide,I would be walking near thy side;
O let me never run astray,
Nor follow the forbidden way!
VI
I love my Shepherd, he shall keepMy wandering soul among his sheep:
He feeds his flock, he calls their names,
And in his bosom bears the lambs.
VII
My Surety undertakes my cause,Answering his Father's broken laws;
Behold my soul at freedom set;
My Surety paid the dreadful debt.
VIII
Jesus my great High Priest has dy'd,I seek no sacrifice beside:
His blood did once for all atone,
And now it pleads before the throne.
IX
My Advocate appears on high,The Father lays his thunder by;
Not all that earth or hell can say
Shall turn my Father's heart away.
X
My Lord, my Conqueror, and my King,Thy sceptre and thy sword I sing;
Thine is the victory, and I sit
A joyful subject at thy feet.
XI
Aspire, my soul, to glorious deeds,The Captain of salvation leads?
March on, nor fear to win the day,
Tho' death and hell obstruct the way.
XII
Should death and hell, and powers unknown,Put all their forms of mischief on,
I shall be safe; for Christ displays
Salvation in more sovereign ways.
HYMN 150. As the 148th Psalm. The same.
[Join all the glorious names]
I
Join all the glorious namesOf wisdom, love, and power,
That ever mortals knew,
That angels ever bore:
All are too mean
To speak his worth,
Too mean to set
My Saviour forth.
II
But O what gentle terms,What condescending ways
Doth our Redeemer use
To teach his heavenly grace!
Mine eyes with joy
And wonder see
What forms of love
He bears for me.
III
Array'd in mortal fleshHe like an angel stands,
And holds the promises
And pardons in his hands:
Commission'd from
His Father's throne
To make his grace
To mortals known.
IV
Great prophet of my God,My tongue would bless thy name;
By thee the joyful news
Of our salvation came;
The joyful news
Of sin forgiven,
Of hell subdu'd,
And peace with heaven.
V
Be thou my counsellor,My pattern and my guide;
And thro' this desert land
Still keep me near thy side:
O let my feet
Ne'er run astray,
Nor rove, nor seek
The crooked way.
VI
I love my Shepherd's voice,His watchful eyes shall keep
My wandering soul among
The thousands of his sheep:
He feeds his flock,
He calls their names,
His bosom bears
The tender lambs.
296
VII
To this dear Surety's handWill I commit my cause;
He answers and fulfils
His Father's broken laws:
Behold my soul
At freedom set!
My Surety paid
The dreadful debt.
VIII
Jesus my great High PriestOffer'd his blood and dy'd;
My guilty conscience seeks
No sacrifice beside:
His powerful blood
Did once atone;
And now it pleads
Before the throne.
IX
My Advocate appearsFor my defence on high,
The Father bows his ear,
And lays his thunder by:
Not all that hell
Or sin can say
Shall turn his heart,
His love away.
X
My dear Almighty Lord,My conqueror and my king,
Thy sceptre, and thy sword,
Thy reigning grace I sing:
Thine is the power;
Behold I sit
In willing bonds
Before thy feet.
XI
Now let my soul arise,And tread the tempter down;
My Captain leads me forth
To conquest and a crown.
A feeble saint
Shall win the day,
Tho' death and hell
Obstruct the way.
XII
Should all the hosts of death,And powers of hell unknown
Put their most dreadful forms
Of rage and mischief on;
I shall be safe,
For Christ displays
Superior power,
And guardian grace.
END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
| The Works of the Reverend and Learned Isaac Watts, D. D. | |