University of Virginia Library


256

HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, IN THREE BOOKS.

AND THEY SUNG A NEW SONG, SAYING, THOU ART WORTHY, &C. FOR THOU WAST SLAIN, AND HAST REDEEMED US, &C. REV. V. 9.

SOLITI ESSENT (i. e. CHRISTIANI) CONVENIRE, CARMENQUE CHRISTO QUASI DEO DICERE. Plinius in Epist.


257

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 Lamb
Amidst 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 look
Into 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 slain
Be 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 grace
Are 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 abroad
From 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 abode
To 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 reign
With a peculiar sway;
The nations shall his grace obtain,
His kingdom ne'er decay.

IV

To bring the glorious news
A 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 divine
Let 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 4 referred to Psalm 2.

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 lives
Its 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 appear
High 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 face
With 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'd
A 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 here
In 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 souls
In 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 love
Are everlasting mines,
Deep as our helpless miseries are,
And boundless as our sins.

IX

The happy gates of gospel grace
Stand 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 place
Where we adoring stand,
Zion the glory of the earth,
And beauty of the land!

II

Bulwarks of mighty grace defend
The 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 tread
In 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 lives
To gather empty wind,
The choisest blessings earth can yield
Will starve a hungry mind.

II

Come, and the Lord shall feed our souls
With 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 away
Tho' 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'erspread
Our 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 away
That 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 feet
Who 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 ears
That hear this joyful sound
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!

IV

How blessed are our eyes
That 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 arm
Thro' 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 God
That 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 earth
His great decrees fulfil,
And orders all his works of grace
By his own sovereign will.

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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 lay
Now 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 God
Come 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 seas
Upon his shoulders shall be laid;
His wide dominions still increase,
And honours to his name be paid.

V

Jesus the holy child shall sit
High 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 bear
All 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 Son
Of 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 men
With peaceful news from heaven;
Hosannas of the highest strain
To Christ the Lord be given.

VI

Let mortals ne'er refuse to take
Th'hosanna on their tongues,
Lest rocks and stones should rise, and break
Their silence into songs.

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HYMN 17. (C. M.) Victory over Death, 1 Cor. xv. 55, &c.

I

O for an overcoming faith
To cheer my dying hours,
To triumph o'er the monster death,
And all his frightful powers!

II

Joyful with all the strength I have
My 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 victory
Immortal 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 delight
The 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 face
Hath 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 spot
Should on my soul be found,
He took the robe the Saviour wrought,
And cast it all around.

IV

How far the heavenly robe exceeds
What 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'd
By the great Sacred Three:
In sweetest harmony of praise
Let all thy powers agree.

263

HYMN 21. (C. M.) A Vision of the Kingdom of Christ among Men, Rev. xxi. 1–4.

I

Lo, what a glorious sight appears
To 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 22 and 23 referred to Psalm 125.

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 ease
Their pained hearts or aching heads,
Nor fright nor bribe approaching death
From glittering roofs and downy beds.

III

The lingering, the unwilling soul
The 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.

The rest referred to Psalm 49.

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 book
From him that sits upon the throne
Jesus, my Lord, prevails to look
On dark decrees, and things unknown.

IV

All the assembling saints around
Fall worshipping before Lamb
And in new songs of gospel-sound
Address their honours to his name.

V

The joy, the shout, the harmony
Flies 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 reveal
Eternal counsels, deep designs;
His grace and vengeance shall fulfil
The peaceful and the dreadful lines.

VIII

Thou hast redeem'd our souls from hell
With 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.

264

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 require
Our flesh to see the dust!
Yet as the Lord our Saviour rose
So all his followers must.

IV

There's an inheritance divine
Reserv'd against that day,
'Tis uncorrupted, undefil'd,
And cannot waste away.

V

Saints by the power of God are kept
Till 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 fought
The 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 me
A crown which cannot fade;
The righteous Judge at that great day
Shall place it on my head.

IV

Nor hath the King of grace decreed
This prize for me alone;
But all that love and long to see
Th'appearance of his Son.

V

Jesus, the Lord, shall guard me safe
From 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.

265

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 deride
The 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 sky
A 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 31 referred to Psalm 1.

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 name
That form'd the earth and sea?
And can an all-creating arm
Grow weary or decay?

III

Treasures of everlasting might
In 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.

Hymns 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, referred to Psalms 131, 134, 67, 73, 90, 84.

HYMN 39. (C. M.) God's tender Care of his Church, Isaiah xlix. 13, &c.

I

Now shall my inward joys arise
And burst into a song,
Almighty love inspires my heart,
And pleasure tunes my tongue.

II

God on his thirsty Sion-hill
Some 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 forget
The 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 throne
Shall 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 renew
Thro' 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 joys
On 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 face
Amongst 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 flock
Where 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 God
Is 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 degrees
Are 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 rocks
Are swift as hail-stones hurl'd:
Who dares engage his fiery rage
That shakes the solid world?

VI

Yet, mighty God, thy sovereign grace
Sits regent on the throne,
The refuge of thy chosen race
When wrath comes rushing down.

VII

Thy hand shall on rebellious kings
A fiery tempest pour,
While we beneath thy sheltering wings
Thy just revenge adore.

Hymns 43 and 44, referred to Psalms 100 and 133.

 

Heb. xii. 29.

HYMN 45. (C. M.) The Last Judgment, Rev. xxi. 5–8.

I

See where the great incarnate God
Fills 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 dwell
Who here were my delight,
While sinners banish'd down to hell
No more offend my sight.

Hymns 46 and 47, referred to Psalms 148, and 3.

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 power
Is 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 air
We'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' hand
Th'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'd
Who makes his truth appear,
His mighty hand fulfils his word,
And all the oaths he sware.

II

Now he bedews old David's root
With blessings from the skies;
He makes the branch of promise grow,
The promis'd Horn arise.

III

John was the prophet of the Lord
To 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 souls
Unblemish'd and complete,
Before the glory of his face,
With joys divinely great.

IV

Then all the chosen seed
Shall meet around the throne,
Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.

V

To our Redeemer God
Wisdom 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 told
His 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 love
In long epistles from above,
(He hath not sent his sacred word
To every land) Praise ye the Lord.

269

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 begin
To 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 part
In 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 distress
Our God deserves a song;
We take the pattern of our praise
From Hezekiah's tongue.

II

The gates of the devouring grave
Are 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'abuse
Our 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 works
Of 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 look
On 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 blood
The old corruption reigns,
And mingling with the crooked flood,
Wanders thro' all our veins!

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V

Wild and unwholesome as the root
Will all the branches be;
How can we hope for living fruit
From such a deadly tree?

VI

What mortal power from things unclean
Can pure productions bring?
Who can command a vital stream
From an infected spring?

VII

Yet, mighty God, thy wondrous love
Can make our nature clean,
While Christ and grace prevail above
The tempter, death, and sin.

VIII

The second Adam shall restore
The 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 sing
The 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 host
The 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 star
Shine 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 stone
Lies, 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 Lord
His 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 know
The 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 wail
While 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 songs
With 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 receive
Honour 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 one
To 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 bring
To 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 grace
The Father hath bestow'd
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them sons of God!

II

'Tis no surprising thing
That we should be unknown;
The jewish world knew not their King,
God's everlasting Son.

III

Nor doth it yet appear
How great we must be made;
But when we see our Saviour here,
We shall be like our head.

IV

A hope so much divine
May trials well endure,
May purge our souls from sense and sin,
As Christ the Lord is pure.

V

If in my Father's love
I share a filial part,
Send down thy Spirit like a dove
To rest upon my heart.

VI

We would no longer lie
Like 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 prove
Mine 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 voice
To 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 fir
Can 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 above
All 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 one
That 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 sat
To 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 place
Where 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 wine
He 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 depart
Lie 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 sounds
Over 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 see
With 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 along
Both 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 high
Sweetly 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 receives
The 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 street
Till 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, behold
The 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 be
Like 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 stand
Planted 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 abroad
To entertain our Saviour God:
And faith, and love, and joy appear,
And every grace be active here.

V

Let my beloved come, and taste
His 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 know
Why 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 behold
Than 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 tell
What 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 throne
On 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 rise
On 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 grace
Appears 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 lip
Of 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 know
In fields and villages below,
Gives us a relish of his love,
But keeps his noblest feast above.

V

In paradise within the gates
An 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 voice
The 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 east
The 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 fulfil
Th'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 hell
Tell 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 blood
Contend with their creator, God?
Shall mortal worms presume to be
More holy, wise, or just than he?

II

Behold he puts his trust in none
Of 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 they
Who 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 bore
Shall 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 proclaims
His 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 race
Be pure before their God?
If he contend in righteousness
We fall beneath his rod.

II

To vindicate my words and thoughts
I'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 wrath
From 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 given
To '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 past
In the cold grave to which we haste,
But darkness, death, and long despair
Reign in eternal silence there.

279

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 due
Should 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 eyes
From 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 blood
Remember your Creator God,
Behold the months come hastening on
When you shall say, ‘My joys are gone.’

II

Behold, the aged sinner goes
Laden 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 men
On their own works have built;
Their hearts by nature all unclean,
And all their actions guilt.

II

Let Jew and gentile stop their mouths
Without a murmuring word,
And the whole race of Adam stand
Guilty before the Lord.

III

In vain we ask God's righteous law
To 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 alone
Creates us heirs of grace;
Born in the image of his Son
A new peculiar race.

III

The Spirit like some heavenly wind
Blows on the sons of flesh,
New models all the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh.

IV

Our quicken'd souls awake, and rise
From 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 name
For sons and heirs of God;
And thus he pours abundant shame
On honourable blood.

III

He calls the fool, and makes him know
The mysteries of his grace,
To bring aspiring wisdom low,
And all its pride abase.

IV

Nature has all its glories lost
When 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 night
We lie till Christ restores the light;
Wisdom descends to heal the blind,
And chase the darkness of the mind.

281

II

Our guilty souls are drown'd in tears
Till 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 possess
Grace, 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 night
That hangs upon our eyes,
Till Christ with his reviving light
Over our souls arise!

II

Our guilty spirits dread
To meet the wrath of heaven,
But, in his righteousness array'd,
We see our sins forgiven.

III

Unholy and impure
Are all our thoughts and ways;
His hands infected nature cure
With sanctifying grace.

IV

The powers of hell agree
To hold our souls in vain;
He sets the sons of bondage free,
And breaks the cursed chain.

V

Lord, we adore thy ways
To 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 place
Upon their birth and blood,
Descended from a pious race;
(Their fathers now with God.)

II

He from the caves of earth and hell
Can take the hardest stones,
And fill the house of Abra'm well
With new-created sons.

III

Such wondrous power doth he possess
Who 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 men
Did 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 lies
On 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 rise
Thro' all the courts of paradise
To see a prodigal return,
To see an heir of glory born?

II

With joy the Father doth approve
The fruit of his eternal love;
The Son with joy looks down and sees
The purchase of his agonies.

III

The Spirit takes delight to view
The 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 see
Their 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 afar
From 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 move
And 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 clean
From 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 partake
Of 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 name
Before 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 we
By 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 power
To 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 Lord
Reveals 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 bar
Pollution, 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 sin
Because 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 hell
Adam our head, our father fell,
When Satan in the serpent hid
Propos'd the fruit that God forbid.

II

Death was the threatening; death began
To 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 years
Roll 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 eyes
Have we beheld the Lord,
Yet we rejoice to hear his name,
And love him in his word.

II

On earth we want the sight
Of 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 more
Of 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 name
What 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 esteem
All 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 hands
Dares 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 clay
Must be dissolv'd and fall,
Then, O my soul, with joy obey
Thy heavenly Father's call.

284

III

'Tis he by his almighty grace
That 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 praise
For ever love his name,
Who turns thy feet from dangerous ways
Of folly, sin, and shame.

III

'Tis not by works of righteousness
Which our own hands have done;
But we are saved by sovereign grace
Abounding thro' his Son.

IV

'Tis from the mercy of our God
That 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 death
Who 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 raise
The 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 divine
To Abr'am and his seed!
‘I'll be a God to thee and thine,
‘Supplying all their need.’

II

The words of his extensive love
From age to age endure;
The angel of the covenant proves,
And seals the blessing sure

III

Jesus the ancient faith confirms
To 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 belong
To the wild olive-wood;
Grace took us from the barren tree,
And grafts us in the good.

II

With the same blessings grace endows
The Gentile and the Jew;
If pure and holy be the root,
Such are the branches too.

III

Then let the children of the saints
Be 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 seed
Shall 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 load
My sins reviv'd again,
I had provok'd a dreadful God,
And all my hopes were slain.

V

I'm like a helpless captive sold
Under the power of sin;
I cannot do the good I would,
Nor keep my conscience clean.

VI

My God, I cry with every breath
For 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 extend
O'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 high
Dispense 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 bright
Should 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.

286

II

Amidst the house of God
Their different works were done;
Moses a faithful servant stood,
But Christ a faithful Son.

III

Then to his new commands
Be strict obedience paid;
O'er all his Father's house he stands
The sovereign and the head.

IV

The man that durst despise
The law that Moses brought,
Behold! how terribly he dies
For his presumptuous fault.

V

But sorer vengeance falls
On 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 above
With joy receive the word;
They see what wisdom, power, and love
Shines in their dying Lord.

III

The vital savour of his name
Restores 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 evidence
Of 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 made
By 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 grace
And gave his sons to God;
But water seals the blessing now,
That once was seal'd with blood.

III

Thus Lydia sanctify'd her house
When 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 reign
Over our mortal flesh again;
The various lusts we serv'd before
Shall have dominion now no more.

287

HYMN 123. (C. M.) The repenting Prodigal, Luke xv. 13, &c.

I

Behold the wretch whose lust and wine
Had 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 home
To 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 throne
Our 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 fall
Death 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 awe
Behold 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 man
Through 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 grace
Of our High Priest above;
His heart is made of tenderness,
His bowels melt with love.

II

Touch'd with a sympathy within
He knows our feeble frame;
He knows what sore temptations mean,
For he has felt the same.

III

But spotless, innocent and pure
The great Redeemer stood,
While Satan's fiery darts he bore,
And did resist to blood.

IV

He in the days of feeble flesh
Pour'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 address
His 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.

288

II

When weaker christians we despise
We 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 word
Give up your comforts to the Lord;
He shall restore what you resign,
Or grant you blessings more divine.

II

So Abraham with obedient hand
Led 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 hour
The 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 dove
Flies 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.

289

HYMN 131. (L. M.) The Pharisee and the Publican, Luke xviii. 10, &c.

I

Behold how sinners disagree
The 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 be
Join'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 express
The holy gospel we profess,
So let our works and virtues shine
To prove the doctrine all divine.

II

Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The 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 esteem
Their 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 know
The scandals of the time;
Nor looks with pride on those below,
Nor envies those that climb.

V

She lays her own advantage by
To 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 power
In 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 tell
All 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 store
To 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 men
Be 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 dwell
By faith and love in every breast;
Then shall we know, and taste, and feel
The joys that cannot be express'd.

290

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 do
More 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 throne
With 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 supreme
Be 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 begun
To 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 night
Did 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 save
The meanest of his sheep,
All that his heavenly Father gave
His hands securely keep.

III

Nor death, nor hell, shall e'er remove
His 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 strove
To 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 Lord
Join to confirm the wondrous grace;
Eternal power performs the word,
And fills all heaven with endless praise.

III

Amidst temptations sharp and long
My 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.

291

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 hell
By a celestial power;
This is the grace that shall prevail
In the decisive hour.

V

Faith must obey her Father's will
As 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 here
Too 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 hour
When God our wanderings laid,
And did at once his vengeance pour
Upon the Shepherd's head!

III

How glorious was the grace
When Christ sustain'd the stroke!
His life and blood the Shepherd pays
A ransom for the flock.

IV

His honour and his breath
Were taken both away;
Join'd with the wicked in his death,
And made as vile as they.

V

But God shall raise his head
O'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 breast
To feed, and grow, and thrive;
So saints with joy the gospel taste,
And by the gospel live.

292

II

With inward gust their heart approves
All that the word relates;
They love the men their Father loves,
And hate the works he hates.

III

Not all the flattering baits on earth
Can make them slaves to lust;
They can't forget their heavenly birth,
Nor grovel in the dust.

IV

Not all the chains that tyrants use
Shall bind their souls to vice;
Faith, like a conqueror, can produce
A thousand victories.

V

Grace, like an uncorrupting seed
Abides and reigns within;
Immortal principles forbid
The sons of God to sin.

VI

Not by the terrors of a slave
Do 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 state
Of 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 king
Go 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 part
In 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 behold
A thousand glories more
Than the rich gems and polish'd gold
The sons of Aaron wore.

II

They first their own burnt offerings brought
To purge themselves from sin;
Thy life was pure without a spot,
And all thy nature clean.

III

Fresh blood as constant as the day
Was 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 year
With blood, but not his own,
Aaron within the vail appears
Before the golden throne;

VI

But Christ by his own powerful blood
Ascends above the skies,
And in the presence of our God
Shews his own sacrifice.

VII

Jesus, the King of Glory, reigns
On Sion's heavenly hill,
Looks like a lamb that has been slain,
And wears his priesthood still.

VIII

He ever lives to intercede
Before 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 afford
But 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 receives
Salvation from his healing leaves;
That righteous branch, that fruitful bough,
Is David's root and offspring too.

V

Is he a rose? Not Sharon yields
Such fragrancy in all her fields:
Or if the lily he assume,
The vallies bless the rich perfume.

VI

Is he a vine? His heavenly root
Supplies 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 adore
Th'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 word
I 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 move
The 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 heart
He 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 sing
The 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 behold
His 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 grace
Can 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 peace
The 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 reigns
In 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 Judge
His 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 power
That ever men or angels bore
All are too mean to speak his worth,
Or set Immanuel's glory forth.

II

But O what condescending ways
He 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 stands
With 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 keep
My 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 names
Of 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 flesh
He 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 hand
Will 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 Priest
Offer'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 appears
For 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.

297

BOOK II. COMPOSED ON DIVINE SUBJECTS.

HYMN 1. (L. M.) A Song of Praise to God from Great Britain.

I

Nature with all her powers shall sing
God the Creator and the King;
Nor air, nor earth, nor skies, nor seas
Deny the tribute of their praise.

II

Begin to make his glories known,
Ye seraphs that sit near his throne;
Tune your harps high, and spread the sound
To the creation's utmost bound.

III

All mortal things of meaner frame,
Exert your force and own his name!
Whilst with our souls and with our voice
We sing his honours and our joys.

IV

To him be sacred all we have
From the young cradle to the grave:
Our lips shall his loud wonders tell,
And every word a miracle.

V

This northern isle, our native land,
Lies safe in God th'Almighty's hand:
Our foes of victory dream in vain,
And wear the captivating chain.

VI

He builds and guards the British throne,
And makes it gracious like his own,
Makes our successive princes kind,
And gives our dangers to the wind.

VII

Raise monumental praises high
To him that thunders through the sky,
And with an awful nod or frown
Shakes an aspiring tyrant down.

VIII

Pillars of lasting brass proclaim
The triumphs of th'eternal name;
While trembling nations read from far
The honours of the God of War.

IX

Thus let our flaming zeal employ
Our loftiest thoughts and loudest songs;
Britain pronounce with warmest joy
Hosanna from ten thousand tongues.

X

Yet, mighty God, our feeble frame
Attempts in vain to reach thy name;
The strongest notes that angels raise
Faint in the worship and the praise.

HYMN 2. (C. M.) The Death of a Sinner.

I

My thoughts on awful subjects roll,
Damnation and the dead;
What horrors seize the guilty soul
Upon a dying bed!

II

Lingering about these mortal shores
She makes a long delay,
Till like a flood with rapid force
Death sweeps the wretch away.

298

III

Then swift and dreadful she descends
Down to the fiery coast,
Amongst abominable fiends,
Herself a frightful ghost.

IV

There endless crowds of sinners lie,
And darkness makes their chains;
Tortur'd with keen despair they cry,
Yet wait for fiercer pains.

V

Not all their anguish and their blood
For their old guilt atones,
Nor the compassions of a God
Shall hearken to their groans.

VI

Amazing grace, that kept my breath,
Nor bid my soul remove,
Till I had learn'd my Saviour's death,
And well insur'd his love!

HYMN 3. (C. M.) The Death and Burial of a Saint.

I

Why do we mourn departing friends?
Or shake at death's alarms?
'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
To call them to his arms.

II

Are we not tending upward too
As fast as time can move?
Nor would we wish the hours more slow
To keep us from our love.

III

Why should we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb?
There the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
And left a long perfume.

IV

The graves of all his saints he bless'd,
And soften'd every bed;
Where should the dying members rest,
But with the dying head?

V

Thence he arose, ascending high,
And shew'd our feet the way;
Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly
At the great rising-day.

VI

Then let the last loud trumpet sound,
And bid our kindred rise,
Awake, ye nations under ground,
Ye saints, ascend the skies.

HYMN 4. (L. M.) Salvation in the Cross.

I

Here at thy cross, my dying God,
I lay my soul beneath thy love,
Beneath the droppings of thy blood,
Jesus, nor shall it e'er remove.

II

Not all that tyrants think or say,
With rage and lightening in their eyes,
Nor hell shall fright my heart away,
Should hell with all its legions rise.

III

Should worlds conspire to drive me thence,
Moveless and firm this heart should lie;
Resolv'd (for that's my last defence)
If I must perish, there to die.

IV

But speak, my Lord, and calm my fear;
Am I not safe beneath thy shade?
Thy vengeance will not strike me here,
Nor Satan dares my soul invade.

V

Yes, I'm secure beneath thy blood,
And all my foes shall lose their aim,
Hosanna to my dying God,
And my best honours to his name.

HYMN 5. (L. M.) Longing to praise Christ better.

I

Lord, when my thoughts with wonder roll
O'er the sharp sorrows of thy soul,
And read my Maker's broken laws
Repair'd and honour'd by thy cross;

II

When I behold death, hell and sin,
Vanquish'd by that dear blood of thine,
And see the man that groan'd and dy'd
Sit glorious by his Father's side;

III

My passions rise and soar above,
I'm wing'd with faith and fir'd with love;
Fain would I reach eternal things,
And learn the notes that Gabriel sings.

IV

But my heart fails, my tongue complains,
For want of their immortal strains;
And in such humble notes as these
Must fall below thy victories.

V

Well, the kind minute must appear
When we shall leave these bodies here,
These clogs of clay, and mount on high
To join the songs above the sky.

299

HYMN 6. (C. M.) A Morning Song.

I

Once more, my soul, the rising day
Salutes thy waking eyes,
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To him that rolls the skies.

II

Night unto night his name repeats,
The day renews the sound,
Wide as the heaven on which he sits
To turn the seasons round.

III

'Tis he supports my mortal frame,
My tongue shall speak his praise;
My sins would rouse his wrath to flame,
And yet his wrath delays.

IV

On a poor worm thy power might tread,
And I could ne'er withstand;
Thy justice might have crush'd me dead,
But mercy held thine hand.

V

A thousand wretched souls are fled
Since the last setting sun,
And yet thou length'nest out my thread,
And yet my moments run.

VI

Dear God, let all my hours be thine
Whilst I enjoy the light,
Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a pleasing night.

HYMN 7. (C. M.) An Evening Song.

I

Dread Sov'reign, let my evening song
Like holy incense rise;
Assist the offerings of my tongue
To reach the lofty skies.

II

Thro' all the dangers of the day,
Thy hand was still my guard,
And still to drive my wants away
Thy mercy stood prepar'd.

III

Perpetual blessings from above
Encompass me around,
But Oh how few returns of love
Hath my Creator found!

IV

What have I done for him that dy'd
To save my wretched soul?
How are my follies multiply'd,
Fast as my minutes roll!

V

Lord, with this guilty heart of mine
To thy dear cross I flee,
And to thy grace my soul resign
To be renew'd by thee.

VI

Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood
I lay me down to rest,
As in th'embraces of my God,
Or on my Saviour's breast.

HYMN 8. (C. M.) A Hymn for Morning or Evening.

I

Hosanna, with a cheerful sound,
To God's upholding hand,
Ten thousand snares attend us round,
And yet secure we stand.

II

That was a most amazing power
That rais'd us with a word,
And every day and every hour
We lean upon the Lord.

III

The evening rests our weary head,
And angels guard the room;
We wake and we admire the bed
That was not made our tomb.

IV

The rising morning can't assure
That we shall end the day,
For death stands ready at the door
To seize our lives away.

V

Our breath is forfeited by sin
To God's revenging law;
We own thy grace, Immortal King,
In every gasp we draw.

VI

God is our sun, whose daily light
Our joy and safety brings:
Our feeble flesh lies safe at night
Beneath his shady wings.

HYMN 9. (C. M.) Godly Sorrow arising from the Sufferings of Christ.

I

Alas! and did my Saviour bleed,
And did my Sovereign die?
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

II

Thy body slain, sweet Jesus, thine,
And bath'd in its own blood,
While all expos'd to wrath divine
The glorious sufferer stood.

300

III

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groan'd upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

IV

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut his glories in,
When God the mighty Maker dy'd
For man the creature's sin.

V

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears,
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt my eyes to tears.

VI

But drops of grief can ne'er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away,
'Tis all that I can do.

HYMN 10. (C. M.) Parting with Carnal Joys.

I

My soul forsakes her vain delight,
And bids the world farewel,
Base as the dirt beneath my feet,
And mischievous as hell.

II

No longer will I ask your love,
Nor seek your friendship more;
The happiness that I approve
Lies not within your power.

III

There's nothing round this spacious earth
That suits my large desire;
To boundless joy and solid mirth
My nobler thoughts aspire.

IV

Where pleasure rolls its living flood,
From sin and dross refin'd,
Still springing from the throne of God,
And fit to cheer the mind.

V

Th'almighty ruler of the sphere,
The glorious and the great,
Brings his own all-sufficience there
To make our bliss complete.

VI

Had I the pinions of a dove
I'd climb the heavenly road;
There sits my Saviour dress'd in love,
And there my smiling God.

HYMN 11. (L. M.) The same.

[I send the joys of earth away]

I

I send the joys of earth away,
Away ye tempters of the mind,
False as the smooth deceitful sea,
And empty as the whistling wind.

II

Your streams were floating me along
Down to the gulph of black despair,
And whilst I listen'd to your song,
Your streams had e'en convey'd me there.

III

Lord, I adore thy matchless grace,
That warn'd me of that dark abyss,
That drew me from those treacherous seas,
And bid me seek superior bliss.

IV

Now to the shining realms above
I stretch my hands, and glance mine eyes;
O for the pinions of a dove
To bear me to the upper skies.

V

There from the bosom of my God
Oceans of endless pleasure roll;
There would I fix my last abode,
And drown the sorrows of my soul.

HYMN 12. (C. M.) Christ is the Substance of the Levitical Priesthood.

I

The true Messiah now appears,
The types are all withdrawn;
So fly the shadows and the stars
Before the rising dawn.

II

No smoking sweets, nor bleeding lambs,
Nor kid, nor bullock slain,
Incense and spice of costly names
Would all be burnt in vain.

III

Aaron must lay his robes away;
His mitre and his vest,
When God himself comes down to be
The offering and the priest.

IV

He took our mortal flesh to show
The wonders of his love;
For us he paid his life below,
And prays for us above.

V

‘Father, (he cries) forgive their sins,
‘For I myself have dy'd,’
And then he shews his open'd veins,
And pleads his wounded side.

301

HYMN 13. (L. M.) The Creation, Preservation, Dissolution, and Restoration of this World.

I

Sing to the Lord that built the skies,
The Lord that rear'd this stately frame:
Let half the nations sound his praise,
And lands unknown repeat his name.

II

He form'd the seas, and form'd the hills,
Made every drop and every dust,
Nature and time with all their wheels,
And push'd them into motion first.

III

Now from his high imperial throne
He looks far down upon the spheres;
He bids the shining orbs roll on,
And round he turns our hasty years.

IV

Thus shall this moving engine last
Till all his saints are gather'd in,
Then for the trumpet's dreadful blast
To shake it all to dust again!

V

Yet when the sound shall tear the skies,
And lightning burn the globe below,
Saints, you may lift your joyful eyes,
There's a new heaven and earth for you.

HYMN 14. (S. M.) The Lord's Day; or, Delight in Ordinances.

I

Welcome, sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise;
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes!

II

The King himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day,
Here we may sit, and see him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.

III

One day amidst the place,
Where my dear God hath been,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of pleasurable sin.

IV

My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.

HYMN 15. (L. M.) The Enjoyment of Christ; or, Delight in Worship.

I

Far from my thoughts, vain world, begone,
Let my religious hours alone:
Fain would my eyes my Saviour see,
I wait a visit, Lord, from thee.

II

My heart grows warm with holy fire,
And kindles with a pure desire:
Come, my dear Jesus, from above,
And feed my soul with heavenly love.

III

The trees of life immortal stand
In flourishing rows at thy right hand,
And in sweet murmurs by their side
Rivers of bliss perpetual glide.

IV

Haste then, but with a smiling face,
And spread the table of thy grace:
Bring down a taste of fruit divine,
And cheer my heart with sacred wine.

V

Bless'd Jesus, what delicious fare!
How sweet thy entertainments are!
Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace, and dying love.

VI

Hail, great Immanuel, all divine,
In thee thy Father's glories shine;
Thou brightest, sweetest, fairest one,
That eyes have seen, or angels known.

HYMN 16. (L. M.)

[The Enjoyment of Christ; or, Delight in Worship. Part the Second.]

VII

Lord, what a heaven of saving grace,
Shines thro' the beauties of thy face,
And lights our passions to a flame!
Lord, how we love thy charming name!

VIII

When I can say, my God is mine,
When I can feel thy glories shine,
I tread the world beneath my feet,
And all that earth calls good or great.

IX

While such a scene of sacred joys
Our raptur'd eyes and souls employs,
Here we could sit, and gaze away
A long, an everlasting day.

X

Well, we shall quickly pass the night
To the fair coasts of perfect light;
Then shall our joyful senses rove
O'er the dear object of our love.

302

XI

There shall we drink full draughts of bliss,
And pluck new life from heavenly trees:
Yet now and then, dear Lord, bestow
A drop of heaven on worms below.

XII

Send comforts down from thy right hand,
While we pass thro' this barren land,
And in thy temple let us see
A glimpse of love a glimpse of thee.

HYMN 17. (C. M.) God's Eternity.

I

Rise, rise, my soul, and leave the ground,
Stretch all thy thoughts abroad,
And rouse up every tuneful sound
To praise th'eternal God.

II

Long ere the lofty skies were spread
Jehovah fill'd his throne;
Or Adam form'd, or angels made,
The Maker liv'd alone.

III

His boundless years can ne'er decrease,
But still maintain their prime;
Eternity's his dwelling-place,
And ever is his time.

IV

While like a tide our minutes flow,
The present and the past,
He fills his own immortal now,
And sees our ages waste.

V

The sea and sky must perish too,
And vast destruction come!
The creatures—look, how old they grow,
And wait their fiery doom!

VI

Well, let the sea shrink all away,
And flame melt down the skies,
My God shall live an endless day
When th'whole creation dies.

HYMN 18. (L. M.) The Ministry of Angels.

I

High on a hill of dazzling light,
The King of Glory spreads his seat,
And troops of angels stretch'd for flight
Stand waiting round his awful feet.

II

‘Go,’ saith the Lord, ‘my Gabriel, go,
‘Salute the virgin's fruitful womb,
‘Make haste, ye cherubs, down below,
‘Sing and proclaim the Saviour come.’

III

Here a bright squadron leaves the skies,
And thick around Elisha stands;
Anon a heavenly soldier flies,
And breaks the chains from Peter's hands.

IV

Thy winged troops, O God of hosts,
Wait on thy wandering church below,
Here we are sailing to thy coasts,
Let angels be our convoy too.

V

Are they not all thy servants, Lord?
At thy command they go and come,
With cheerful haste obey thy word,
And guard thy children to their home.
 

Luke i. 26.

Luke ii. 13.

2 Kings vi. 17.

Acts xii. 7.

Hebrews i. 14.

HYMN 19. (C. M.) Our frail Bodies, and God our Preserver.

I

Let others boast how strong they be,
Nor death, nor danger fear;
But we'll confess, O Lord, to thee,
What feeble things we are.

II

Fresh as the grass our bodies stand,
And flourish bright and gay,
A blasting wind sweeps o'er the land,
And fades the grass away.

III

Our life contains a thousand springs,
And dies if one begone;
Strange! that a harp of thousand strings
Should keep in tune so long.

IV

But 'tis our God supports our frame,
The God that built us first;
Salvation to th'Almighty Name
That rear'd us from the dust.

V

He spoke, and straight our hearts and brains
In all their motions rose;
‘Let blood,’ said he, ‘flow round the veins,’
And round the veins it flows.

VI

While we have breath or use our tongues
Our Maker we'll adore;
His Spirit moves our heaving lungs
Or they would breathe no more.

HYMN 20. (C. M.) Backslidings and Returns; or, the Inconstancy of our Love.

I

Why is my heart so far from thee,
My God, my chief delight?
Why are my thoughts no more by day
With thee, no more by night?

303

II

Why should my foolish passions rove?
Where can such sweetness be
As I have tasted in thy love,
As I have found in thee?

III

When my forgetful soul renews
The savour of thy grace,
My heart presumes I cannot lose
The relish all my days.

IV

But ere one fleeting hour is pass'd,
The flattering world employs
Some sensual bait to seize my taste,
And to pollute my joys.

V

Trifles of nature or of art
With fair deceitful charms
Intrude upon my thoughtless heart,
And thrust thee from my arms.

VI

Then I repent and vex my soul
That I should leave thee so,
Where will those wild affections roll
That let a Saviour go?

VII

Sin's promis'd joys are turn'd to pain,
And I am drown'd in grief;
But my dear Lord returns again,
He flies to my relief.

VIII

Seizing my soul with sweet surprise,
He draws with loving bands;
Divine compassion in his eyes,
And pardon in his hands.

IX

Wretch that I am to wander thus
In chase of false delight!
Let me be fasten'd to thy cross
Rather than lose thy sight.

X

Make haste, my days, to reach the goal,
And bring my heart to rest
On the dear centre of my soul,
My God, my Saviour's breast.

HYMN 21. (L. M.) A Song of Praise to God the Redeemer.

I

Let the old heathens tune their song
Of great Diana and of Jove;
But the sweet theme that moves my tongue
Is my Redeemer and his love.

II

Behold a God descends and dies
To save my soul from gaping hell;
How the black gulph where Satan lies
Yawn'd to receive me when I fell!

III

How justice frown'd and vengeance stood
To drive me down to endless pain!
But the great Son propos'd his blood,
And heavenly wrath grew mild again.

IV

Infinite Lover, gracious Lord,
To thee be endless honours given;
Thy wondrous name shall be ador'd
Round the wide earth, and wider heaven.

HYMN 22. (L. M.) With God is terrible Majesty.

I

Terrible God, that reign'st on high,
How awful is thy thundering hand!
Thy fiery bolts how fierce they fly!
Nor can all earth or hell withstand.

II

This the old-rebel angels knew,
And Satan fell beneath thy frown:
Thine arrows struck the traitor through,
And weighty vengeance sunk him down.

III

This Sodom felt, and feels it still,
And roars beneath th'eternal load,
‘With endless burnings who can dwell,
‘Or bear the fury of a God!’

IV

Tremble, ye sinners, and submit,
Throw down your arms before his throne,
Bend your heads low beneath his feet,
Or his strong hand shall crush you down.

V

And ye, bless'd saints, that love him too,
With rev'rence bow before his name,
Thus all his heavenly servants do:
God is a bright and burning flame.

HYMN 23. (L. M.) The Sight of God and Christ in Heaven.

I

Descend from heaven, Immortal Dove,
Stoop down and take us on thy wings,
And mount and bear us far above
The reach of these inferior things:

II

Beyond, beyond this lower sky,
Up where eternal ages roll,
Where solid pleasures never die,
And fruits immortal feast the soul.

304

III

O for a sight, a pleasing sight
Of our almighty Father's throne!
There sits our Saviour crown'd with light,
Cloth'd in a body like our own.

IV

Adoring saints around him stand,
And thrones and powers before him fall;
The God shines gracious thro' the man,
And sheds sweet glories on them all.

V

O what amazing joys they feel
While to their golden harps they sing,
And sit on every heavenly hill,
And spread the triumphs of their King!

VI

When shall the day, dear Lord, appear
That I shall mount to dwell above,
And stand and bow amongst them there,
And view thy face, and sing, and love!

HYMN 24. (L. M.) The Evil of Sin visible in the Fall of Angels and Men.

I

When the great Builder arch'd the skies,
And form'd all nature with a word,
The joyful cherubs tun'd his praise,
And ev'ry bending throne ador'd.

II

High in the midst of all the throng,
Satan, a tall archangel, sat,
Amongst the morning stars he sung
Till sin destroy'd his heavenly state.

III

'Twas sin that hurl'd him from his throne,
Grov'ling in fire the rebel lies:
‘How art thou sunk in darkness down,
‘Son of the morning, from the skies!

IV

And thus our two first parents stood
Till sin defil'd the happy place;
They lost their garden and their God,
And ruin'd all their unborn race.

V

So sprung the plague from Adam's bower
And spread destruction all abroad;
Sin, the curst name, that in one hour
Spoil'd six days labour of a God.

VI

Tremble, my soul, and mourn for grief,
That such a foe should seize thy breast;
Fly to thy Lord for quick relief;
O may he slay this treacherous guest.

VII

Then to thy throne, victorious King,
Then to thy throne our shouts shall rise,
Thine everlasting arm we sing,
For sin the monster bleeds and dies.
 

Job xxxviii. 7.

Isaiah xiv. 12.

HYMN 25. (C. M.) Complaining of Spiritual Sloth.

I

My drowsy powers, why sleep ye so?
Awake, my sluggish soul!
Nothing has half thy work to do,
Yet nothing's half so dull.

II

The little ants for one poor grain
Labour, and tug, and strive,
Yet we who have a heaven t'obtain,
How negligent we live!

III

We for whose sake all nature stands
And stars their courses move;
We for whose guard the angel bands
Come flying from above;

IV

We for whom God the Son came down,
And labour'd for our good,
How careless to secure that crown
He purchas'd with his blood!

V

Lord, shall we live so sluggish still,
And never act our parts?
Come, holy Dove, from th'heavenly hill,
And sit and warm our hearts.

VI

Then shall our active spirits move,
Upward our souls shall rise:
With hands of faith and wings of love
We'll fly and take the prize.

HYMN 26. (L. M.) God invisible.

I

Lord, we are blind, we mortals blind,
We can't behold thy bright abode;
O 'tis beyond a creature-mind
To glance a thought half way to God.

II

Infinite leagues beyond the sky
The great Eternal reigns alone,
Where neither wings nor soul can fly,
Nor angels climb the topless throne.

III

The Lord of glory builds his seat
Of gems insufferably bright,
And lays beneath his sacred feet
Substantial beams of gloomy night.

305

IV

Yet, glorious Lord, thy gracious eyes
Look thro', and cheer us from above;
Beyond our praise thy grandeur flies,
Yet we adore, and yet we love.

HYMN 27. (L. M.) Praise ye him, all his Angels, Psalm cxlviii. 2.

I

God! the eternal awful name
That the whole heavenly army fears,
That shakes the wide creation's frame,
And Satan trembles when he hears.

II

Like flames of fire his servants are,
And light surrounds his dwelling-place;
But, O ye fiery flames, declare
The brighter glories of his face.

III

'Tis not for such poor worms as we
To speak so infinite a thing,
But your immortal eyes survey
The beauties of your sovereign King.

IV

Tell how he shews his smiling face,
And clothes all heaven in bright array;
Triumph and joy run thro' the place,
And songs eternal as the day.

V

Speak, (for you feel his burning love)
What zeal it spreads thro' all your frame:
That sacred fire dwells all above,
For we on earth have lost the name.

VI

Sing of his power and justice too,
That infinite right hand of his
That vanquish'd Satan and his crew,
And thunder drove them down from bliss.

VII

What mighty storms of poison'd darts
Were hurl'd upon the rebels there!
What deadly javelins nail'd their hearts
Fast to the racks of long despair!

VIII

Shout to your King, you heavenly host,
You that beheld the sinking foe;
Firmly ye stood when they were lost;
Praise the rich grace that kept you so.

IX

Proclaim his wonders from the skies,
Let every distant nation hear;
And while you sound his lofty praise,
Let humble mortals bow and fear.

HYMN 28. (C. M.) Death and Eternity.

I

Stoop down, my thoughts, that use to rise,
Converse awhile with death:
Think how a gasping mortal lies,
And pants away his breath.

II

His quivering lip hangs feebly down,
His pulses faint and few,
Then, speechless, with a doleful groan
He bids the world adieu.

III

But, O the soul that never dies!
At once it leaves the clay!
Ye thoughts, pursue it where it flies,
And track its wondrous way.

IV

Up to the courts where angels dwell,
It mounts triumphing there,
Or devils plunge it down to hell
In infinite despair.

V

And must my body faint and die?
And must this soul remove?
O for some guardian angel nigh
To bear it safe above!

VI

Jesus, to thy dear faithful hand
My naked soul I trust,
And my flesh waits for thy command
To drop into my dust.

HYMN 29. (C. M.) Redemption by Price and Power.

I

Jesus, with all thy saints above
My tongue would bear her part,
Would sound aloud thy saving love,
And sing thy bleeding heart.

II

Bless'd be the Lamb, my dearest Lord,
Who bought me with his blood,
And quench'd his Father's flaming sword
In his own vital flood:

III

The Lamb that freed my captive soul
From Satan's heavy chains,
And sent the lion down to howl
Where hell and horror reigns.

IV

All glory to the dying Lamb,
And never ceasing praise,
While angels live to know his name,
Or saints to feel his grace.

306

HYMN 30. (S. M.) Heavenly Joy on Earth.

I

Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
And thus surround the throne.

II

The sorrows of the mind
Be banish'd from the place!
Religion never was design'd
To make our pleasures less.

III

Let those refuse to sing
That never knew our God,
But favourites of the heavenly King
May speak their joys abroad.

IV

The God that rules on high,
And thunders when he please,
That rides upon the stormy sky,
And manages the seas;

V

This awful God is ours,
Our Father and our love,
He shall send down his heavenly powers
To carry us above.

VI

There we shall see his face,
And never, never sin;
There from the rivers of his grace
Drink endless pleasures in.

VII

Yes, and before we rise
To that immortal state,
The thoughts of such amazing bliss
Should constant joys create.

VIII

The men of grace have found
Glory begun below,
Celestial fruits on earthly ground
From faith and hope may grow.

IX

The hill of Sion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before we reach the heavenly fields,
Or walk the golden streets.

X

Then let our songs abound,
And every tear be dry;
We're marching thro' Immanuel's ground
To fairer worlds on high.

HYMN 31. (L. M.) Christ's Presence makes Death easy.

I

Why should we start and fear to die?
What timorous worms we mortals are!
Death is the gate of endless joy,
And yet we dread to enter there.

II

The pains, the groans, and dying strife,
Fright our approaching souls away;
Still we shrink back again to life,
Fond of our prison and our clay.

III

O, if my Lord would come and meet,
My soul should stretch her wings in haste,
Fly fearless thro' Death's iron gate,
Nor feel the terrors as she past.

IV

Jesus can make a dying bed,
Feel soft as downy pillows are,
While on his breast I lean my head,
And breathe my life out sweetly there.

HYMN 32. (C. M.) Frailty and Folly.

I

How short and hasty is our life!
How vast our souls' affairs!
Yet senseless mortals vainly strive
To lavish out their years.

II

Our days run thoughtlessly along,
Without a moment's stay;
Just like a story or a song
We pass our lives away.

III

God from on high invites us home,
But we march heedless on,
And ever hastening to the tomb,
Stoop downwards as we run.

IV

How we deserve the deepest hell
That slight the joys above!
What chains of vengeance should we feel
That break such cords of love!

V

Draw us, O God, with sovereign grace,
And lift our thoughts on high,
That we may end this mortal race
And see salvation nigh.

307

HYMN 33. (C. M.) The blessed Society in Heaven.

I

Raise thee, my soul, fly up and run
Thro' every heavenly street,
And say, There's nought below the sun
That's worthy of thy feet.

II

Thus will we mount on sacred wings
And tread the courts above;
Nor earth, nor all her mightiest things
Shall tempt our meanest love.

III

There on a high majestic throne
Th'Almighty Father reigns,
And sheds his glorious goodness down
On all the blissful plains.

IV

Bright like a sun the Saviour sits,
And spreads eternal noon,
No evenings there, nor gloomy nights,
To want the feeble moon.

V

Amidst! those ever-shining skies
Behold the sacred Dove,
While banish'd sin and sorrow flies
From all the realms of love.

VI

The glorious tenants of the place
Stand bending round the throne;
An saints and seraphs sing and praise
The infinite Three One.

VII

But O what beams of heavenly grace
Transport them all the while!
Ten thousand smiles from Jesus' face,
And love in every smile!

VIII

Jesus, and when shall that dear day,
That joyful hour appear,
When I shall leave this house of clay
To dwell amongst them there?

HYMN 34. (C. M.) Breathing after the Holy Spirit; or, Fervency of Devotion desired.

I

Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove
With all thy quickening powers,
Kindle a flame of sacred love,
In these cold hearts of ours.

II

Look, how we grovel here below,
Fond of these trifling toys;
Our souls can neither fly nor go
To reach eternal joys.

III

In vain we tune our formal songs,
In vain we strive to rise;
Hosannas languish on our tongues,
And our devotion dies.

IV

Dear Lord! and shall we ever lie
At this poor dying rate?
Our love so faint, so cold to thee?
And thine to us so great?

V

Come, holy Spirit, heavenly Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;
Come, shed abroad a Saviour's love,
And that shall kindle ours.

HYMN 35. (C. M.) Praise to God for Creation and Redemption.

I

Let them neglect thy glory, Lord,
Who never knew thy grace,
But our loud songs shall still record
The wonders of thy praise.

II

We raise our shouts, O God, to thee,
And send them to thy throne,
All glory to th'United Three,
The Undivided One.

III

'Twas he (and we'll adore his name)
That form'd us by a word,
'Tis he restores our ruin'd frame;
Salvation to the Lord.

IV

Hosanna! let the earth and skies
Repeat the joyful sound,
Rocks, hills, and vales, reflect the voice
In one eternal round.

HYMN 36. (S. M.) Christ's Intercession.

I

Well, the Redeemer's gone
T'appear before our God,
To sprinkle o'er the flaming throne
With his atoning blood.

II

No fiery vengeance now,
Nor burning wrath comes down;
If justice call for sinner's blood,
The Saviour shews his own.

III

Before his Father's eye
Our humble suit he moves,
The Father lays his thunder by,
And looks, and smiles, and loves.

308

IV

Now may our joyful tongues
Our Maker's honour sing,
Jesus the priest receives our songs,
And bears them to the King.

V

We bow before his face,
And sound his glories high,
‘Hosanna to the God of grace
‘That lays his thunder by.

VI

‘On earth thy mercy reigns,
‘And triumphs all above;’
But, Lord, how weak are mortal strains
To speak immortal love!

VII

How jarring and how low
Are all the notes we sing!
Sweet Saviour, tune our songs anew,
And they shall please the King.

HYMN 37. (C. M.) The same. [Christ's Intercession.]

I

Lift up your eyes to th'heavenly seats
Where your Redeemer stays;
Kind Intercessor, there he sits,
And loves, and pleads, and prays.

II

'Twas well, my soul, he dy'd for thee,
And shed his vital blood,
Appeas'd stern justice on the tree,
And then arose to God.

III

Petitions now and praise may rise,
And saints their offerings bring,
The priest with his own sacrifice
Presents them to the King.

IV

Let papists trust what names they please,
Their saints and angels boast;
We've no such advocates as these,
Nor pray to th'heavenly host.

V

Jesus alone shall bear my cries
Up to his Father's throne,
He, dearest Lord! perfumes my sighs,
And sweetens every groan.

VI

Ten thousand praises to the King,
Hosanna in the Highest;
Ten thousand thanks our spirits bring
To God and to his Christ.

HYMN 38. (C. M.) Love to God.

I

Happy the heart where graces reign,
Where love inspires the breast;
Love is the brightest of the train,
And strengthens all the rest.

II

Knowledge, alas! 'tis all in vain,
And all in vain our fear,
Our stubborn sins will fight and reign
If love be absent there.

III

'Tis love that makes our cheerful feet
In swift obedience move,
The devils know and tremble too,
But Satan cannot love.

IV

This is the grace that lives and sings
When faith and hope shall cease,
'Tis this shall strike our joyful strings
In the sweet realms of bliss.

V

Before we quite forsake our clay,
Or leave this dark abode,
The wings of love bear us away
To see our smiling God.

HYMN 39. (C. M.) The Shortness and Misery of Life.

I

Our days, alas! our mortal days
Are short and wretched too;
‘Evil and few,’ the patriarch says,
And well the patriarch knew.

II

'Tis but at best a narrow bound
That heaven allows to men,
And pains and sins run through the round
Of threescore years and ten.

III

Well, if ye must be sad and few,
Run on my days in haste;
Moments of sin, and months of woe,
Ye cannot fly too fast.

IV

Let heavenly love perpare my soul,
And call her to the skies,
Where years of long salvation roll,
And glory never dies.
 

Gen. xlvii. 9.


309

HYMN 40. (C. M.) Our Comfort in the Covenant made with Christ.

I

Our God, how firm his promise stands,
E'en when he hides his face!
He trusts in our Redeemer's hands
His glory and his grace.

II

Then why, my soul, these sad complaints,
Since Christ and we are one?
Thy God is faithful to his saints,
Is faithful to his Son.

III

Beneath his smiles my heart has liv'd,
And part of heaven possess'd;
I praise his name for grace receiv'd,
And trust him for the rest.

HYMN 41. (L. M.) A Sight of God mortifies us to the World.

I

Up to the fields where angels lie,
And living waters gently roll,
Fain would my thoughts leap out and fly,
But sin hangs heavy on my soul.

II

Thy wondrous blood, dear dying Christ,
Can make this load of guilt remove;
And thou canst bear me where thou fly'st,
On thy kind wings celestial Dove!

III

O might I once mount up and see
The glories of the eternal skies,
What little things these worlds would be!
How despicable to my eyes!

IV

Had I a glance of thee, my God,
Kingdoms and men would vanish soon,
Vanish as tho' I saw them not,
As a dim candle dies at noon.

V

Then they might fight, and rage, and rave,
I should perceive the noise no more
Than we can hear a shaking leaf,
While rattling thunders round us roar.

VI

Great All in All, Eternal King,
Let me but view thy lovely face,
And all my powers shall bow, and sing
Thine endless grandeur and thy grace.

HYMN 42. (C. M.) Delight in God.

I

My God, what endless pleasures dwell
Above at thy right hand!
The courts below, how amiable,
Where all thy graces stand!

II

The swallow near thy temple lies,
And chirps a cheerful note;
The lark mounts upwards to thy skies,
And tunes her warbling throat:

III

And we, when in thy presence, Lord,
We shout with joyful tongues,
Or sitting round our Father's board,
We crown the feast with songs.

IV

While Jesus shines with quickening grace,
We sing and mount on high;
But if a frown becloud his face,
We faint, and tire, and die.

V

Just as we see the lonesome dove
Bemoan her widow'd state,
Wandering she flies thro' all the grove,
And mourns her loving mate.

VI

Just so our thoughts from thing to thing
In restless circles rove,
Just so we droop, and hang the wing,
When Jesus hides his love.

HYMN 43. (L. M.) Christ's Sufferings and Glory.

I

Now for a tune of lofty praise
To great Jehovah's equal Son!
Awake, my voice, in heavenly lays,
Tell the loud wonders he hath done.

II

Sing how he left the worlds of light
And the bright robes he wore above,
How swift and joyful was his flight
On wings of everlasting love.

III

Down to this base, this sinful earth,
He came to raise our nature high;
He came t'atone almighty wrath;
Jesus the God was born to die.

IV

Hell and its lions roar'd around,
His precious blood the monsters spilt,
While weighty sorrows press'd him down,
Large as the loads of all our guilt.

310

V

Deep in the shades of gloomy death
Th'almighty Captive prisoner lay,
Th'almighty Captive left the earth,
And rose to everlasting day.

VI

Lift up your eyes, ye sons of light,
Up to his throne of shining grace,
See what immortal glories sit
Round the sweet beauties of his face.

VII

Amongst a thousand harps and songs
Jesus the God exalted reigns,
His sacred name fills all their tongues,
And echoes thro' the heavenly plains!

HYMN 44. (L. M.) Hell; or, the Vengeance of God.

I

With holy fear and humble song,
The dreadful God our souls adore;
Reverence and awe becomes the tongue
That speaks the terrors of his power.

II

Far in the deep where darkness dwells,
The land of horror and despair,
Justice has built a dismal hell,
And laid her stores of vengeance there.

III

Eternal plagues and heavy chains,
Tormenting racks and fiery coals,
And darts t'inflict immortal pains
Dy'd in the blood of damned souls.

IV

Their Satan the first sinner lies,
And roars, and bites his iron bands:
In vain the rebel strives to rise,
Crush'd with the weight of both thine hands.

V

There guilty ghosts of Adam's race
Shriek out, and howl beneath thy rod;
Once they could scorn a Saviour's grace,
But they incens'd a dreadful God.

VI

Tremble, my soul, and kiss the Son;
Sinners obey the Saviour's call;
Else your damnation hastens on,
And hell gapes wide to wait your fall.

HYMN 45. (L. M.) God's Condescension to our Worship.

I

Thy favours, Lord, surprise our souls;
Will the Eternal dwell with us?
What canst thou find beneath the poles
To tempt thy chariot downward thus?

II

Still might he fill his starry throne,
And please his ears with Gabriel's songs;
But th'heavenly majesty comes down,
And bows to hearken to our tongues.

III

Great God, what poor returns we pay
For love so infinite as thine!
Words are but air, and tongues but clay,
But thy compassion's all divine.

HYMN 46. (L. M.) God's Condescension to Human Affairs.

I

Up to the Lord that reigns on high,
And views the nations from afar,
Let everlasting praises fly,
And tell how large his bounties are.

II

He that can shake the worlds he made,
Or with his word, or with his rod,
His goodness how amazing great!
And what a condescending God!

III

God that must stoop to view the skies,
And bow to see what angels do,
Down to our earth he casts his eyes,
And bends his footsteps downward too.

IV

He over-rules all mortal things,
And manages our mean affairs;
On humble souls the King of kings
Bestows his counsels and his cares.

V

Our sorrows and our tears we pour
Into the bosom of our God,
He hears us in the mournful hour,
And helps us bear the heavy load.

VI

In vain might lofty princes try
Such condescension to perform;
For worms were never rais'd so high
Above their meanest fellow-worm.

VII

O could our thankful hearts devise
A tribute equal to thy grace,
To the third heaven our songs should rise,
And teach the golden harps thy praise.

HYMN 47. (L. M.) Glory and Grace in the Person of Christ.

I

Now to the Lord a noble song!
Awake, my soul, awake, my tongue;
Hosanna to th'eternal name,
And all his boundless love proclaim.

311

II

See where it shines in Jesus' face,
The brightest image of his grace;
God, in the person of his Son,
Has all his mightiest works outdone.

III

The spacious earth and spreading flood
Proclaim the wise the powerful God;
And thy rich glories from afar
Sparkle in every rolling star.

IV

But in his looks a glory stands,
The noblest labour of thine hands:
The pleasing lusture of his eyes
Outshines the wonders of the skies.

V

Grace, 'tis a sweet, a charming theme;
My thoughts rejoice at Jesus' name:
Ye angels, dwell upon the sound,
Ye heavens reflect it to the ground!

VI

O, may I live to reach the place
Where he unveils his lovely face,
Where all his beauties you behold,
And sing his name to harps of gold!

HYMN 48. (C. M.) Love to the Creatures is dangerous.

I

How vain are all things here below!
How false, and yet how fair!
Each pleasure hath its poison too,
And every sweet a snare.

II

The brightest things below the sky
Give but a flattering light;
We should suspect some danger nigh
Where we possess delight.

III

Our dearest joys, and nearest friends,
The partners of our blood,
How they divide our wavering minds,
And leave but half for God!

IV

The fondness of a creature's love,
How strong it strikes the sense!
Thither the warm affections move,
Nor can we call them thence.

V

Dear Saviour, let thy beauties be
My soul's eternal food;
And grace command my heart away
From all created good.

HYMN 49. (C. M.) Moses dying in the Embraces of God.

I

Death cannot make our souls afraid
If God be with us there;
We may walk thro' her darkest shade,
And never yield to fear.

II

I could renounce my all below
If my Creator bid,
And run if I were call'd to go,
And die as Moses did.

III

Might I but climb to Pisgah's top,
And view the promis'd land,
My flesh itself should long to drop,
And pray for the command.

IV

Clasp'd in my heavenly Father's arms
I would forget my breath,
And lose my life among the charms
Of so divine a death.

HYMN 50. (L. M.) Comfort under Sorrows and Pains.

I

Now let the Lord my Saviour smile,
And shew my name upon his heart,
I would forget my pains awhile,
And in the pleasure lose the smart.

II

But Oh it swells my sorrows high
To see my blessed Jesus frown!
My spirits sink, my comforts die,
And all the springs of life are down.

III

Yet why, my soul, why these complaints?
Still while he frowns, his bowels move;
Still on his heart he bears his saints,
And feels their sorrows and his love.

IV

My name is printed on his breast;
His book of life contains my name;
I'd rather have it there impress'd
Than in the bright records of fame.

V

When the last fire burns all things here
Those letters shall securely stand,
And in the Lamb's fair book appear
Writ by th'eternal Father's hand.

VI

Now shall my minutes smoothly run,
Whilst here I wait my Father's will;
My rising and my setting sun
Roll gently up and down the hill.

312

HYMN 51. (L. M.) God the Son equal with the Father.

I

Bright King of glory, dreadful God!
Our spirits bow before thy seat,
To thee we lift an humble thought,
And worship at thine awful feet.

II

Thy power hath form'd, thy wisdom sways
All nature with a sovereign word;
And the bright world of stars obeys
The will of their superior Lord.

III

Mercy and truth unite in one,
And smiling sit at thy right hand;
Eternal justice guards thy throne,
And vengeance waits thy dread command.

IV

A thousand seraphs strong and bright
Stand round the glorious Deity;
But who amongst the sons of light
Pretends comparison with thee?

V

Yet there is one of human frame,
Jesus, array'd in flesh and blood,
Thinks it no robbery to claim
A full equality with God.

VI

Their glory shines with equal beams;
Their essence is for ever one,
Tho' they are known by different names,
The Father God, and God the Son.

VII

Then let the name of Christ our King
With equal honours be ador'd;
His praise let every angel sing,
And all the nations own their Lord.

HYMN 52. (C. M.) Death dreadful, or delightful.

I

Death! 'tis a melancholy day
To those that have no God,
When the poor soul is forc'd away
To seek her last abode.

II

In vain to heaven she lifts her eyes,
But guilt, a heavy chain,
Still drags her downward from the skies
To darkness, fire, and pain.

III

Awake and mourn, ye heirs of hell,
Let stubborn sinners fear,
You must be driven from earth, and dwell
A long for-ever there.

IV

See how the pit gapes wide for you,
And flashes in your face,
And thou, my soul, look downwards too,
And sing recovering grace.

V

He is a God of sovereign love
That promis'd heaven to me,
And taught my thoughts to soar above,
Where happy spirits be.

VI

Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand,
Then come the joyful day,
Come, death, and some celestial band
To bear my soul away.

HYMN 53. (C. M.) The Pilgrimage of the Saints; or, Earth and Heaven.

I

Lord! what a wretched land is this
That yields us no supply!
No cheering fruits, no wholesome trees,
Nor streams of living joy!

II

But pricking thorns thro' all the ground
And mortal poisons grow,
And all the rivers that are found
With dangerous waters flow.

III

Yet the dear path to thine abode
Lies thro' this horrid land;
Lord! we would keep the heavenly road,
And run at thy command.

IV

Our souls shall tread the desert through
With undiverted feet;
And faith and flaming zeal subdue
The terrors that we meet.

V

A thousand savage beasts of prey
Around the forest roam;
But Judah's Lion guards the way,
And guides the strangers home.

VI

Long nights and darkness dwell below,
With scarce a twinkling ray;
But the bright world to which we go
Is everlasting day.

VII

By glimmering hopes and gloomy fears
We trace the sacred road,
Thro' dismal deeps and dangerous snares
We make our way to God.

VIII

Our journey is a thorny maze,
But we march upward still;
Forget these troubles of the way,
And reach at Zion's hill.

313

IX

See the kind angels at the gates,
Inviting us to come;
There Jesus the forerunner waits
To welcome travellers home.

X

There on a green and flowery mount
Our weary souls shall sit,
And with transporting joys recount
The labours of our feet.

XI

No vain discourse shall fill our tongue,
Nor trifles vex our ear,
Infinite grace shall be our song,
And God rejoice to hear.

XII

Eternal glories to the King
That brought us safely through;
Our tongues shall never cease to sing,
And endless praise renew.

HYMN 54. (C. M.) God's Presence is Light in Darkness.

I

My God, the spring of all my joys,
The life of my delights,
The glory of my brightest days,
And comfort of my nights.

II

In darkest shades if he appear,
My dawning is begun;
He is my soul's sweet morning star,
And he my rising sun.

III

The opening heavens around me shine
With beams of sacred bliss,
While Jesus shews his heart is mine,
And whispers, ‘I am his!’

IV

My soul would leave this heavy clay
At that transporting word,
Run up with joy the shining way
T'embrace my dearest Lord.

V

Fearless of hell and ghastly death
I'd break thro' every foe;
The wings of love, and arms of faith
Should bear me conqueror through.

HYMN 55. (C. M.) Frail Life and succeeding Eternity.

I

Thee we adore, eternal name,
And humbly own to thee,
How feeble is our mortal frame!
What dying worms are we!

II

Our wasting lives grow shorter still
As months and days increase;
And every beating pulse we tell
Leaves but the number less.

III

The year rolls round, and steals away
The breath that first it gave;
Whate'er we do, where'er we be,
We're travelling to the grave.

IV

Dangers stand thick through all the ground
To push us to the tomb,
And fierce diseases wait around
To hurry mortals home.

V

Good God! on what a slender thread
Hand everlasting things!
Th'eternal states of all the dead
Upon life's feeble strings.

VI

Infinite joy or endless woe
Attends on every breath;
And yet how unconcern'd we go
Upon the brink of death!

VII

Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense
To walk this dangerous road;
And if our souls be hurry'd hence
May they be found with God!

HYMN 56. (C. M.) The Misery of being without God in this World; or, vain Prosperity.

I

No, I shall envy them no more
Who grow profanely great,
Tho' they increase their golden store,
And rise to wondrous height.

II

They taste of all the joys that grow
Upon this earthly clod,
Well they may search the creature thro',
For they have ne'er a God.

III

Shake off the thoughts of dying too,
And think your life your own;
But death comes hastening on to you
To mow your glory down.

IV

Yes, you must bow your stately head,
Away your spirit flies,
And no kind angel near your bed
To bear it to the skies.

314

V

Go now, and boast of all your stores,
And tell how bright you shine;
Your heaps of glittering dust are yours,
And my Redeemer's mine.

HYMN 57. (L. M.) The Pleasures of a good Conscience.

I

Lord, how secure and bless'd are they
Who feel the joys of pardon'd sin?
Should storms of wrath shake earth and sea,
Their minds have heaven and peace within.

II

The day glides sweetly o'er their heads,
Made up of innocence and love?
And soft and silent as the shades
Their nightly minutes gently move.

III

Quick as their thoughts their joys come on,
But fly not half so fast away;
Their souls are ever bright as noon,
And calm as summer evenings be.

IV

How oft they look to th'heavenly hills
Where groves of living pleasure grow!
And longing hopes and cheerful smiles
Sit undisturb'd upon their brow.

V

They scorn to seek our golden toys,
But spend the day and share the night
In numbering o'er the richer joys
That heaven prepares for their delight.

VI

While wretched we, like worms and moles,
Lie grovelling in the dust below:
Almighty grace, renew our souls,
And we'll aspire to glory too.

HYMN 58. (C. M.) The Shortness of Life, and the Goodness of God.

I

Time! what an empty vapour 'tis!
And days how swift they are!
Swift as an Indian arrow flies,
Or like a shooting star.

II

The present moments just appear,
Then slide away in haste,
That we can never say, ‘They're here,’
But only say, ‘They're past.’

III

Our life is ever on the wing,
And death is ever nigh;
The moment when our lives begin
We all begin to die.

IV

Yet, mighty God, our fleeting days
Thy lasting favours share,
Yet with the bounties of thy grace
Thou load'st the rolling year.

V

'Tis sovereign mercy finds us food,
And we are cloth'd with love;
While grace stands pointing out the road,
That leads our souls above.

VI

His goodness runs an endless round;
All glory to the Lord:
His mercy never knows a bound,
And be his name ador'd!

VII

Thus we begin the lasting song,
And when we close our eyes,
Let the next age thy praise prolong
Till time and nature dies.

HYMN 59. (C. M.) Paradise on Earth.

I

Glory to God that walks the sky,
And sends his blessings through,
That tells his saints of joys on high,
And gives a taste below.

II

Glory to God that stoops his throne
That dust and worms may see't,
And brings a glimpse of glory down
Around his sacred feet.

III

When Christ, with all his graces crown'd,
Sheds his kind beams abroad,
'Tis a young heaven on earthly ground,
And glory in the bud.

IV

A blooming Paradise of joy
In this wild desert springs;
And every sense I straight employ
On sweet celestial things.

V

White lilies all around appear,
And each his glory shows;
The rose of Sharon blossoms here,
The fairest flower that blows.

VI

Cheerful I feast on heavenly fruit,
And drink the pleasures down,
Pleasures that flow hard by the foot
Of the eternal throne.

VII

But ah! how soon my joys decay!
How soon my sins arise,
And snatch the heavenly scene away
From these lamenting eyes!

315

VIII

When shall the time, dear Jesus, when
The shining day appear,
That I shall leave those clouds of sin,
And guilt and darkness here?

IX

Up to the fields above the skies
My hasty feet would go,
There everlasting flowers arise,
And joys unwithering grow.

HYMN 60. (L. M.) The Truth of God the Promiser; or, the Promises are our Security.

I

Praise, everlasting praise be paid
To him that earth's foundations laid;
Praise to the God whose strong decrees
Sway the creation as he please.

II

Praise to the goodness of the Lord
Who rules his people by his word,
And there as strong as his decrees
He sets his kindest promises.

III

Firm are the words his prophets give,
Sweet words on which his children live;
Each of them is the voice of God,
Who spoke and spread the skies abroad.

IV

Each of them powerful as that sound
That bid the new-made heavens go round;
And stronger than the solid poles
On which the wheel of nature rolls.

V

Whence then should doubts and fears arise?
Why trickling sorrows drown our eyes?
Slowly, alas, our mind receives
The comforts that our Maker gives.

VI

O for a strong a lasting faith,
To credit what th'Almighty saith!
T'embrace the message of his Son,
And call the joys of heaven our own.

VII

Then should the earth's old pillars shake,
And all the wheels of nature break,
Our steady souls should fear no more
Than solid rocks when billows roar.

VIII

Our everlasting hopes arise
Above the ruinable skies,
Where the eternal Builder reigns,
And his own courts his power sustains.

HYMN 61. (C. M.) A Thought of Death and Glory.

I

My soul, come meditate the day,
And think how near it stands,
When thou must quit this house of clay,
And fly to unknown lands.

II

And you, mine eyes, look down and view
The hollow gaping tomb,
This gloomy prison waits for you
Whene'er the summons come.

III

O could we die with those that die,
And place us in their stead,
Then would our spirits learn to fly,
And converse with the dead:

IV

Then should we see the saints above
In their own glorious forms,
And wonder why our souls should love
To dwell with mortal worms.

V

How we should scorn these clothes of flesh,
These fetters and this load!
And long for evening to undress,
That we may rest with God.

VI

We should almost forsake our clay
Before the summons come,
And pray, and wish our souls away
To their eternal home.

HYMN 62. (C. M.) God the Thunderer; or, the last Judgment and Hell.

I

Sing to the Lord, ye heavenly hosts,
And thou, O earth, adore,
Let death and hell thro' all their coasts
Stand trembling at his power.

II

His sounding chariot shakes the sky,
He makes the clouds his throne,
There all his stores of lightning lie,
Till vengeance dart them down.

III

His nostrils breathe out fiery streams,
And from his awful tongue
A sovereign voice divides the flames,
And thunder roars along.

IV

Think, O my soul, the dreadful day
When this incensed God
Shall rend the sky, and burn the sea,
And fling his wrath abroad.

316

V

What shall the wretch the sinner do?
He once defy'd the Lord;
But he shall dread the thunderer now,
And sink beneath his word.

VI

Tempests of angry fire shall roll
To blast the rebel-worm,
And beat upon his naked soul
In one eternal storm.
 

Made in a great sudden storm of thunder, Aug. 20th, 1697.

HYMN 63. (C. M.) A Funeral Thought.

I

Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound,
My ears attend the cry,
‘Ye living men, come view the ground
‘Where you must shortly lie.

II

‘Princes, this clay must be your bed,
‘In spite of all your towers;
‘The tall, the wise, the reverend head
‘Must lie as low as ours.’

III

Great God, is this our certain doom?
And are we still secure?
Still walking downward to our tomb,
And yet prepare no more?

IV

Grant us the powers of quickening grace
To fit our souls to fly,
Then, when we drop this dying flesh,
We'll rise above the sky.

HYMN 64. (L. M.) God the Glory and Defence of Sion.

I

Happy the church, thou sacred place,
The seat of thy Creator's grace;
Thine holy courts are his abode,
Thou earthly palace of our God.

II

Thy walls are strength, and at thy gates
A guard of heavenly warriors waits;
Nor shall thy deep foundations move,
Fix'd on his counsels and his love.

III

Thy foes in vain designs engage,
Against his throne in vain they rage,
Like rising waves, with angry roar,
That dash and die upon the shore.

IV

Then let our souls in Zion dwell
Nor fear the wrath of Rome and hell:
His arms embrace this happy ground,
Like brazen bulwarks built around.

V

God is our shield, and God our sun;
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us he sheds new beams of grace,
And we reflect his brightest praise.

HYMN 65. (C. M.) The Hope of Heaven our Support under Trial on Earth.

I

When I can read my title clear
To mansions in the skies,
I bid farewell to every fear,
And wipe my weeping eyes.

II

Should earth against my soul engage,
And hellish darts be hurl'd,
Then I can smile at Satan's rage,
And face a frowning world.

III

Let cares like a wild deluge come,
And storms of sorrow fall,
May I but safely reach my home,
My God, my heaven, my all.

IV

There shall I bathe my weary soul
In seas of heavenly rest,
And not a wave of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast.

HYMN 66. (C. M.) A Prospect of Heaven makes Death easy.

I

There is a land of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign,
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.

II

There everlasting spring abides,
And never-withering flowers:
Death like a narrow sea divides
This heavenly land from ours.

III

Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dress'd in living green:
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between.

IV

But timorous mortals start and shrink
To cross this narrow sea,
And linger shivering on the brink,
And fear to launch away.

V

O! could we make our doubts remove,
These gloomy doubts that rise,
And see the Canaan that we love,
With unbeclouded eyes!

317

VI

Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er,
Not Jordan's stream, nor deaths cold flood,
Should fright us from the shore.

HYMN 67. (C. M.) God's eternal Dominion.

I

Great God, how infinite art thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow
And pay their praise to thee.

II

Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Ere seas or stars were made;
Thou art the ever-living God
Were all the nations dead.

III

Nature and time quite naked lie
To thine immense survey,
From the formation of the sky
To the great burning day.

IV

Eternity with all its years
Stands present in thy view;
To thee there's nothing old appears,
Great God, there's nothing new.

V

Our lives thro' various scenes are drawn,
And vex'd with trifling cares;
While thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undisturb'd affairs.

VI

Great God, how infinite art thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow
And pay their praise to thee.

HYMN 68. (C. M.) The humble Worship of Heaven.

I

Father, I long, I faint to see
The place of thine abode,
I'd leave thy earthly courts and flee
Up to thy seat, my God!

II

Here I behold thy distant face,
And 'tis a pleasing sight;
But to abide in thine embrace
Is infinite delight.

III

I'd part with all the joys of sense
To gaze upon thy throne;
Pleasure springs fresh for ever thence,
Unspeakable, unknown.

IV

There all the heavenly hosts are seen,
In shining ranks they move,
And drink immortal vigour in,
With wonder and with love.

V

Then at thy feet with awful fear
Th'adoring armies fall;
With joy they shrink to nothing there,
Before th'eternal All.

VI

There I would vie with all the host
In duty and in bliss,
While less than nothing I could boast
And vanity confess.

VII

The more thy glories strike mine eyes,
The humbler I shall lie;
Thus while I sink, my joys shall rise
Unmeasurable high.
 

Isaiah xl. 17.

HYMN 69. (C. M.) The Faithfulness of God in his Promises.

I

Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme,
And speak some boundless thing,
The mighty works, or mightier name
Of our eternal King.

II

Tell of his wondrous faithfulness,
And sound his power abroad,
Sing the sweet promise of his grace,
And the performing God.

III

Proclaim ‘salvation from the Lord
‘For wretched dying men;’
His hand has writ the sacred word
With an immortal pen.

IV

Engrav'd as in eternal brass
The mighty promise shines;
Nor can the powers of darkness rase
Those everlasting lines.

V

He that can dash whole worlds to death,
And make them when he please,
He speaks, and that almighty breath
Fulfils his great decrees.

VI

His very word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies,
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.

318

VII

He said, ‘Let the wide heaven be spread,’
And heaven was stretch'd abroad;
‘Abrah'm, I'll be thy God,’ he said,
And he was Abrah'm's God.

VIII

O, might I hear thine heavenly tongue
But whisper, ‘Thou art mine;’
Those gentle words should raise my song
To notes almost divine.

IX

How would my leaping heart rejoice
And think my heaven secure!
I trust the all-creating voice,
And faith desires no more.

HYMN 70. (L. M.) God's Dominion over the Sea, Psalm cvii. 23, &c.

I

God of the seas, thy thundering voice
Makes all the roaring waves rejoice,
And one soft word of thy command
Can sink them silent in the sand.

II

If but a Moses wave thy rod,
The sea divides and owns its God;
The stormy floods their Maker knew,
And let his chosen armies through.

III

The scaly flocks amidst the sea
To thee their Lord a tribute pay;
The meanest fish that swims the flood
Leaps up, and means a praise to God.

IV

The larger monsters of the deep,
On thy commands attendance keep,
By thy permission sport and play,
And cleave along their foaming way.

V

If God his voice of tempest rears
Leviathan lies still and fears,
Anon he lifts his nostrils high,
And spouts the ocean to the sky.

VI

How is thy glorious power ador'd,
Amidst those wat'ry nations, Lord!
Yet the bold men that trace the seas,
Bold men, refuse their Maker's praise.

VII

What scenes of miracles they see,
And never tune a song to thee!
While on the flood they safely ride,
They curse the hand that smooths the tide.

VIII

Anon they plunge in wat'ry graves,
And some drink death among the waves:
Yet the surviving crew blaspheme,
Nor own the God that rescu'd them.

IX

O for some signal of thine hand,
Shake all the seas, Lord, shake the land,
Great Judge descend, lest men deny
That there's a God that rules the sky.

From the 70th to the 108th Hymn, I hope the reader will forgive the neglect of rhyme in the first and third lines of the stanza.

HYMN 71. (C. M.) Praise to God from all Creatures.

I

The glories of my Maker God,
My joyful voice shall sing,
And call the nations to adore
Their Former and their King.

II

'Twas his right hand that shap'd our clay,
And wrought this human frame,
But from his own immediate breath
Our nobler spirits came.

III

We bring our mortal powers to God,
And worship with our tongues:
We claim some kindred with the skies
And join th'angelic songs.

IV

Let grovelling beasts of every shape,
And fowls of every wing,
And rocks, and trees, and fires, and seas,
Their various tribute bring.

V

Ye planets, to his honour shine,
And wheels of nature roll,
Praise him in your unwearied course
Around the steady pole.

VI

The brightness of our Maker's name
The wide creation fills,
And his unbounded grandeur flies
Beyond the heavenly hills.

HYMN 72. (C. M.) The Lord's Day; or, the Resurrection of Christ.

I

Bless'd morning, whose young dawning rays
Beheld our rising God,
That saw him triumph o'er the dust,
And leave his dark abode.

II

In the cold prison of a tomb,
The dead Redeemer lay,
Till the revolving skies had brought
The third, th'appointed day.

III

Hell and the grave unite their force
To hold our God in vain,
The sleeping Conqueror arose,
And burst their feeble chain.

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IV

To thy great name, almighty Lord,
These sacred hours we pay,
And loud hosannas shall proclaim
The triumph of the day.

V

Salvation and immortal praise
To our victorious King,
Let heaven, and earth, and rocks, and seas,
With glad hosannas ring.

HYMN 73. (C. M.) Doubts scattered; or, spiritual Joy restored.

I

Hence from my soul, sad thoughts, begone,
And leave me to my joys,
My tongue shall triumph in my God,
And make a joyful noise.

II

Darkness and doubts had veil'd my mind,
And drown'd my head in tears,
Till sovereign grace with shining rays
Dispell'd my gloomy fears.

III

O what immortal joys I felt,
And raptures all divine,
When Jesus told me, I was his,
And my Beloved mine.

IV

In vain the tempter frights my soul,
And breaks my peace in vain,
One glimpse, dear Saviour, of thy face,
Revives my joys again.

HYMN 74. (S. M.) Repentance from a Sense of divine Goodness; or, a Complaint of Ingratitude.

I

Is this the kind return,
And these the thanks we owe?
Thus to abuse eternal love
Whence all our blessings flow?

II

To what a stubborn frame
Has sin reduc'd our mind!
What strange rebellious wretches we,
And God as strangely kind!

III

On us he bids the sun
Shed his reviving rays,
For us the skies their circles run
To lengthen out our days.

IV

The brutes obey their God,
And bow their necks to men,
But we more base, more brutish things
Reject his easy reign.

V

Turn, turn us, mighty God,
And mould our souls afresh,
Break, sovereign grace, these hearts of stone,
And give us hearts of flesh.

VI

Let old ingratitude
Provoke our weeping eyes,
And hourly as new mercies fall
Let hourly thanks arise.

HYMN 75. (C. M.) Spiritual and eternal Joys; or, the beatific Sight of Christ.

I

From thee, my God, my joys shall rise,
And run eternal rounds,
Beyond the limits of the skies
And all created bounds.

II

The holy triumphs of my soul
Shall death itself out-brave,
Leave dull mortality behind,
And fly beyond the grave.

III

There, where my blessed Jesus reigns
In heaven's unmeasur'd space,
I'll spend a long eternity
In pleasure and in praise.

IV

Millions of years my wondering eyes
Shall o'er thy beauties rove,
And endless ages I'll adore
The glories of thy love.

V

Sweet Jesus, every smile of thine
Shall fresh endearments bring,
And thousand tastes of new delight
From all thy graces spring.

VI

Haste, my beloved, fetch my soul
Up to thy bless'd abode,
Fly, for my spirit longs to see
My Saviour and my God.

HYMN 76. (L. M.) The Resurrection and Ascension of Christ.

I

Hosanna to the Prince of Light
That cloth'd himself in clay,
Enter'd the iron gates of death,
And tore the bars away.

II

Death is no more the king of dread
Since our Immanuel rose,
He took the tyrant's sting away,
And spoil'd our hellish foes.

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III

See how the Conqueror mounts aloft,
And to his Father flies,
With scars of honour in his flesh,
And triumph in his eyes.

IV

There our exalted Saviour reigns,
And scatters blessings down,
Our Jesus fills the middle seat
Of the celestial throne.

V

Raise your devotion, mortal tongues,
To reach his bless'd abode,
Sweet be the accents of your songs
To our incarnate God.

VI

Bright angels, strike your loudest strings,
Your sweetest voices raise,
Let heaven, and all created things,
Sound our Immanuel's praise.

HYMN 77. (L. M.) The Christian Warfare.

I

Stand up, my soul, shake off thy fears,
And gird the gospel-armour on,
March to the gates of endless joy
Where thy great Captain-Saviour's gone.

II

Hell and thy sins resist thy course,
But hell and sin are vanquish'd foes,
Thy Jesus nail'd them to the cross,
And sung the triumph when he rose.

III

What tho' the prince of darkness rage,
And waste the fury of his spite,
Eternal chains confine him down
To fiery deeps and endless night.

IV

What tho' thine inward lusts rebel,
'Tis but a struggling gasp for life;
The weapons of victorious grace
Shall slay thy sins, and end thy strife.

V

Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heavenly gate,
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glittering robes for conquerors wait.

VI

There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace,
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious Leader's praise.

HYMN 78. (C. M.) Redemption by Christ.

I

When the first parents of our race
Rebell'd and lost their God,
And the infection of their sin
Had tainted all our blood,

II

Infinite pity touch'd the heart
Of the eternal Son,
Descending from the heavenly court
He left his Father's throne.

III

Aside the Prince of Glory threw
His most divine array,
And wrapp'd his Godhead in a veil
Of our inferior clay.

IV

His living power, and dying love
Redeem'd unhappy men,
And rais'd the ruins of our race
To life and God again.

V

To thee, dear Lord, our flesh and soul
We joyfully resign,
Bless'd Jesus, take us for thy own,
For we are doubly thine.

VI

Thine honour shall for ever be
The business of our days,
For ever shall our thankful tongues
Speak thy deserved praise.

HYMN 79. (C. M.) Praise to the Redeemer.

I

Plung'd in a gulph of dark despair
We wretched sinners lay,
Without one cheerful beam of hope,
Or spark of glimmering day.

II

With pitying eyes, the Prince of Grace
Beheld our helpless grief,
He saw, and (O amazing love!)
He ran to our relief.

III

Down from the shining seats above
With joyful haste he fled,
Enter'd the grave in mortal flesh,
And dwelt among the dead.

IV

He spoil'd the powers of darkness thus,
And brake our iron chains;
Jesus has freed our captive souls
From everlasting pains.

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V

In vain the baffled prince of hell
His cursed projects tries,
We that were doom'd his endless slaves
Are rais'd above the skies.

VI

O for this love, let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break,
And all harmonious human tongues
The Saviour's praises speak.

VII

Yes, we will praise thee, dearest Lord,
Our souls are all on flame,
Hosanna round the spacious earth
To thine adored name.

VIII

Angels, assist our mighty joys,
Strike all your harps of gold;
But when you raise your highest notes
His love can ne'er be told.

HYMN 80. (S. M.) God's awful Power and Goodness.

I

O the almighty Lord!
How matchless is his power!
Tremble, O earth, beneath his word,
And all the heavens adore.

II

Let proud imperious kings
Bow low before his throne,
Crouch to his feet, ye haughty things,
Or he shall tread you down.

III

Above the skies he reigns,
And with amazing blows
He deals unsufferable pains
On his rebellious foes.

IV

Yet, everlasting God,
We love to speak thy praise;
Thy sceptre's equal to thy rod,
The sceptre of thy grace.

V

The arms of mighty love
Defend our Sion well,
And heavenly mercy walls us round
From Babylon and Hell.

VI

Salvation to the King
That sits enthron'd above;
Thus we adore the God of might,
And bless the God of love.

HYMN 81. (C. M.) Our Sin the Cause of Christ's Death.

I

And now the scales have left mine eyes,
Now I begin to see;
Oh the curs'd deeds my sins have done!
What murderous things they be!

II

Were these the traitors, dearest Lord,
That thy fair body tore?
Monsters, that stain'd those heavenly limbs
With floods of purple gore?

III

Was it for crimes that I had done
My dearest Lord was slain,
When justice seiz'd God's only Son,
And put his soul to pain?

IV

Forgive my guilt, O Prince of Peace,
I'll wound my God no more;
Hence from my heart, ye sins, be gone,
For Jesus I adore.

V

Furnish me, Lord, with heavenly arms
From grace's magazine,
And I'll proclaim eternal war
With every darling sin.

HYMN 82. (C. M.) Redemption and Protection from Spiritual Enemies.

I

Arise, my soul, my joyful powers,
And triumph in my God,
Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim
His glorious grace abroad.

II

He rais'd me from the deeps of sin,
The gates of gaping hell,
And fix'd my standing more secure
Than 'twas before I fell.

III

The arms of everlasting love
Beneath my soul he plac'd,
And on the rock of ages set
My slippery footsteps fast.

IV

The city of my bless'd abode
Is wall'd around with grace,
Salvation for a bulwark stands
To shield the sacred place.

V

Satan may vent his sharpest spite,
And all his legions roar,
Almighty mercy guards my life,
And bounds his raging power.

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VI

Arise, my soul, awake, my voice,
And tunes of pleasure sing,
Loud hallelujahs shall address
My Saviour and my King.

HYMN 83. (C. M.) The Passion and Exaltation of Christ.

I

Thus saith the Ruler of the skies,
‘Awake, my dreadful sword;
‘Awake, my wrath, and smite the man,
‘My fellow,’ saith the Lord.

II

Vengeance receiv'd the dread command,
And armed down she flies,
Jesus submits t'his Father's hand,
And bows his head and dies.

III

But oh! the wisdom and the grace
That join with vengeance now!
He dies to save our guilty race,
And yet he rises too.

IV

A person so divine was he
Who yielded to be slain,
That he could give his soul away,
And take his life again.

V

Live, glorious Lord, and reign on high,
Let every nation sing,
And angels sound with endless joy
The Saviour and the King.

HYMN 84. (S. M.) The same.

[Come, all harmonious tongues]

I

Come, all harmonious tongues,
Your noblest music bring,
'Tis Christ the everlasting God,
And Christ the man we sing.

II

Tell how he took our flesh
To take away our guilt,
Sing the dear drops of sacred blood
That hellish monsters spilt.

III

Alas! the cruel spear
Went deep into his side,
And the rich flood of purple gore
Their murderous weapons dy'd.

IV

The waves of swelling grief
Did o'er his bosom roll,
And mountains of almighty wrath
Lay heavy on his soul.

V

Down to the shades of death
He bow'd his awful head,
Yet he arose to live and reign
When death itself is dead.

VI

No more the bloody spear,
The cross and nails no more;
For hell itself shakes at his name,
And all the heavens adore.

VII

There the Redeemer sits
High on the Father's throne;
The Father lays his vengeance by,
And smiles upon his Son.

VIII

There his full glories shine
With uncreated rays,
And bless his saints and angels eyes
To everlasting days.

HYMN 85. (C. M.) Sufficiency of Pardon.

I

Why does your face, ye humble souls,
Those mournful colours wear?
What doubts are these that waste your faith,
And nourish your despair?

II

What tho' your numerous sins exceed
The stars that fill the skies,
And aiming at th'eternal throne
Like pointed mountains rise?

III

What tho' your mighty guilt beyond
The wide creation swell,
And has its curs'd foundations laid
Low as the deeps of hell?

IV

See here an endless ocean flows
Of never-failing grace,
Behold a dying Saviour's veins
The sacred flood increase:

V

It rises high and drowns the hills,
'T has neither shore nor bound:
Nor if we search to find our sins
Our sins can ne'er be found.

VI

Awake, our hearts, adore the grace
That buries all our faults,
And pardoning blood that swells above
Our follies and our thoughts.

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HYMN 86. (C. M.) Freedom from Sin and Misery in Heaven.

I

Our sins, alas! how strong they be!
And like a violent sea
They break our duty, Lord, to thee,
And hurry us away.

II

The waves of trouble how they rise!
How loud the tempests roar!
But death shall land our weary souls
Safe on the heavenly shore.

III

There to fulfil his sweet commands
Our speedy feet shall move,
No sin shall clog our winged zeal,
Or cool our burning love.

IV

There shall we sit, and sing, and tell
The wonders of his grace,
Till heavenly raptures fire our hearts,
And smile in every face.

V

For ever his dear sacred name
Shall dwell upon our tongue,
And Jesus and Salvation be
The close of every song.

HYMN 87. (C. M.) The divine Glories above our Reason.

I

How wondrous great, how glorious bright
Must our Creator be,
Who dwells amidst the dazzling light
Of vast infinity!

II

Our soaring spirits upward rise
Tow'rd the celestial throne,
Fain would we see the blessed Three,
And the almighty One.

III

Our reason stretches all its wings,
And climbs above the skies;
But still how far beneath thy feet
Our grovelling reason lies!

IV

Lord, here we bend our humble souls,
And awfully adore,
For the weak pinions of our mind
Can stretch a thought no more.

V

Thy glories infinitely rise
Above our labouring tongue;
In vain the highest seraph tries
To form an equal song.

VI

In humble notes our faith adores
The great mysterious King,
While angels strain their nobler powers,
And sweep th'immortal string.

HYMN 88. (C. M.) Salvation.

I

Salvation! O, the joyful sound!
'Tis pleasure to our ears;
A sovereign balm for every wound,
A cordial for our fears.

II

Bury'd in sorrow and in sin,
At hell's dark door we lay,
But we arise by grace divine
To see a heavenly day.

III

Salvation! let the echo fly
The spacious earth around,
While all the armies of the sky
Conspire to raise the sound.

HYMN 89. (C. M.) Christ's Victory over Satan.

I

Hosanna to our conquering King!
The prince of darkness flies,
His troops rush headlong down to hell
Like lightning from the skies.

II

There bound in chains the lions roar,
And fright the rescu'd sheep,
But heavy bars confine their power
And malice to the deep.

III

Hosanna to our conquering King,
All hail, incarnate love!
Ten thousand songs and glories wait
To crown thy head above.

IV

Thy victories and thy deathless fame
Through the wide world shall run,
And everlasting ages sing
The triumphs thou hast won.

HYMN 90. (C. M.) Faith in Christ for Pardon and Sanctification.

I

How sad our state by nature is!
Our sin how deep it stains!
And Satan binds our captive minds
Fast in his slavish chains.

324

II

But there's a voice of sovereign grace
Sounds from the sacred word,
‘Ho, ye despairing sinners, come,
‘And trust upon the Lord.’

III

My soul obeys th'almighty call,
And runs to this relief,
I would believe thy promise, Lord,
O! help my unbelief.

IV

To the dear fountain of thy blood,
Incarnate God, I fly,
Here let me wash my spotted soul
From crimes of deepest dye.

V

Stretch out thine arm, victorious King,
My reigning sins subdue,
Drive the old dragon from his seat,
With all his hellish crew.

VI

A guilty, weak, and helpless worm,
On thy kind arms I fall:
Be thou my strength and righteousness,
My Jesus, and my all.

HYMN 91. (C. M.) The Glory of Christ in Heaven.

I

O the delights, the heavenly joys,
The glories of the place
Where Jesus sheds the brightest beams
Of his o'erflowing grace!

II

Sweet majesty and awful love
Sit smiling on his brow,
And all the glorious ranks above
At humble distance bow.

III

Princes to his imperial name
Bend their bright sceptres down,
Dominions, thrones, and powers rejoice
To see him wear the crown.

IV

Archangels sound his lofty praise
Through every heavenly street,
And lay their highest honours down
Submissive at his feet.

V

Those soft, those blessed feet of his
That once rude iron tore,
High on a throne of light they stand,
And all the saints adore.

VI

His head, the dear majestic head
That cruel thorns did wound,
See what immortal glories shine,
And circle it around.

VII

This is the man, th'exalted man,
Whom we unseen adore;
But when our eyes behold his face,
Our hearts shall love him more.

VIII

Lord, how our souls are all on fire
To see thy bless'd abode,
Our tongues rejoice in tunes of praise
To our incarnate God.

IX

And whilst our faith enjoys this sight,
We long to leave our clay,
And wish thy fiery chariots, Lord,
To fetch our souls away.

HYMN 92. (C. M.) The Church saved, and her Enemies disappointed.

Composed the 5th of November, 1694.

I

Shout to the Lord, and let our joys
Through the whole nation run;
Ye British skies, resound the noise
Beyond the rising sun.

II

Thee, mighty God, our souls admire,
Thee our glad voices sing,
And join with the celestial choir
To praise the eternal King.

III

Thy power the whole creation rules,
And on the starry skies
Sits smiling at the weak designs
Thine envious foes devise.

IV

Thy scorn derides their feeble rage,
And with an awful frown
Flings vast confusion on their plots,
And shakes their Babel down.

V

Their secret fires in caverns lay,
And we the sacrifice:
But gloomy caverns strove in vain
To 'scape all-searching eyes.

VI

Their dark designs were all reveal'd,
Their treasons all betray'd:
Praise to the God that broke the snare
Their cursed hands had laid.

VII

In vain the busy sons of hell
Still new rebellions try,
Their souls shall pine with envious rage,
And vex away and die.

VIII

Almighty grace defends our land
From their malicious power,
Let Britain with united songs
Almighty grace adore.

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HYMN 93. (S. M.) God all, and in all, Psalm lxxiii. 25.

I

My God, my life, my love,
To thee, to thee, I call,
I cannot live if thou remove,
For thou art all in all.

II

Thy shining grace can cheer
This dungeon where I dwell;
'Tis paradise when thou art here,
If thou depart, 'tis hell.

III

The smilings of thy face,
How amiable they are!
'Tis heaven to rest in thine embrace,
And no where else but there.

IV

To thee, and thee alone,
The angels owe their bliss;
They sit around thy gracious throne,
And dwell where Jesus is.

V

Not all the harps above
Can make a heavenly place,
If God his residence remove,
Or but conceal his face.

VI

Nor earth, nor all the sky
Can one delight afford,
No, not a drop of real joy
Without thy presence, Lord.

VII

Thou art the sea of love,
Where all my pleasures roll,
The circle where my passions move,
And centre of my soul.

VIII

To thee my spirits fly
With infinite desire,
And yet how far from thee I lie!
Dear Jesus raise me higher!

HYMN 94. (C. M.) God my only Happiness, Psalm lxxiii. 25.

I

My God, my portion, and my love,
My everlasting all,
I've none but thee in heaven above,
Or on this earthly ball.

II

What empty things are all the skies,
And this inferior clod!
There's nothing here deserves my joys,
There's nothing like my God.

III

In vain the bright, the burning sun
Scatters his feeble light;
'Tis thy sweet beams create my noon;
If thou withdraw, 'tis night.

IV

And whilst upon my restless bed,
Amongst the shades I roll,
If my Redeemer shew his head,
'Tis morning with my soul.

V

To thee we owe our wealth, and friends,
And health, and safe abode;
Thanks to thy name for meaner things,
But they are not my God.

VI

How vain a toy is glittering wealth,
If once compar'd to thee;
Or what's my safety, or my health,
Or all my friends to me?

VII

Were I possessor of the earth,
And call'd the stars my own,
Without thy graces and thyself,
I were a wretch undone.

VIII

Let others stretch their arms like seas,
And grasp in all the shore,
Grant me the visits of thy face,
And I desire no more.

HYMN 95. (C. M.) Look on him whom they pierced, and mourn.

I

Infinite grief! amazing woe!
Behold my bleeding Lord:
Hell and the Jews conspir'd his death,
And us'd the Roman sword.

II

Oh, the sharp pangs of smarting pain
My dear Redeemer bore,
When knotty whips and ragged thorns
His sacred body tore!

III

But knotty whips and ragged thorns
In vain do I accuse,
In vain I blame the Roman bands,
And the more spiteful Jews.

IV

'Twere you, my sins, my cruel sins,
His chief tormentors were;
Each of my crimes became a nail,
And unbelief the spear.

V

'Twere you that pull'd the vengeance down
Upon his guiltless head:
Break, break, my heart, Oh burst mine eyes,
And let my sorrows bleed.

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VI

Strike, mighty grace, my flinty soul
Till melting waters flow,
And deep repentance drown mine eyes
In undissembled woe.

HYMN 96. (C. M.) Distinguishing Love; or, Angels punished, and Man saved.

I

Down headlong from their native skies
The rebel angels fell,
And thunderbolts of flaming wrath
Pursu'd them deep to hell.

II

Down from the top of earthly bliss
Rebellious man was hurl'd;
And Jesus stoop'd beneath the grave
To reach a sinking world.

III

O love of infinite degree!
Unmeasurable grace!
Must heaven's eternal darling die
To save a traitorous race?

IV

Must angels sink for ever down,
And burn in quenchless fire,
While God forsakes his shining throne
To raise us wretches higher?

V

O for this love let earth and skies
With hallejahs ring,
And the full choir of human tongue
All hallelujah sing.

HYMN 97. (L. M.) The same.

[From heaven the sinning angels fell]

I

From heaven the sinning angels fell,
And wrath and darkness chain'd them down;
But man, vile man, forsook his bliss,
And mercy lifts him to a crown.

II

Amazing work of sovereign grace
That could distinguish rebels so!
Our guilty treasons call'd aloud
For everlasting fetters too.

III

To thee, to thee, almighty love,
Our souls, ourselves, our all we pay:
Millions of tongues shall sound thy praise
On the bright hills of heavenly day.

HYMN 98. (C. M.) Hardness of Heart complained of.

I

My heart, how dreadful hard it is!
How heavy here it lies,
Heavy and cold within my breast,
Just like a rock of ice!

II

Sin like a raging tyrant sits
Upon this flinty throne,
And every grace lies bury'd deep
Beneath this heart of stone.

III

How seldom do I rise to God,
Or taste the joys above!
This mountain presses down my faith,
And chills my flaming love.

IV

When smiling mercy courts my soul
With all its heavenly charms,
This stubborn, this relentless thing
Would thrust it from my arms.

V

Against the thunders of thy word
Rebellious I have stood,
My heart it shakes not at the wrath
And terrors of a God.

VI

Dear Saviour, steep this rock of mine
In thine own crimson sea:
None but a bath of blood divine
Can melt the flint away.

HYMN 99. (C. M.) The Book of God's Decrees.

I

Let the whole race of creatures lie
Abas'd before their God:
Whate'er his sovereign voice hath form'd
He governs with a nod.

II

Ten thousand ages ere the skies
Were into motion brought,
All the long years and worlds to come
Stood present to his thought.

III

There's not a sparrow or a worm
But's found in his decrees;
He raises monarchs to their thrones,
And sinks them as he please.

IV

If light attends the course I run,
'Tis he provides those rays;
And 'tis his hand that hides my sun,
If darkness cloud my days.

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V

Yet I would not be much concern'd,
Nor vainly long to see
The volume of his deep decrees,
What months are writ for me.

VI

When he reveals the book of life,
O may I read my name
Amongst the chosen of his love,
The followers of the Lamb!

HYMN 100. (L. M.) The Presence of Christ is the Life of my Soul.

I

How full of anguish is the thought,
How it distracts and tears my heart,
If God at last my sovereign judge,
Should frown, and bid my soul, ‘Depart!’

II

Lord, when I quit this earthly stage,
Where shall I fly but to thy breast?
For I have sought no other home;
For I have learn't no other rest.

III

I cannot live contented here,
Without some glimpses of thy face;
And heaven without thy presence there
Would be a dark and tiresome place.

IV

When earthly cares engross the day,
And hold my thoughts aside from thee,
The shining hours of cheerful light
Are long and tedious years to me.

V

And if no evening visit's paid
Between my Saviour and my soul,
How dull the night! how sad the shade!
How mournfully the minutes roll!

VI

This flesh of mine might learn as soon
To live, yet part with all my blood;
To breathe when vital air is gone,
Or thrive and grow without my food.

VII

Christ is my light, my life, my care,
My blessed hope, my heavenly prize,
Dearer than all my passions are,
My limbs, my bowels, or my eyes.

VIII

The strings that twine about my heart,
Tortures and racks may tear them off,
But they can never, never part
With their dear hold of Christ my love.

IX

My God! and can an humble child
That loves thee with a flame so high,
Be ever from thy face exil'd
Without the pity of thine eye?

X

Impossible—For thine own hands
Have ty'd my heart so fast to thee;
And in thy book the promise stands,
That where thou art thy friends must be.

HYMN 101. (C. M.) The World's three chief Temptations.

I

When in the light of faith divine
We look on things below,
Honour, and gold, and sensual joy,
How vain and dangerous too!

II

Honour's a puff of noisy breath;
Yet men expose their blood,
And venture everlasting death
To gain that airy good

III

Whilst others starve the nobler mind,
And feed on shining dust,
They rob the serpent of his food
T'indulge a sordid lust.

IV

The pleasures that allure our sense
Are dangerous snares to souls;
There's but a drop of flattering sweet,
And dash'd with bitter bowls.

V

God is mine all-sufficient good,
My portion and my choice;
In him my vast desires are fill'd,
And all my powers rejoice

VI

In vain the world accosts my ear,
And tempts my heart anew;
I cannot buy your bliss so dear,
Nor part with heaven for you.

HYMN 102. (L. M.) A happy Resurrection.

I

No, I'll repine at death no more,
But with a cheerful gasp resign
To the cold dungeon of the grave
These dying withering limbs of mine.

II

Let worms devour my wasting flesh,
And crumble all my bones to dust,
My God shall raise my frame anew
At the revival of the just.

III

Break, sacred morning, thro' the skies,
Bring that delightful, dreadful day,
Cut short the hours, dear Lord, and come,
Thy lingering wheels, how long they stay!

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IV

Our weary spirits faint to see
The light of thy returning face,
And hear the language of those lips
Where God has shed his richest grace.

V

Haste then upon the wings of love,
Rouse all the pious sleeping clay,
That we may join in heavenly joys,
And sing the triumph of the day.

HYMN 103. (C. M.) Christ's Commission, John iii. 16, 17.

I

Come, happy souls, approach your God
With new melodious songs;
Come, render to almighty grace
The tribute of your tongues.

II

So strange, so boundless was the love
That pity'd dying men,
The Father sent his equal Son
To give them life again.

III

Thy hands, dear Jesus, were not arm'd
With a revenging rod,
No hard commission to perform
The vengeance of a God.

IV

But all was mercy, all was mild,
And wrath forsook the throne,
When Christ on the kind errand came,
And brought salvation down.

V

Here, sinners, you may heal your wounds,
And wipe your sorrows dry;
Trust in the mighty Saviour's name,
And you shall never die.

VI

See, dearest Lord, our willing souls
Accept thine offer'd grace;
We bless the great Redeemer's love,
And give the Father praise.

HYMN 104. (S. M.) The same.

[Raise your triumphant songs]

I

Raise your triumphant songs
To an immortal tune,
Let the wide earth resound the deeds
Celestial grace has done.

II

Sing how eternal love
Its chief beloved chose,
And bid him raise our wretched race
From their abyss of woes.

III

His hand no thunder bears,
Nor terror clothes his brow,
No bolts to drive our guilty souls
To fiercer flames below.

IV

'Twas mercy fill'd the throne,
And wrath stood silent by,
When Christ was sent with pardons down
To rebels doom'd to die.

V

Now, sinners, dry your tears,
Let hopeless sorrow cease;
Bow to the sceptre of his love,
And take the offer'd peace.

VI

Lord, we obey thy call;
We lay an humble claim
To the salvation thou hast brought,
And love and praise thy name.

HYMN 105. (C. M.) Repentance flowing from the Patience of God,

I

And are we wretches yet alive?
And do we yet rebel?
'Tis boundless, 'tis amazing love
That bears us up from hell!

II

The burden of our weighty guilt
Would sink us down to flames,
And threatening vengeance rolls above
To crush our feeble frames.

III

Almighty goodness cries, ‘Forbear;’
And straight the thunder stays;
And dare we now provoke his wrath,
And weary out his grace?

IV

Lord, we have long abus'd thy love,
Too long indulg'd our sin;
Our aching hearts e'en bleed to see
What rebels we have been.

V

No more, ye lusts, shall ye command,
No more will we obey;
Stretch out. O God, thy conquering hand,
And drive thy foes away.

HYMN 106. (C. M.) Repentance at the Cross.

I

Oh, if my soul was form'd for woe,
How would I vent my sighs!
Repentance should like rivers flow
From both my streaming eyes.

329

II

'Twas for my sins my dearest Lord
Hung on the cursed tree,
And groan'd away a dying life
For thee, my soul, for thee.

III

O how I hate those lusts of mine
That crucify'd my God,
Those sins that pierc'd and nail'd his flesh
Fast to the fatal wood!

IV

Yes, my Redeemer, they shall die,
My heart has so decreed,
Nor will I spare the guilty things
That made my Saviour bleed.

V

Whilst with a melting broken heart
My murder'd Lord I view,
I'll raise revenge against my sins,
And slay the murderers too.

HYMN 107. (C. M.) The everlasting Absence of God intolerable.

I

That awful day will surely come,
Th'appointed hour makes haste,
When I must stand before my Judge,
And pass the solemn test.

II

Thou lovely chief of all my joys;
Thou sovereign of my heart,
How could I bear to hear thy voice
Pronounce the sound, ‘Depart?’

III

The thunder of that dismal word
Would so torment my ear,
'Twould tear my soul asunder, Lord,
With most tormenting fear.

IV

What, to be banish'd for my life,
And yet forbid to die!
To linger in eternal pain,
Yet death for ever fly!

V

Oh, wretched state of deep despair,
To see my God remove,
And fix my doleful station where
I must not taste his love.

VI

Jesus, I throw my arms around,
And hang upon thy breast;
Without a gracious smile from thee
My spirit cannot rest.

VII

O tell me that my worthless name
Is graven on thy hands;
Shew me some promise in thy book
Where my salvation stands!

VIII

Give me one kind assuring word
To sink my fears again;
And cheerfully my soul shall wait
Her threescore years and ten.

HYMN 108. (C. M.) Access to the Throne of Grace by a Mediator.

I

Come let us lift our joyful eyes
Up to the courts above,
And smile to see our Father there
Upon a throne of love.

II

Once 'twas a seat of dreadful wrath,
And shot devouring flame;
Our God appear'd consuming fire,
And vengeance was his name.

III

Rich were the drops of Jesus' blood
That calm'd his frowning face,
That sprinkled o'er the burning throne,
And turn'd the wrath to grace.

IV

Now we may bow before his feet,
And venture near the Lord;
No fiery cherub guards his seat,
Nor double flaming sword.

V

The peaceful gates of heavenly bliss
Are open'd by the Son;
High let us raise our notes of praise,
And reach the almighty throne.

VI

To thee ten thousand thanks we bring,
Great Advocate on high:
And glory to th'Eternal King
That lays his fury by.

HYMN 109. (L. M.) The Darkness of Providence.

I

Lord, we adore thy vast designs,
The obscure abyss of providence,
Too deep to sound with mortal lines,
Too dark to view with feeble sense.

II

Now thou arrayst thine awful face
In angry frowns, without a smile;
We through the cloud believe thy grace,
Secure of thy compassion still.

III

Through seas and storms of deep distress
We sail by faith and not by sight;
Faith guides us in the wilderness
Through all the briars and the night.

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IV

Dear Father, if thy lifted rod
Resolve to scourge us here below,
Still we must lean upon our God,
Thine arm shall bear us safely through.

HYMN 110. (S. M.) Triumph over Death in Hope of the Resurrection.

I

And must this body die?
This mortal frame decay?
And must these active limbs of mine
Lie mouldering in the clay?

II

Corruption, earth, and worms,
Shall but refine this flesh,
Till my triumphant spirit comes
To put it on afresh.

III

God my Redeemer lives,
And often from the skies
Looks down and watches all my dust
Till he shall bid it rise.

IV

Array'd in glorious grace
Shall these vile bodies shine,
And every shape and every face
Look heavenly and divine.

V

These lively hopes we owe
To Jesus' dying love;
We would adore his grace below,
And sing his power above.

VI

Dear Lord, accept the praise
Of these our humble songs,
Till tunes of nobler sound we raise
With our immortal tongues.

HYMN 111. (C. M.) Thanksgiving for Victory; or, God's Dominion and our Deliverance.

I

Zion rejoice, and Judah sing;
The Lord assumes his throne;
Let Britain own the heavenly King,
And make his glories known.

II

The great, the wicked, and the proud,
From their high seats are hurl'd;
Jehovah rides upon a cloud,
And thunders through the world.

III

He reigns upon the eternal hills,
Distributes mortal crowns,
Empires are fix'd beneath his smiles,
And totter at his frowns.

IV

Navies that rule the ocean wide
Are vanquish'd by his breath;
And legions arm'd with power and pride
Descend to watery death.

V

Let tyrants make no more pretence
To vex our happy land;
Jehovah's name is our defence,
Our buckler is his hand.

VI

Long may the King our sovereign live
To rule us by his word;
And all the honours he can give
Be offer'd to the Lord.

HYMN 112. (L. M.) Angels ministring to Christ and Saints.

I

Great God, to what a glorious height
Hast thou advanc'd the Lord thy Son!
Angels, in all their robes of light,
Are made the servants of his throne.

II

Before his feet their armies wait,
And swift as flames of fire they move
To manage his affairs of state,
In works of vengeance or of love.

III

His orders run through all their hosts,
Legions descend at his command
To shield and guard the British coasts
When foreign rage invades our land.

IV

Now they are sent to guide our feet
Up to the gates of thine abode,
Through all the dangers that we meet
In travelling the heavenly road.

V

Lord, when I leave this mortal ground,
And thou shalt bid me rise and come,
Send a beloved angel down
Safe to conduct my spirit home.

HYMN 113. (C. M.) The same.

[The majesty of Solomon!]

I

The majesty of Solomon!
How glorious to behold
The servants waiting round his throne,
The ivory and the gold!

II

But, mighty God, thy palace shines
With far superior beams;
Thine angel guards are swift as winds,
Thy ministers are flames.

331

III

Soon as thine only Son had made
His entrance on this earth,
A shining army downward fled
To celebrate his birth.

IV

And when oppress'd with pains and fears
On the cold ground he lies,
Behold a heavenly form appears
T'allay his agonies.

V

Now to the hands of Christ our King
Are all their legions given;
They wait upon his saints, and bring
His chosen heirs to heaven.

VI

Pleasure and praise run through their host
To see a sinner turn;
Then Satan has a captive lost,
And Christ a subject born.

VII

But there's an hour of brighter joy
When he his angels sends
Obstinate rebels to destroy,
And gather in his friends.

VIII

O! could I say, without a doubt,
There shall my soul be found,
Then let the great archangel shout,
And the last trumpet sound.

HYMN 114. (C. M.) Christ's Death, Victory, and Dominion.

I

I sing my Saviour's wondrous death;
He conquer'd when he fell:
‘'Tis finish'd,’ said his dying breath,
And shook the gates of hell.

II

‘'Tis finish'd,’ our Immanuel cries,
The dreadful work is done;
Hence shall his sovereign throne arise,
His kingdom is begun.

III

His cross a sure foundation laid
For glory and renown,
When thro' the regions of the dead
He pass'd to reach the crown.

IV

Exalted at his Father's side
Sits our victorious Lord;
To heaven and hell his hands divide
The vengeance or reward.

V

The saints from his propitious eye
Await their several crowns,
And all the sons of darkness fly
The terror of his frowns.

HYMN 115. (C. M.) God the Avenger of his Saints; or, his Kingdom supreme.

I

High as the heavens above the ground
Reigns the Creator, God;
Wide as the whole creation's bound
Extends his awful rod.

II

Let princes of exalted state
To him ascribe their crown,
Render their homage at his feet,
And cast their glories down.

III

Know that his kingdom is supreme,
Your lofty thoughts are vain;
He calls you gods, that awful name,
But ye must die like men.

IV

Then let the sovereigns of the globe
Nor dare to vex the just;
He puts on vengeance like a robe,
And treads the worms to dust.

V

Ye judges of the earth, be wise,
And think on heaven with fear;
The meanest saint that you despise
Has an avenger there.

HYMN 116. (C. M.) Mercies and Thanks.

I

How can I sink with such a prop
As my eternal God,
Who bears the earth's huge pillars up,
And spreads the heavens abroad?

II

How can I die while Jesus lives,
Who rose and left the dead?
Pardon and grace my soul receives
From mine exalted head.

III

All that I am, and all I have
Shall be for ever thine,
Whate'er my duty bids me give,
My cheerful hands resign.

VI

Yet if I might make some reserve,
And duty did not call,
I love my God with zeal so great
That I should give him all.

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HYMN 117. (L. M.) Living and dying with God present.

I

I cannot bear thine absence, Lord,
My life expires if thou depart;
Be thou, my heart, still near my God,
And thou, my God, be near my heart.

II

I was not born for earth and sin,
Nor can I live on things so vile;
Yet I would stay my Father's time,
And hope and wait for heaven awhile.

III

Then, dearest Lord, in thine embrace
Let me resign my fleeting breath,
And with a smile upon my face
Pass the important hour of death.

HYMN 118. (L. M.) The Priesthood of Christ.

I

Blood has a voice to pierce the skies,
Revenge, the blood of Abel cries;
But the dear stream when Christ was slain
Speaks peace as loud from every vein.

II

Pardon and peace from God on high,
Behold he lays his vengeance by,
And rebels that deserv'd his sword,
Become the favourites of the Lord.

III

To Jesus let our praises rise
Who gave his life a sacrifice;
Now he appears before his God,
And for our pardon pleads his blood.

HYMN 119. (C. M.) The Holy Scriptures.

I

Laden with guilt, and full of fears,
I fly to thee, my Lord,
And not a glimpse of hope appears
But in thy written word.

II

The volume of my Father's grace
Does all my griefs assuage:
Here I behold my Saviour's face
Almost in every page.

III

This is the field were hidden lies
The pearl of price unknown,
That merchant is divinely wise,
Who makes the pearl his own.

IV

Here consecrated water flows
To quench my thirst of sin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
Nor danger dwells therein.

V

This is the judge that ends the strife,
Where wit and reason fail;
My guide to everlasting life
Through all this gloomy vale.

VI

O may thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to thy right hand.

HYMN 120. (S. M.) The Law and Gospel joined in Scripture.

I

The Lord declares his will,
And keeps the world in awe;
Amidst the smoke on Sinai's hill
Breaks out his fiery law.

II

The Lord reveals his face,
And smiling from above
Sends down the gospel of his grace,
Th'epistles of his love.

III

These sacred words impart
Our Maker's just commands;
The pity of his melting heart,
And vengeance of his hands.

IV

Hence we awake our fear,
We draw our comfort hence;
The arms of grace are treasur'd here,
And armour of defence.

V

We learn Christ crucify'd,
And here behold his blood;
All arts and knowledges beside
Will do us little good.

VI

We read the heavenly word,
We take the offer'd grace,
Obey the statutes of the Lord,
And trust his promises.

VII

In vain shall Satan rage
Against a book divine;
Where wrath and lightning guard the page,
Where beams of mercy shine.

333

HYMN 121. (L. M.) The Law and Gospel distinguished.

I

The law commands, and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But 'tis the gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do his will.

II

The law discovers guilt and sin,
And shews how vile our hearts have been;
Only the gospel can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

III

What curses doth the law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.

IV

My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law,
Fly to the hope the gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

HYMN 122. (L. M.) Retirement and Meditation.

I

My God, permit me not to be
A stranger to myself and thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove
Forgetful of my highest love.

II

Why should my passions mix with earth,
And thus debase my heavenly birth?
Why should I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour go.

III

Call me away from flesh and sense,
One sovereign word can draw me thence;
I would obey the voice divine,
And all inferior joys resign.

IV

Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn,
Let noise and vanity be gone;
In secret silence of the mind
My heaven, and there my God I find.

HYMN 123. (L. M.) The Benefit of public Ordinances.

I

Away from every mortal care,
Away from earth our souls retreat;
We leave this worthless world afar,
And wait and worship near thy seat.

II

Lord, in the temple of thy grace
We see thy feet, and we adore;
We gaze upon thy lovely face,
And learn the wonders of thy power.

III

While here our various wants we mourn,
United groans ascend on high,
And prayer bears a quick return
Of blessings in variety.

IV

If Satan rage and sin grow strong,
Here we receive some cheering word;
We gird the gospel-armour on
To fight the battles of the Lord.

V

Or if our spirit faints and dies,
(Our conscience gall'd with inward stings)
Here doth the righteous Sun arise
With healing beams beneath his wings.

VI

Father, my soul would still abide
Within thy temple, near thy side;
But if my feet must hence depart
Still keep thy dwelling in my heart.

HYMN 124. (C. M.) Moses Aaron and Joshua.

I

'Tis not the law of ten commands
On holy Sinai given,
Or sent to men by Moses' hands,
Can bring us safe to heaven.

II

'Tis not the blood which Aaron spilt,
Nor smoke of sweetest smell,
Can buy a pardon for our guilt,
Or save our souls from hell.

III

Aaron the priest resigns his breath
At God's immediate will;
And in the desert yields to death
Upon th'appointed hill.

IV

And thus on Jordan's yonder side
The tribes of Israel stand,
While Moses bow'd his head and dy'd
Short of the promis'd land.

V

Israel rejoice, now Joshua leads,
He'll bring your tribes to rest;
So far the Saviour's name exceeds
The ruler and the priest.
 

Joshua, the same with Jesus, and signifies a Saviour.


334

HYMN 125. (L. M.) Faith and Repentance; Unbelief and Impenitence.

I

Life and immortal joys are given
To souls that mourn the sins they've done,
Children of wrath made heirs of heaven
By faith in God's eternal Son.

II

Wo to the wretch that never felt
The inward pangs of pious grief,
But adds to all his crying guilt
The stubborn sin of unbelief.

III

The law condemns the rebel dead,
Under the wrath of God he lies,
He seals the curse on his own head,
And with a double vengeance dies.

HYMN 126. (C. M.) God glorified in the Gospel.

I

The Lord, descending from above,
Invites his children near,
While power and truth and boundless love
Display their glories here.

II

Here in thy gospel's wondrous frame
Fresh wisdom we pursue;
A thousand angels learn thy name
Beyond whate'er they knew.

III

Thy name is writ in fairest lines,
Thy wonders here we trace;
Wisdom thro' all the mystery shines,
And shines in Jesus' face.

IV

The law its best obedience owes
To our incarnate God;
And thy revenging justice shows
Its honours in his blood.

V

But still the lustre of thy grace
Our warmer thoughts employs,
Gilds the whole scene with brighter rays,
And more exalts our joys.

HYMN 127. (L. M.) Circumcision and Baptism.

(Written only for those who practise the Baptism of Infants.)

I

Thus did the sons of Abrah'm pass
Under the bloody seal of grace;
The young disciples bore the yoke,
Till Christ the painful bondage broke.

II

By milder ways doth Jesus prove
His Father's covenant, and his love;
He seals to saints his glorious grace,
And not forbids their infant-race.

III

Their seed is sprinkled with his blood,
Their children set apart for God,
His spirit on their offspring shed,
Like water pour'd upon the head.

IV

Let every saint with cheerful voice
In this large covenant rejoice;
Young children in their early days
Shall give the God of Abrah'm praise.

HYMN 128. (C. M.) Corrupt Nature from Adam.

I

Bless'd with the joy of innocence
Adam, our father, stood,
Till he debas'd his soul to sense,
And eat th'unlawful food.

II

Now we are born a sensual race,
To sinful joys inclin'd;
Reason has lost its native place,
And flesh enslaves the mind.

III

While flesh and sense and passion reigns,
Sin is the sweetest good:
We fancy music in our chains,
And so forget the load.

IV

Great God renew our ruin'd frame,
Our broken powers restore,
Inspire us with a heavenly flame,
And flesh shall reign no more.

V

Eternal Spirit, write thy law
Upon our inward parts,
And let the second Adam draw
His image on our hearts.

HYMN 129. (L. M.) We walk by Faith, not by Sight.

I

'Tis by the faith of joys to come
We walk thro' deserts dark as night:
Till we arrive at heaven our home,
Faith is our guide, and faith our light.

II

The want of sight she well supplies,
She makes the pearly gates appear;
Far into distant worlds she pries,
And brings eternal glories near.

335

III

Cheerful we tread the desert thro',
While faith inspires a heavenly ray,
Tho' lions roar, and tempests blow,
And rocks and dangers fill the way.

IV

So Abrah'm by divine command
Left his own house to walk with God;
His faith beheld the promis'd land,
And fir'd his zeal along the road.

HYMN 130. (C. M.) The new Creation.

I

Attend, while God's exalted Son
Doth his own glories shew;
‘Behold I sit upon my throne
‘Creating all things new.

II

‘Nature and sin are pass'd away,
‘And the old Adam dies;
‘My hands a new foundation lay,
‘See the new world arise.

III

‘I'll be a sun of righteousness
‘To the new heavens I make;
‘None but the new-born heirs of grace
‘My glories shall partake.’

IV

Mighty Redeemer, set me free
From my whole state of sin;
O make my soul alive to thee,
Create new powers within.

V

Renew mine eyes, and form mine ears,
And mould my heart afresh;
Give me new passions, joys and fears,
And turn the stone to flesh.

VI

Far from the regions of the dead,
From sin, and earth, and hell,
In the new world that grace has made
I would for ever dwell.

HYMN 131. (L. M.) The excellency of the Christian Religion.

I

Let everlasting glories crown
Thy head, my Saviour and my Lord;
Thy hands have brought salvation down,
And writ the blessings in thy word.

II

What if we trace the globe around,
And search from Britain to Japan,
There shall be no religion found
So just to God, so safe for man.

III

In vain the trembling conscience seeks
Some solid ground to rest upon;
With long despair the spirit breaks,
Till we apply to Christ alone.

IV

How well thy blessed truths agree!
How wise and holy thy commands!
Thy promises how firm they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stands!

V

Not the feign'd fields of heathenish bliss
Could raise such pleasures in the mind;
Nor does the Turkish paradise
Pretend to joys so well refin'd.

VI

Should all the forms that men devise
Assault my faith with treacherous art,
I'd call them vanity and lies,
And bind the gospel to my heart.

HYMN 132. (C. M.) The Offices of Christ.

I

We bless the Prophet of the Lord,
That comes with truth and grace;
Jesus, thy Spirit and thy word
Shall lead us in thy ways.

II

We reverence our High Priest above,
Who offer'd up his blood,
And lives to carry on his love,
By pleading with our God.

III

We honour our exalted King,
How sweet are his commands!
He guards our souls from hell and sin
By his almighty hands.

IV

Hosanna to his glorious name,
Who saves by different ways;
His mercies lay a sovereign claim
To our immortal praise.

HYMN 133. (L. M.) The Operations of the Holy Spirit.

I

Eternal Spirit! we confess
And sing the wonders of thy grace;
Thy power conveys our blessings down
From God the Father and the Son.

II

Enlighten'd by thine heavenly ray,
Our shades and darkness turn to day;
Thine inward teachings make us know
Our danger and our refuge too.

336

III

Thy power and glory works within,
And breaks the chains of raging sin,
Doth our imperious lusts subdue,
And forms our wretched hearts anew.

IV

The troubled conscience knows thy voice,
Thy cheering words awake our joys;
Thy words allay the stormy wind;
And calm the surges of the mind.

HYMN 134. (C. M.) Circumcision abolished.

I

The promise was divinely free,
Extensive was the grace;
‘I will the God of Abrah'm be,
‘And of his numerous race.’

II

He said; and with a bloody seal
Confirm'd the words he spoke;
Long did the sons of Abrah'm feel
The sharp and painful yoke.

III

Till God's own Son, descending low,
Gave his own flesh to bleed;
And gentiles taste the blessing now,
From the hard bondage freed.

IV

The God of Abrah'm claims our praise,
His promises endure,
And Christ the Lord in gentler ways
Makes the salvation sure.

HYMN 135. (L. M.) Types and Prophecies of Christ.

I

Behold the woman's promis'd seed!
Behold the great Messiah come!
Behold the prophets all agreed
To give him the superior room!

II

Abrah'm the saint rejoic'd of old
When visions of the Lord he saw;
Moses the man of God foretold
This great fulfiller of his law.

III

The types bore witness to his name,
Obtain'd their chief design, and ceas'd;
The incense and the bleeding lamb,
The ark, the altar, and the priest.

IV

Predictions in abundance meet
To join their blessings on his head;
Jesus, we worship at thy feet,
And nations own the promis'd seed.

HYMN 136. (L. M.) Miracles at the Birth of Christ.

I

The King of Glory sends his Son
To make his entrance on this earth!
Behold the midnight bright as noon,
And heavenly hosts declare his birth!

II

About the young Redeemer's head
What wonders and what glories meet!
An unknown star arose and led
The eastern sages to his feet.

III

Simeon and Anna both conspire
The infant-saviour to proclaim;
Inward they felt the sacred fire,
And bless'd the babe, and own'd his name.

IV

Let Jews and Greeks blaspheme aloud,
And treat the holy child with scorn;
Our souls adore th'eternal God
Who condescended to be born.

HYMN 137. (L. M.) Miracles in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Christ.

I

Behold the blind their sight receive;
Behold the dead awake and live;
The dumb speak wonders, and the lame
Leap like the hart and bless his name.

II

Thus doth th'eternal Spirit own
And seal the mission of the Son;
The Father vindicates his cause
While he hangs bleeding on the cross.

III

He dies; the heavens in mourning stood;
He rises, and appears a God;
Behold the Lord ascending high,
No more to bleed, no more to die.

IV

Hence and for ever from my heart
I bid my doubts and fears depart,
And to those hands my soul resign
Which bear credentials so divine.

HYMN 138. (L. M.) The Power of the Gospel.

I

This is the word of truth and love,
Sent to the nations from above;
Jehovah here resolves to shew
What his almighty grace can do.

337

II

This remedy did wisdom find
To heal diseases of the mind;
This sovereign balm, whose virtues can
Restore the ruin'd creature, man.

III

The gospel bids the dead revive,
Sinners obey the voice, and live;
Dry bones are rais'd and cloth'd afresh,
And hearts of stone are turn'd to flesh.

IV

Where Satan reign'd in shades of night
The gospel strikes a heavenly light;
Our lusts its wondrous power controls,
And calms the rage of angry souls.

V

Lions and beasts of savage name
Put on the nature of the lamb;
Whilst the wild world esteems it strange,
Gaze, and admire, and hate the change.

VI

May but this grace my soul renew,
Let sinners gaze, and hate me too;
The word that saves me does engage
A sure defence from all their rage.

HYMN 139. (L. M.) The Example of Christ.

I

My dear Redeemer and my Lord,
I read my duty in thy word,
But in thy life the law appears
Drawn out in living characters.

II

Such was thy truth, and such thy zeal,
Such deference to thy Father's will,
Such love, and meekness so divine,
I would transcribe and make them mine.

III

Cold mountains and the midnight air
Witness the fervor of thy prayer:
The desert thy temptations knew,
Thy conflict and thy victory too.

IV

Be thou my pattern; make me bear
More of thy gracious image here;
Then God the Judge shall own my name,
Amongst the followers of the Lamb.

HYMN 140. (C. M.) The Examples of Christ and the Saints.

I

Give me the wings of faith to rise
Within the vail, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.

II

Once they were mourning here below,
And wet their couch with tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins, and doubts, and fears.

III

I ask them whence their victory came,
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to his death.

IV

They mark'd the footsteps that he trod,
(His zeal inspir'd their breast;)
And following their incarnate God
Possess the promis'd rest.

V

Our glorious leader claims our praise
For his own pattern given,
While the long cloud of witnesses
Shew the same path to heaven.

HYMN 141. (C. M.) Faith assisted by Sense; or, Preaching, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.

I

My Saviour-God, my Sovereign-Prince
Reigns far above the skies;
But brings his graces down to sense,
And helps my faith to rise.

II

My eyes and ears shall bless his name,
They read and hear his word;
My touch and taste shall do the same
When they receive the Lord.

III

Baptismal water is design'd
To seal his cleansing grace,
While at his feast of bread and wine
He gives his saints a place.

IV

But not the waters of a flood
Can make my flesh so clean,
As by his Spirit and his blood
He'll wash my soul from sin.

V

Not choicest meats, or noblest wines
So much my heart refresh,
As when my faith goes thro' the signs
And feeds upon his flesh.

VI

I love the Lord that stoops so low
To give his word a seal;
But the rich grace his hands bestow
Exceeds the figures still.

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HYMN 142. (S. M.) Faith in Christ our Sacrifice.

I

Not all the blood of beasts
On jewish altars slain
Could give the guilty conscience peace,
Or wash away the stain.

II

But Christ the heavenly Lamb
Takes all our sins away;
A sacrifice of nobler name
And richer blood than they.

III

My faith would lay her hand
On that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand
And there confess my sin.

IV

My soul looks back to see
The burdens thou didst bear
When hanging on the cursed tree,
And hopes her guilt was there.

V

Believing we rejoice
To see the curse remove;
We bless the Lamb with cheerful voice,
And sing his bleeding love.

HYMN 143. (C. M.) Flesh and Spirit.

I

What different powers of grace and sin
Attend our mortal state!
I hate the thoughts that work within,
And do the works I hate.

II

Now I complain, and groan, and die,
While sin and Satan reign:
Now raise my songs of triumph high,
For grace prevails again.

III

So darkness struggles with the light
Till perfect day arise
Water and fire maintain the fight
Until the weaker dies.

IV

Thus will the flesh and spirit strive,
And vex and break my peace;
But I shall quit this mortal life,
And sin for ever cease.

HYMN 144. (L. M.) The Effusion of the Spirit; or, the Success of the Gospel.

I

Great was the day, the joy was great,
When the divine disciples met;
Whilst on their heads the Spirit came,
And sat like tongues of cloven flame.

II

What gifts, what miracles he gave!
And power to kill, and power to save!
Furnish'd their tongues with wondrous words
Instead of shields, and spears, and swords.

III

Thus arm'd, he sent the champions forth
From east to west, from south to north;
‘Go, and assert your Saviour's cause,
‘Go, spread the mystery of his cross.’

IV

These weapons of the holy war,
Of what almighty force they are
To make our stubborn passions bow,
And lay the proudest rebel low!

V

Nations, the learned and the rude,
Are by these heavenly arms subdu'd;
While Satan rages at his loss,
And hates the doctrine of the cross.

VI

Great King of grace, my heart subdue,
I would be led in triumph too,
A willing captive to my Lord,
And sing the victories of his word.

HYMN 145. (C. M.) Sight through a Glass, and Face to Face.

I

I love the windows of thy grace
Through which my Lord is seen,
And long to meet my Saviour's face
Without a glass between.

II

O that the happy hour were come
To change my faith to sight!
I shall behold my Lord at home
In a diviner light.

III

Haste, my beloved, and remove
These interposing days;
Then shall my passions all be love,
And all my powers be praise.

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HYMN 146. (L. M.) The Vanity of Creatures; or, no Rest on Earth.

I

Man has a soul of vast desires,
He burns within with restless fires,
Tost to and fro, his passions fly
From vanity to vanity.

II

In vain on earth we hope to find
Some solid good to fill the mind,
We try new pleasures, but we feel
The inward thirst and torment still.

III

So when a raging fever burns,
We shift from side to side by turns,
And 'tis a poor relief we gain
To change the place but keep the pain.

IV

Great God, subdue this vicious thirst,
This love to vanity and dust;
Cure the vile fever of the mind,
And feed our souls with joys refin'd.

HYMN 147. (C. M.) The Creation of the World, Gen. i.

I

Now let a spacious world arise,’
Said the Creator-Lord:
At once the obedient earth and skies
Rose at his sovereign word.

II

Dark was the deep; the waters lay
Confus'd and drown'd the land:
He call'd the light; the new-born day
Attends on his command.

III

He bids the clouds ascend on high;
The clouds ascend and bear
A watery treasure to the sky,
And float on softer air.

IV

The liquid element below
Was gather'd by his hand;
The rolling seas together flow,
And leave the solid land.

V

With herbs and plants, a flowery birth,
The naked globe he crown'd,
Ere there was rain to bless the earth,
Or sun to warm the ground.

VI

Then he adorn'd the upper skies;
Behold the sun appears,
The moon and stars in order rise
To make our months and years.

VII

Out of the deep th'almighty King
Did vital beings frame,
The painted fowls of every wing,
And fish of every name.

VIII

He gave the lion and the worm
At once their wondrous birth,
And grazing beasts of various form
Rose from the teeming earth.

IX

Adam was fram'd of equal clay,
Though sovereign of the rest,
Design'd for nobler ends than they,
With God's own image bless'd.

X

Thus glorious in the Maker's eye
The young creation stood;
He saw the building from on high,
His word pronounc'd it good.

XI

Lord, while the frame of nature stands,
Thy praise shall fill my tongue;
But the new world of grace demands
A more exalted song.

HYMN 148. (C. M.) God reconciled in Christ.

I

Dearest of all the names above,
My Jesus, and my God,
Who can resist thy heavenly love,
Or trifle with thy blood?

II

'Tis by the merits of thy death
The Father smiles again;
'Tis by thine interceding breath
The Spirit dwells with men.

III

Till God in human flesh I see,
My thoughts no comfort find;
The holy, just, and sacred Three
Are terrors to my mind.

IV

But if Immanuel's face appear,
My hope, my joy begins;
His name forbids my slavish fear,
His grace removes my sins.

V

While Jews on their own law rely,
And Greeks of wisdom boast,
I love th'incarnate mystery,
And there I fix my trust.

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HYMN 149. (C. M.) Honour to Magistrates; or, Government from God.

I

Eternal Sovereign of the sky,
And Lord of all below,
We mortals to thy majesty
Our first obedience owe.

II

Our souls adore thy throne supreme,
And bless thy providence
For magistrates of meaner name,
Our glory and defence.

III

The crowns of British princes shine
With rays above the rest,
Where laws and liberties combine
To make the nation bless'd.

IV

Kingdoms on firm foundations stand,
While virtue finds reward;
And sinners perish from the land
By justice and the sword.

V

Let Cæsar's due be ever paid
To Cæsar and his throne,
But consciences and souls were made
To be the Lord's alone.

HYMN 150. (C. M.) The Deceitfulness of Sin.

I

Sin has a thousand treacherous arts
To practise on the mind;
With flattering looks she tempts our hearts,
But leaves a sting behind.

II

With names of virtue she deceives
The aged and the young;
And while the heedless wretch believes,
She makes his fetters strong.

III

She pleads for all the joys she brings,
And gives a fair pretence;
But cheats the soul of heavenly things,
And chains it down to sense.

IV

So on a tree divinely fair
Grew the forbidden food;
Our mother took the poison there,
And tainted all her blood.

HYMN 151. (L. M.) Prophecy and Inspiration.

I

'Twas by an order from the Lord
The ancient prophets spoke his word;
His spirit did their tongues inspire,
And warm'd their hearts with heavenly fire.

II

The works and wonders which they wrought
Confirm'd the messages they brought;
The prophet's pen succeeds his breath
To save the holy words from death.

III

Great God, mine eyes with pleasure look
On the dear volume of thy book;
There my Redeemer's face I see,
And read his name who dy'd for me.

IV

Let the false raptures of the mind
Be lost and vanish in the wind;
Here I can fix my hope secure,
This is thy word and must endure.

HYMN 152. (C. M.) Sinai and Sion, Heb. xii. 18, &c.

I

Not to the terrors of the Lord,
The tempest, fire, and smoke,
Not to the thunder of that word
Which God on Sinai spoke;

II

But we are come to Sion's hill,
The city of our God,
Where milder words declare his will,
And spread his love abroad.

III

Behold th'innumerable host
Of angels cloth'd in light!
Behold the spirits of the just,
Whose faith is turn'd to sight!

IV

Behold the bless'd assembly there,
Whose names are writ in heaven;
And God the judge of all declares
Their vilest sins forgiv'n.

V

The saints on earth and all the dead
But one communion make;
All join in Christ their living head,
And of his grace partake.

VI

In such society as this
My weary soul would rest;
The man that dwells where Jesus is,
Must be for ever blest.

341

HYMN 153. (C. M.) The Distemper, Folly, and Madness of Sin.

I

Sin like a venomous disease
Infects our vital blood;
The only balm is sovereign grace,
And the physician, God.

II

Our beauty and our strength are fled,
And we draw near to death;
But Christ the Lord recals the dead
With his almighty breath.

III

Madness by nature reigns within,
The passions burn and rage;
Till God's own Son with skill divine
The inward fire assuage.

IV

We lick the dust, we grasp the wind,
And solid good despise;
Such is the folly of the mind
Till Jesus makes us wise.

V

We give our souls the wounds they feel,
We drink the poisonous gall,
And rush with fury down to hell;
But heaven prevents the fall.

VI

The man possess'd amongst the tombs
Cuts his own flesh, and cries;
He foams, and raves, till Jesus comes,
And the foul spirit flies.

HYMN 154. (L. M.) Self-righteousness insufficient.

I

Where are the mourners,’ saith the Lord
‘That wait and tremble at thy word?
‘That walk in darkness all the day?
‘Come, make my name your trust and stay.

II

‘No works nor duties of your own
‘Can for the smallest sin atone;
‘ The robes that nature may provide
‘Will not your least pollutions hide.

III

‘The softest couch that nature knows
‘Can give the conscience no repose:
‘Look to my righteousness, and live;
‘Comfort and peace are mine to give.

IV

‘Ye sons of pride, that kindle coals
‘With your own hands to warm your souls,
‘Walk in the light of your own fire,
‘Enjoy the sparks that ye desire.

V

‘This is your portion at my hands;
‘Hell waits you with her iron bands,
‘Ye shall lie down in sorrow there,
‘In death, in darkness and despair.’
 

Isaiah l. 10. 11.

Isaiah xxviii. 20.

HYMN 155. (C. M.) Christ our Passover.

I

Lo the destroying angel flies
To Pharaoh's stubborn land;
The pride and flower of Egypt dies
By his vindictive hand.

II

He pass'd the tents of Jacob o'er,
Nor pour'd the wrath divine;
He saw the blood on every door,
And bless'd the peaceful sign.

III

Thus th'appointed Lamb must bleed
To break th'Egyptian yoke;
Thus Israel is from bondage freed,
And 'scapes the angels stroke.

IV

Lord, if my heart were sprinkled too,
With blood so rich as thine,
Justice no longer would pursue
This guilty soul of mine.

V

Jesus our passover was slain,
And has at once procur'd
Freedom from Satan's heavy chain,
And God's avenging sword.

HYMN 156. (C. M.) Presumption and Despair; or, Satan's various Temptations.

I

I hate the tempter and his charms,
I hate his flattering breath;
The serpent takes a thousand forms
To cheat our souls to death.

II

He feeds our hopes with airy dreams,
Or kills with slavish fear;
And holds us still in wide extremes,
Presumption, or despair.

III

Now he persuades, ‘How easy 'tis
‘To walk the road to heaven;’
Anon he swells our sins, and cries,
‘They cannot be forgiven.’

IV

He bids young sinners, ‘Yet forbear
‘To think of God or death;
‘For prayer and devotion are
‘But melancholy breath.’

342

V

He tells the aged, ‘They must die,
‘And 'tis too late to pray;
‘In vain for mercy now they cry,
‘For they have lost their day.’

VI

Thus he supports his cruel throne
By mischief and deceit;
And drags the sons of Adam down
To darkness and the pit.

VII

Almighty God, cut short his power,
Let him in darkness dwell;
And, that he vex the earth no more,
Confine him down to hell.

HYMN 157. (C. M.) The same.

[Now Satan comes with dreadful roar]

I

Now Satan comes with dreadful roar,
And threatens to destroy;
He worries whom he can't devour
With a malicious joy.

II

Ye sons of God, oppose his rage,
Resist, and he'll begone;
Thus did our dearest Lord engage
And vanquish him alone.

III

Now he appears almost divine
Like innocence and love,
But the old serpent lurks within
When he assumes the dove.

IV

Fly from the false deceiver's tongue
Ye sons of Adam, fly;
Our parents found the snare too strong,
Nor should the children try.

HYMN 158. (L. M.) Few saved; or, the almost Christian, the Hypocrite and Apostate.

I

Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrower path
With here and there a traveller.

II

‘Deny thyself and take thy cross,’
Is the Redeemer's great command;
Nature must count her gold but dross
If she would gain this heavenly land.

III

The fearful soul that tires and faints,
And walks the ways of God no more
Is but esteem'd almost a saint,
And makes his own destruction sure.

IV

Lord, let not all my hopes be vain
Create my heart entirely new,
Which hypocrites could ne'er attain,
Which false apostates never knew.

HYMN 159. (C. M.) An unconverted State; or, converting Grace.

I

Great King of glory and of grace,
We own, with humble shame,
How vile is our degenerate race,
And our first father's name.

II

From Adam flows our tainted blood
The poison reigns within,
Makes us averse to all that's good,
And willing slaves to sin.

III

Daily we break thy holy laws,
And then reject thy grace;
Engag'd in the old serpent's cause
Against our Maker's face.

IV

We live estrang'd afar from God,
And love the distance well;
With haste we run the dangerous road
That leads to death and hell.

V

And can such rebels be restor'd!
Such natures made divine!
Let sinners see thy glory, Lord,
And feel this power of thine.

VI

We raise our Father's name on high,
Who his own Spirit sends
To bring rebellious strangers nigh,
And turn his foes to friends.

HYMN 160. (L. M.) Custom in Sin.

I

Let the wild leopards of the wood
Put off the spots that nature gives,
Then may the wicked turn to God,
And change their tempers and their lives.

II

As well might Ethiopian slaves
Wash out the darkness of their skin;
The dead as well might leave their graves
As old transgressors cease to sin.

III

Where vice has held its empire long
'Twill not endure the least control;
None but a power divinely strong
Can turn the current of the soul.

343

IV

Great God, I own thy power divine,
That works to change this heart of mine;
I would be form'd anew, and bless
The wonders of creating grace.

HYMN 161. (C. M.) Christian Virtues; or, the Difficulty of Conversion.

I

Strait is the way, the door is strait
That leads to joys on high;
'Tis but a few that find the gate,
While crowds mistake, and die.

II

Beloved self must be deny'd,
The mind and will renew'd,
Passion suppress'd, and patience try'd,
And vain desires subdu'd.

III

Flesh is a dangerous foe to grace,
Where it prevails and rules;
Flesh must be humbled, pride abas'd,
Lest they destroy our souls.

IV

The love of gold be banished hence,
(That vile idolatry)
And every member, every sense
In sweet subjection lie.

V

The tongue, that most unruly power,
Requires a strong restraint;
We must be watchful every hour,
And pray, but never faint.

VI

Lord, can a feeble helpless worm
Fulfil a task so hard?
Thy grace must all my work perform,
And give the free reward.

HYMN 162. (C. M.) Meditation of Heaven; or, the Joy of Faith.

I

My thoughts surmount these lower skies
And look within the veil;
There springs of endless pleasure rise,
The waters never fail.

II

There I behold with sweet delight
The blessed Three in One;
And strong affections fix my sight
On God's incarnate Son.

III

His promise stands for ever firm,
His grace shall ne'er depart;
He binds my name upon his arm,
And seals it on his heart.

IV

Light are the pains that nature brings,
How short our sorrows are
When with eternal future things
The present we compare!

V

I would not be a stranger still
To that celestial place,
Where I for ever hope to dwell
Near my Redeemer's face.

HYMN 163. (C. M.) Complaint of Desertion and Temptations.

I

Dear Lord, behold our sore distress;
Our sins attempt to reign;
Stretch out thine arm of conquering grace
And let thy foes be slain.

II

The lion with his dreadful roar
Affrights thy feeble sheep:
Reveal the glory of thy power,
And chain him to the deep.

III

Must we indulge a long despair?
Shall our petitions die;
Our mournings never reach thine ear,
Nor tears affect thine eye?

IV

If thou despise a mortal groan
Yet hear a Saviour's blood;
An advocate so near the throne
Pleads and prevails with God.

V

He brought the Spirit's powerful sword
To slay our deadly foes:
Our sins shall die beneath thy word,
And hell in vain oppose.

VI

How boundless is our Father's grace,
In height, and depth, and length!
He makes his Son our righteousness,
His Spirit is our strength.

HYMN 164. (C. M.) The End of the World.

I

Why should this earth delight us so?
Why should we fix our eyes
On these low grounds where sorrows grow,
And every pleasure dies?

II

While time his sharpest teeth prepares
Our comforts to devour,
There is a land above the stars,
And joys above his power.

344

III

Nature shall be dissolv'd and die,
The sun must end his race,
The earth and sea for ever fly
Before my Saviour's face.

IV

When will that glorious morning rise!
When the last trumpet sound,
And call the nations to the skies,
From underneath the ground?

HYMN 165. (C. M.) Unfruitfulness, Ignorance, and unsanctified Affections.

I

Long have I sat beneath the sound
Of thy salvation, Lord,
But still how weak my faith is found,
And knowledge of thy word!

II

Oft I frequent thy holy place
And hear almost in vain;
How small a portion of thy grace
My memory can retain!

III

My dear Almighty, and my God,
How little art thou known
By all the judgments of thy rod,
And blessings of thy throne!

IV

How cold and feeble is my love!
How negligent my fear!
How low my hope of joys above!
How few affections there!

V

Great God, thy sovereign power impart
To give thy word success:
Write the salvation in my heart,
And make me learn thy grace.

VI

Shew my forgetful feet the way
That leads to joys on high;
There knowledge grows without decay,
And love shall never die.

HYMN 166. (C. M.) The Divine Perfections.

I

How shall I praise th'eternal God,
That infinite Unknown?
Who can ascend his high abode,
Or venture near his throne?

II

The great invisible! He dwells
Conceal'd in dazzling light;
But his all-searching eye reveals
The secrets of the night.

III

Those watchful eyes that never sleep
Survey the world around;
His wisdom is a boundless deep
Where all our thoughts are drown'd.

IV

Speak we of strength? His arm is strong
To save or to destroy:
Infinite years his life prolong,
And endless is his joy.

V

He knows no shadow of a change,
Nor alters his decrees;
Firm as a rock his truth remains
To guard his promises.

VI

Sinners before his presence die;
How holy is his name!
His anger and his jealousy
Burn like devouring flame.

VII

Justice upon a dreadful throne
Maintains the rights of God;
While mercy sends her pardons down
Bought with a Saviour's blood.

VIII

Now to my soul, immortal King,
Speak some forgiving word;
Then 'twill be double joy to sing
The glories of my Lord.

HYMN 167. (L. M.) The Divine Perfections.

I

Great God, thy glories shall employ
My holy fear, my humble joy;
My lips in songs of honour bring
Their tribute to th'eternal King.

II

Earth and the stars and worlds unknown
Depend precarious on his throne;
All nature hangs upon his word,
And grace and glory own their Lord.

III

His sovereign power what mortal knows?
If he command who dares oppose?
With strength he girds himself around,
And treads the rebels to the ground.

IV

Who shall pretend to teach him skill?
Or guide the counsels of his will?
His wisdom like a sea divine
Flows deep and high beyond our line.

345

V

His name is holy, and his eye
Burns with immortal jealousy;
He hates the sons of pride, and sheds
His fiery vengeance on their heads.

VI

The beamings of his piercing sight
Bring dark hypocrisy to light;
Death and destruction naked lie,
And hell uncover'd to his eye.

VII

Th'eternal law before him stands;
His justice with impartial hands
Divides to all their due reward,
Or by the sceptre or the sword.

VIII

His mercy like a boundless sea
Washes our loads of guilt away,
While his own Son came down and dy'd
T'engage his justice on our side.

IX

Each of his words demands my faith,
My soul can rest on all he saith;
His truth inviolably keeps
The largest promise of his lips.

X

O tell me with a gentle voice
‘Thou art my God,’ and I'll rejoice!
Fill'd with thy love, I dare proclaim
The brightest honours of thy name.

HYMN 168. (L. M.) The same.

[Jehovah reigns, his throne is high]

I

Jehovah reigns, his throne is high,
His robes are light and majesty;
His glory shines with beams so bright
No mortal can sustain the sight.

II

His terrors keep the world in awe,
His justice guards his holy law,
His love reveals a smiling face,
His truth and promise seal the grace.

III

Through all his works his wisdom shines,
And baffles Satan's deep designs;
His power is sovereign to fulfil
The noblest counsels of his will.

IV

And will this glorious Lord descend
To be my father and my friend!
Then let my songs with angels join;
Heaven is secure if God be mine.

HYMN 169. As the 148th Psalm. The same.

[The Lord Jehovah reigns]

I

The Lord Jehovah reigns,
His throne is built on high;
The garments he assumes
Are light and majesty;
His glories shine
With beams so bright
No mortal eye
Can bear the sight.

II

The thunders of his hand
Keep the wide world in awe;
His wrath and justice stand
To guard his holy law;
And where his love
Resolves to bless,
His truth confirms
And seals the grace.

III

Thro' all his ancient works
Surprising wisdom shines,
Confounds the powers of hell,
And breaks their curs'd designs:
Strong is his arm,
And shall fulfil
His great decrees,
His sovereign will.

IV

And can this mighty King
Of glory condescend?
And will he write his name,
‘My Father and my Friend?’
I love his name,
I love his word;
Join all my powers,
And praise the Lord.

HYMN 170. (L. M.) God Incomprehensible and Sovereign.

I

Can creatures to perfection find
Th'eternal uncreated mind?
Or can the largest stretch of thought
Measure and search his nature out?

II

'Tis high as heaven, 'tis deep as hell,
And what can mortals know or tell?
His glory spreads beyond the sky,
And all the shining worlds on high.

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III

But man, vain man, would fain be wise,
Born like a wild young colt he flies
Thro' all the follies of his mind,
And swells, and snuffs the empty wind.

IV

God is a king of power unknown,
Firm are the orders of his throne;
If he resolve, who dares oppose,
Or ask him why, or what he does?

V

He wounds the heart, and he makes whole;
He calms the tempest of the soul;
When he shuts up in long despair
Who can remove the heavy bar?

VI

He frowns, and darkness veils the moon,
The fainting sun grows dim at noon;
The pillars of heaven's starry roof
Tremble and start at his reproof.

VII

He gave the vaulted heaven its form,
The crooked serpent, and the worm;
He breaks the billows with his breath,
And smites the sons of pride to death.

VIII

These are a portion of his ways,
But who shall dare describe his face?
Who can endure his light? or stand
To hear the thunders of his hand?
 

Job xi. 7.

Job xxv. 5.

Job xxvi. 11, &c.

END OF THE SECOND BOOK.

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BOOK III. PREPARED FOR THE LORD'S SUPPER.

HYMN 1 (L. M.) The Lord's Supper instituted, 1 Cor. xi. 23, &c.

I

'Twas on that dark, that doleful night
When powers of earth and hell arose
Against the Son of God's delight,
And friends betray'd him to his foes:

II

Before the mournful scene began
He took the bread, and blest, and brake:
What love thro' all his actions ran!
What wondrous words of grace he spake!

III

‘This is my body broke for sin,
‘Receive and eat the living food:’
Then took the cup, and blest the wine;
‘'Tis the new cov'nant in my blood.’

IV

For us his flesh with nails was torn,
He bore the scourge, he felt the thorn;
And justice pour'd upon his head
Its heavy vengeance in our stead.

V

For us his vital blood was spilt,
To buy the pardon of our guilt,
When for black crimes of biggest size
He gave his soul a sacrifice.

VI

‘Do this’ (he cry'd) ‘till time shall end,
‘In memory of your dying friend;
‘Meet at my table, and record
‘The love of your departed Lord.’

VII

Jesus, thy feast we celebrate,
We show thy death, we sing thy name,
Till thou return, and we shall eat
The marriage supper of the Lamb.

HYMN 2. (S. M.) Communion with Christ, and with Saints, 1 Cor. x. 16, 17.

I

Jesus invites his saints
To meet around his board;
Here pardon'd rebels sit, and hold
Communion with their Lord.

II

For food he gives his flesh,
He bids us drink his blood;
Amazing favour! matchless grace
Of our descending God!

III

This holy bread and wine
Maintains our fainting breath,
By union with our living Lord,
And interest in his death.

IV

Our heavenly Father calls
Christ and his members one;
We the young children of his love,
And he the first-born Son.

V

We are but several parts
Of the same broken bread;
One body hath its several limbs,
But Jesus is the head.

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VI

Let all our powers be join'd
His glorious name to raise;
Pleasure and love fill every mind,
And every voice be praise.

HYMN 3. (C. M.) The New Testament in the Blood of Christ; or, the New Covenant sealed.

I

The promise of my Father's love
‘Shall stand for ever good;’
He said; and gave his soul to death,
And seal'd the grace with blood.

II

To this dear covenant of thy word
I set my worthless name;
I seal th'engagement to my Lord,
And make my humble claim.

III

Thy light, and strength, and pardoning grace,
And glory shall be mine;
My life and soul, my heart and flesh,
And all my powers are thine.

IV

I call that legacy my own
Which Jesus did bequeath;
'Twas purchas'd with a dying groan,
And ratify'd in death.

V

Sweet is the memory of his name,
Who bless'd us in his will,
And to his testament of love
Made his own life the seal.

HYMN 4. (C. M.) Christ's dying Love; or, our Pardon bought at a dear Price.

I

How condescending and how kind
Was God's eternal Son!
Our misery reach'd his heavenly mind,
And pity brought him down.

II

When justice by our sins provok'd
Drew forth its dreadful sword,
He gave his soul up to the stroke
Without a murmuring word.

III

He sunk beneath our heavy woes
To raise us to his throne;
There's ne'er a gift his hand bestows
But cost his heart a groan.

IV

This was compassion like a God,
That when the Saviour knew
The price of pardon was his blood,
His pity ne'er withdrew.

V

Now, tho' he reigns exalted high,
His love is still as great:
Well he remembers Calvary,
Nor lets his saints forget.

VI

Here we behold his bowels roll
As kind as when he dy'd;
And see the sorrows of his soul
Bleed thro' his wounded side.

VII

Here we receive repeated seals
Of Jesus' dying love:
Hard is the wretch that never feels
One soft affection move.

VIII

Here let our hearts begin to melt,
While we his death record,
And with our joy for pardon'd guilt
Mourn that we pierc'd the Lord.

HYMN 5. (C. M.) Christ the Bread of Life, John vi. 31, 35, 39.

I

Let us adore th'eternal word,
'Tis he our souls hath fed;
Thou art our living stream, O Lord,
And thou th'immortal bread.

II

The manna came from lower skies,
But Jesus from above,
Where the fresh springs of pleasure rise
And rivers flow with love.

III

The Jews the fathers dy'd at last
Who eat that heavenly bread;
But these provisions which we taste
Can raise us from the dead.

IV

Blest be the Lord that gives his flesh
To nourish dying men;
And often spreads his table fresh
Lest we should faint again.

V

Our souls shall draw their heavenly breath
While Jesus finds supplies;
Nor shall our graces sink to death,
For Jesus never dies.

VI

Daily our mortal flesh decays,
But Christ our life shall come;
His unresisted power shall raise
Our bodies from the tomb.

349

HYMN 6. (L. M.) The Memorial of our absent Lord, John xvi. 16. Luke xxii. 19. John xiv. 3.

I

Jesus is gone above the skies,
Where our weak senses reach him not;
And carnal objects court our eyes
To thrust our Saviour from our thought.

II

He knows what wandering hearts we have
Apt to forget his lovely face;
And to refresh our minds he gave
These kind memorials of his grace.

III

The Lord of life this table spread
With his own flesh and dying blood;
We on the rich provision feed,
And taste the wine, and bless the God.

IV

Let sinful sweets be all forgot,
And earth grow less in our esteem;
Christ and his love fill every thought,
And faith and hope be fix'd on him.

V

While he is absent from our sight
'Tis to prepare our souls a place,
That we may dwell in heavenly light,
And live for ever near his face.

VI

Our eyes look upwards to the hills
Whence our returning Lord shall come;
We wait thy chariot's awful wheels
To fetch our longing spirits home.

HYMN 7. (L. M.) Crucifixion to the World by the Cross of Christ, Gal. vi. 14.

I

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory dy'd,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

II

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

III

See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

IV

His dying crimson like a robe
Spreads o'er his body on the tree,
Then am I dead to all the globe,
And all the globe is dead to me.

V

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

HYMN 8. (C. M.) The Tree of Life.

I

Come let us join a joyful tune
To our exalted Lord,
Ye saints on high around his throne,
And we around his board.

II

While once upon this lower ground
Weary and faint ye stood,
What dear refreshments here ye found
From this immortal food!

III

The tree of life that near the throne
In heaven's high garden grows,
Laden with grace bends gently down
Its ever-smiling boughs.

IV

Hov'ring amongst the leaves there stands
The sweet celestial dove;
And Jesus on the branches hangs
The banner of his love.

V

'Tis a young heaven of strange delight
While in his shade we sit;
His fruit is pleasing to the sight,
And to the taste as sweet.

VI

New life it spreads thro' dying hearts,
And cheers the drooping mind;
Vigour and joy the juice imparts
Without a sting behind.

VII

Now let the flaming weapon stand,
And guard all Eden's trees;
There's ne'er a plant in all that land
That bears such fruits as these.

VIII

Infinite grace our souls adore,
Whose wondrous hand has made
This living branch of sovereign power
To raise and heal the dead.

HYMN 9. (S. M.) The Spirit, the Water, and the Blood, 1 John v. 6.

I

Let all our tongues be one
To praise our God on high,
Who from his bosom sent his Son
To fetch us strangers nigh.

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II

Nor let our voices cease
To sing the Saviour's name;
Jesus th'ambassador of peace
How cheerfully he came!

III

It cost him cries and tears
To bring us near to God;
Great was our debt, and he appears
To make the payment good.

IV

My Saviour's pierced side,
Pour'd out a double flood;
By water we are purify'd,
And pardon'd by the blood.

V

Infinite was our guilt,
But he our priest atones;
On the cold ground his life was spilt,
And offer'd with his groans.

VI

Look up my soul to him
Whose death was thy desert,
And humbly view the living stream
Flow from his breaking heart.

VII

There on the cursed tree
In dying pangs he lies,
Fulfils his Father's great decree,
And all our wants supplies.

VIII

Thus the Redeemer came
By water and by blood;
And when the Spirit speaks the same,
We feel his witness good.

IX

While the Eternal Three
Bear their record above,
Here I believe he dy'd for me,
And seal my Saviour's love.

X

Lord, cleanse my soul from sin,
Nor let thy grace depart;
Great Comforter, abide within,
And witness to my heart.

HYMN 10. (L. M.) Christ crucified; the Wisdom and Power of God.

I

Nature with open volume stands
To spread her Maker's praise abroad;
And every labour of his hands
Shews something worthy of a God.

II

But in the grace that rescu'd man
His brightest form of glory shines;
Here on the cross 'tis fairest drawn
In precious blood and crimson lines.

III

Here his whole name appears complete;
Nor wit can guess, nor reason prove
Which of the letters best is writ,
The power, the wisdom, or the love.

IV

Here I behold his inmost heart
Where grace and vengeance strangely join
Piercing his Son with sharpest smart
To make the purchas'd pleasure mine.

V

O the sweet wonders of that cross
Where God the Saviour lov'd and dy'd!
Her noblest life my spirit draws
From his dear wounds and bleeding side.

VI

I would for ever speak his name
In sounds to mortal ears unknown,
With angels join to praise the Lamb,
And worship at his Father's throne.

HYMN 11. (C. M.) Pardon brought to our Senses.

I

Lord, how divine thy comforts are!
How heavenly is the place
Where Jesus spreads the sacred feast
Of his redeeming grace!

II

There the rich bounties of our God
And sweetest glories shine,
There Jesus says, that ‘I am his,
‘And my beloved's mine.’

III

‘Here,’ (says the kind redeeming Lord,
And shews his wounded side)
‘See here the spring of all your joys,
‘That open'd when I died.’

IV

He smiles and cheers my mournful heart
And tells of all his pain,
‘All this,’ says he, ‘I bore for thee,’
And then he smiles again.

V

What shall we pay our heavenly King
For grace so vast as this?
He brings our pardon to our eyes,
And seals it with a kiss.

VI

Let such amazing loves as these
Be sounded all abroad,
Such favours are beyond degrees,
And worthy of a God.

VII

To him that wash'd us in his blood
Be everlasting praise,
Salvation, honour, glory, power,
Eternal as his days.

351

HYMN 12. (L. M.) The Gospel Feast, Luke xiv. 16, &c.

I

How rich are thy provisions, Lord!
Thy table furnish'd from above,
The fruits of life o'erspread the board,
The cup o'erflows with heavenly love.

II

Thine ancient family the Jews
Were first invited to the feast,
We humbly take what they refuse,
And gentiles thy salvation taste.

III

We are the poor, the blind, the lame,
And help was far, and death was nigh,
But at the gospel call we came,
And every want receiv'd supply.

IV

From the high-way that leads to hell,
From paths of darkness and despair,
Lord, we are come with thee to dwell,
Glad to enjoy thy presence here.

V

What shall we pay th'eternal Son
That left the heaven of his abode,
And to this wretched earth came down
To bring us wanderers back to God.

VI

It cost him death to save our lives,
To buy our souls it cost his own;
And all the unknown joys he gives
Were bought with agonies unknown.

VII

Our everlasting love is due
To him that ransom'd sinners lost;
And pity'd rebels when he knew
The vast expense his love would cost.

HYMN 13. (C. M.) Divine Love making a Feast, and calling in the Guests, Luke xiv. 17, 22, 23.

I

How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

II

Here every bowel of our God
With soft compassion rolls,
Here peace and pardon bought with blood
Is food for dying souls.

III

While all our hearts and all our songs
Join to admire the feast,
Each of us cry with thankful tongues
‘Lord, why was I a guest?

IV

‘Why was I made to hear thy voice,
‘And enter while there's room?
‘When thousands make a wretched choice
‘And rather starve than come.’

V

'Twas the same love that spread the feast,
That sweetly forc'd us in,
Else we had still refus'd to taste,
And perish'd in our sin.

VI

Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

VII

We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race
May with one voice and heart and soul
Sing thy redeeming grace.

HYMN 14. (L. M.) The Song of Simeon, Luke ii. 28; or, a Sight of Christ makes Death easy.

I

Now have our hearts embrac'd our God,
We would forget all earthly charms,
And wish to die as Simeon would,
With his young Saviour in his arms.

II

Our lips should learn that joyful song,
Were but our hearts prepar'd like his,
Our souls still willing to be gone,
And at thy word depart in peace.

III

Here we have seen thy face, O Lord,
And view'd salvation with our eyes,
Tasted and felt the living word,
The bread descending from the skies.

IV

Thou hast prepar'd this dying Lamb,
Hast set his blood before our face,
To teach the terrors of thy name,
And shew the wonders of thy grace.

V

He is our light; our morning star
Shall shine on nations yet unknown:
The glory of thine Israel here,
And joy of spirits near the throne.

HYMN 15. (C. M.) Our Lord Jesus at his own Table.

I

The memory of our dying Lord
Awakes a thankful tongue:
How rich he spread his royal board,
And blest the food, and sung.

352

II

Happy the men that eat this bread,
But double blest was he
That gently bow'd his loving head,
And lean'd it, Lord, on thee.

III

By faith the same delights we taste
As that great favourite did,
And sit and lean on Jesus' breast,
And take the heavenly bread.

IV

Down from the palace of the skies
Hither the King descends,
‘Come, my beloved, eat, (he cries)
‘And drink salvation, friends.

V

‘My flesh is food and physic too,
‘A balm for all your pains:
‘And the red streams of pardon flow
‘From these my pierced veins.’

VI

Hosanna to his bounteous love
For such a taste below!
And yet he feeds his saints above
With nobler blessings too.

VII

Come the dear day, the glorious hour
That brings our souls to rest!
Then we shall need these types no more,
But dwell at th'heavenly feast.

HYMN 16. (C. M.) The Agonies of Christ.

I

Now let our pains be all forgot,
Our hearts no more repine,
Our sufferings are not worth a thought,
When, Lord, compar'd with thine.

II

In lively figures here we see
The bleeding Prince of love;
Each of us hope, he dy'd for me,
And then our griefs remove.

III

Our humble faith here takes her rise
While sitting round his board;
And back to Calvary she flies
To view her groaning Lord.

IV

His soul what agonies it felt
When his own God withdrew!
And the large load of all our guilt
Lay heavy on him too.

V

But the divinity within
Supported him to bear:
Dying he conquer'd hell and sin,
And made his triumph there.

VI

Grace, wisdom, justice join'd and wrought
The wonders of that day:
No mortal tongue, nor mortal thought
Can equal thanks repay.

VII

Our hymns should sound like those above,
Could we our voices raise;
Yet, Lord, our hearts shall all be love,
And all our lives be praise.

HYMN 17. (S. M.) Incomparable Food; or, the Flesh and Blood of Christ.

I

We sing th'amazing deeds
That grace divine performs;
Th'eternal God comes down and bleeeds
To nourish dying worms.

II

This soul-reviving wine,
Dear Saviour, 'tis thy blood;
We thank that sacred flesh of thine
For this immortal food.

III

The banquet that we eat
Is made of heavenly things,
Earth hath no dainties half so sweet
As our Redeemer brings.

IV

In vain had Adam sought
And search'd his garden round,
For there was no such blessed fruit
In all the happy ground.

V

Th'angelic host above
Can never taste this food,
They feast upon their Maker's love,
But not a Saviour's blood.

VI

On us th'Almighty Lord
Bestows this matchless grace,
And meets us with some cheering word,
With pleasure in his face.

VII

Come, all ye drooping saints,
And banquet with the King,
This wine will drown your sad complaints,
And tune your voice to sing.

VIII

Salvation to the name
Of our adored Christ:
Thro' the wide earth his grace proclaim,
His glory in the high'st.

353

HYMN 18. (L. M.) The same.

[Jesus, we bow before thy feet]

I

Jesus, we bow before thy feet,
Thy table is divinely stor'd:
Thy sacred flesh our souls have eat,
'Tis living bread; we thank thee, Lord!

II

And here we drink our Saviour's blood,
We thank thee, Lord, 'tis generous wine;
Mingled with love the fountain flow'd
From that dear bleeding heart of thine.

III

On earth is no such sweetness found,
For the Lamb's flesh is heavenly food;
In vain we search the globe around
For bread so fine, or wine so good.

IV

Carnal provisions can at best
But cheer the heart or warm the head,
But the rich cordial that we taste
Gives life eternal to the dead.

V

Joy to the master of the feast,
His name our souls for ever bless:
To God the King and God the Priest
A loud Hosanna round the place.

HYMN 19. (L. M.) Glory in the Cross; or, not ashamed of Christ crucified.

I

At thy command, our dearest Lord,
Here we attend thy dying feast;
Thy blood like wine adorns thy board,
And thine own flesh feeds every guest.

II

Our faith adores thy bleeding love,
And trusts for life in one that dy'd;
We hope for heavenly crowns above
From a Redeemer crucify'd.

III

Let the vain world pronounce it shame,
And fling their scandals on thy cause;
We come to boast our Saviour's name,
And make our triumphs in his cross.

IV

With joy we tell the scoffing age
He that was dead has left his tomb,
He lives above their utmost rage,
And we are waiting till he come.

HYMN 20. (C. M.) The Provisions for the Table of our Lord; or, the Tree of Life, and River of Love.

I

Lord, we adore thy bounteous hand,
And sing the solemn feast
Where sweet celestial dainties stand
For every willing guest.

II

The tree of life adorns the board
With rich immortal fruit,
And ne'er an angry flaming sword
To guard the passage to 't.

III

The cup stands crown'd with living juice;
The fountain flows above,
And runs down streaming for our use
In rivulets of love.

IV

The food's prepar'd by heavenly art,
The pleasure's well refin'd,
They spread new life thro' every heart,
And cheer the drooping mind.

V

Shout and proclaim the Saviour's love,
Ye saints that taste his wine,
Join with your kindred saints above,
In loud hosannas join.

VI

A thousand glories to the God
That gives such joys as this,
Hosanna! let it sound abroad,
And reach where Jesus is.

HYMN 21. (C. M.) The triumphal Feast for Christ's Victory over Sin, and Death, and Hell.

I

Come let us lift our voices high,
High as our joys arise,
And join the songs above the sky,
Where pleasure never dies.

II

Jesus, the God that fought and bled,
And conquer'd when he fell,
That rose, and at his chariot wheels
Dragg'd all the powers of hell.

III

Jesus the God invites us here
To this triumphal feast,
And brings immortal blessings down
For each redeemed guest.

IV

The Lord! how glorious is his face!
How kind his smiles appear!
And O what melting words he says
To every humble ear!

V

‘For you, the children of my love,
‘It was for you I dy'd,
‘Behold my hands, behold my feet,
‘And look into my side.

VI

‘These are the wounds for you I bore,
‘The tokens of my pains,
‘When I came down to free your souls
‘From misery and chains.

354

VII

‘Justice unsheathed its fiery sword,
‘And plung'd it in my heart:
‘Infinite pangs for you I bore,
‘And most tormenting smart.

VIII

‘When hell and all its spiteful powers
‘Stood dreadful in my way,
‘To rescue those dear lives of yours
‘I gave my own away.

IX

‘But while I bled and groan'd and dy'd,
‘I ruin'd Satan's throne,
‘High on my cross I hung, and spy'd
‘The monster tumbling down.

X

‘Now you must triumph at my feast,
‘And taste my flesh, my blood;
‘And live eternal ages blest,
‘For 'tis immortal food.’

XI

Victorious God! what can we pay
For favours so divine?
We would devote our hearts away
To be for ever thine.

XII

We give thee, Lord, our highest praise,
The tribute of our tongues;
But themes so infinite as these
Exceed our noblest songs.

HYMN 22. (L. M.) The Compassion of a dying Christ.

I

Our spirits join t'adore the Lamb;
O that our feeble lips could move
In strains immortal as his name,
And melting as his dying love.

II

Was ever equal pity found?
The prince of heaven resigns his breath,
And pours his life out on the ground
To ransom guilty worms from death.

III

Rebels, we broke our Maker's law;
He from the threatening set us free,
Bore the full vengeance on his cross,
And nail'd the curses to the tree.

IV

The law proclaims no terror now,
And Sinai's thunder roars no more;
From all his wounds new blessings flow,
A sea of joy without a shore.

V

Here we have wash'd our deepest stains,
And heal'd our wounds with heavenly blood:
Blest fountain! springing from the veins
Of Jesus our incarnate God.

VI

In vain our mortal voices strive
To speak compassion so divine;
Had we a thousand lives to give,
A thousand lives should all be thine.

HYMN 23. (C. M.) Grace and Glory by the Death of Christ.

I

Sitting around our father's board
We raise our tuneful breath;
Our faith beholds her dying Lord,
And dooms our sins to death.

II

We see the blood of Jesus shed,
Whence all our pardons rise;
The sinner views the atonement made,
And loves the sacrifice.

III

Thy cruel thorns, thy shameful cross
Procure us heavenly crowns;
Our highest gain springs from thy loss,
Our healing from thy wounds.

IV

O 'tis impossible that we,
Who dwell in feeble clay,
Should equal sufferings bear for thee,
Or equal thanks repay.

HYMN 24. (C. M.) Pardon and Strength from Christ.

I

Father, we wait to feel thy grace,
To see thy glories shine;
The Lord will his own table bless,
And make the feast divine.

II

We touch, we taste the heavenly bread,
We drink the sacred cup;
With outward forms our sense is fed,
Our souls rejoice in hope.

III

We shall appear before the throne
Of our forgiving God,
Drest in the garments of his Son,
And sprinkled with his blood.

IV

We shall be strong to run the race,
And climb the upper sky;
Christ will provide our souls with grace,
He bought a large supply.

V

Let us indulge a cheerful frame
For joy becomes a feast;
We love the memory of his name,
More than the wine we taste.

355

HYMN 25. (C. M.) Divine Glories and our Graces.

I

How are thy glories here display'd,
Great God, how bright they shine,
While at thy word we break the bread,
And pour the flowing wine!

II

Here thy revenging justice stands
And pleads its dreadful cause;
Here saving mercy spreads her hands
Like Jesus on the cross.

III

Thy saints attend with every grace
On this great sacrifice;
And love appears with cheerful face,
And faith with fixed eyes.

IV

Our hope in waiting posture sits,
To heaven directs her sight;
Here every warmer passion meets,
And warmer powers unite.

V

Zeal and revenge perform their part,
And rising sin destroy;
Repentance comes with aching heart,
Yet not forbids the joy.

VI

Dear Saviour, change our faith to sight,
Let sin for ever die;
Then shall our souls be all delight,
And every tear be dry.

DOXOLOGIES.

[_]

I CANNOT persuade myself to put a full period to these Divine Hymns, till I have addressed a special song of Glory unto God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though the Latin name of it, Gloria Patri, be retained in our nation from the Roman Church: and though there be some excesses of superstitious honour paid to the words of it, which may have wrought some unhappy prejudices in weaker Christians, yet I believe it still to be one of the noblest parts of Christian worship. The subject of it is the doctrine of the Trinity, which is that peculiar glory of the Divine Nature, that our Lord Jesus Christ has so clearly revealed unto men, and is so necessary to true Christianity. The action is praise, which is the most complete and exalted part of Heavenly Worship. I have cast the song into a variety of forms, and have fitted it by a plain version or a larger paraphrase, to be sung either alone or at the conclusion of another Hymn. I have added also a few Hosannas, or ascriptions of salvation to Christ, in the same manner, and for the same end.

HYMN 26. (1st L. M.) A Song of Praise to the ever-blessed Trinity. God the Father, Son, and Spirit.

I

Bless'd be the Father and his love,
To whose celestial source we owe
Rivers of endless joy above,
And rills of comfort here below.

II

Glory to thee, great Son of God,
From whose dear wounded body rolls
A precious stream of vital blood,
Pardon and life for dying souls.

III

We give the sacred Spirit praise,
Who in our hearts of sin and woe
Makes living springs of grace arise,
And into boundless glory flow.

IV

Thus God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, we adore,
That sea of life and love unknown
Without a bottom or a shore.

HYMN 27. (1st C. M.)

[Glory to God the Father's name]

I

Glory to God the Father's name,
Who, from our sinful race,
Chose out his favourites to proclaim
The honours of his grace.

II

Glory to God the Son be paid,
Who dwelt in humble clay,
And to redeem us from the dead
Gave his own life away.

III

Glory to God the Spirit give,
From whose almighty power
Our souls their heavenly birth derive,
And bless the happy hour.

IV

Glory to God that reigns above,
Th'eternal Three and One,
Who by the wonders of his love
Has made his nature known.

HYMN 28. (1st S. M.)

[Let God the Father live]

I

Let God the Father live
For ever on our tongues;
Sinners from his first love derive
The ground of all their songs.

II

Ye saints, employ your breath
In honour to the Son,
Who bought your souls from hell and death
By offering up his own.

III

Give to the Spirit praise
Of an immortal strain,
Whose light and power and grace conveys
Salvation down to men.

IV

While God the Comforter
Reveals our pardon'd sin,
O may the blood and water bear
The same record within.

356

V

To the great One and Three
That seal this grace in heaven,
The Father, Son, and Spirit, be
Eternal glory given.

HYMN 29. (2d L. M.)

[Glory to God the Trinity]

I

Glory to God the Trinity,
Whose name has mysteries unknown;
In essence one, in person three;
A social nature, yet alone.

II

When all our noblest powers are join'd
The honours of thy name to raise,
Thy glories over-match our mind,
And angels faint beneath the praise.

HYMN 30. (2d C. M.)

[The God of mercy be ador'd]

I

The God of mercy be ador'd,
Who calls our souls from death,
Who saves by his redeeming word,
And new-creating breath.

II

To praise the Father and the Son
And Spirit all divine,
The One in Three, and Three in One,
Let saints and angels join.

HYMN 31. (2d S. M.)

[Let God the Maker's name]

I

Let God the Maker's name
Have honour, love and fear,
To God the Saviour pay the same,
And God the Comforter.

II

Father of Lights above
Thy mercy we adore,
The Son of thy eternal love,
And Spirit of thy power.

HYMN 32. (3d L. M.)

[To God the Father, God the Son]

I

To God the Father, God the Son,
And God the Spirit, Three in One,
Be honour, praise, and glory given,
By all on earth, and all in heaven.

HYMN 33. (L. M.)

[All glory to thy wondrous name]

Or thus:

All glory to thy wondrous name,
Father of mercy, God of love,
Thus we exalt the Lord, the Lamb,
And thus we praise the heavenly Dove.

HYMN 34. (3d C. M.)

[Now let the Father and the Son]

Now let the Father and the Son
And Spirit be ador'd,
Where there are works to make him known,
Or saints to love the Lord.

HYMN 35. (C. M.)

[Honour to the Almighty Three]

Or thus:

Honour to the Almighty Three,
And everlasting One;
All glory to the Father be,
The Spirit, and the Son.

HYMN 36. (3d S. M.)

[Ye angels round the throne]

Ye angels round the throne,
And saints that dwell below,
Worship the Father, love the Son,
And bless the Spirit too.

HYMN 37. (S. M.)

[Give to the Father praise]

Or thus:

Give to the Father praise,
Give glory to the Son,
And to the Spirit of his grace
Be equal honour done.

HYMN 38. (1st as the 148th Psalm.) A Song of Praise to the Blessed Trinity.

I

I give immortal praise
To God the Father's love
For all my comforts here,
And better hopes above;
He sent his own
Eternal Son
To die for sins
That man had done.

II

To God the Son belongs
Immortal glory too,
Who bought us with his blood
From everlasting woe:
And now he lives,
And now he reigns,
And see the fruit
Of all his pains.

III

To God the Spirit's name
Immortal worship give,
Whose new-creating power
Makes the dead sinner live:
His work completes
The great design,
And fills the soul
With joy divine.

IV

Almighty God, to Thee
Be endless honours done,
The undivided Three,
And the Mysterious One:
Where reason fails
With all her powers,
Their faith prevails,
And love adores.

357

HYMN 39. (2d as the 148th Psalm.)

[To Him that chose us first]

I

To Him that chose us first
Before the world began,
To Him that bore the curse
To save rebellious man,
To Him that form'd
Our hearts anew,
Is endless praise
And glory due.

II

The Father's love shall run
Thro' our immortal songs,
We bring to God the Son
Hosannas on our tongues:
Our lips address
The Spirit's name
With equal praise,
And zeal the same.

III

Let every saint above,
And angel round the throne,
For ever bless and love
The sacred Three in One:
Thus heaven shall raise
His honours high
When earth and time
Grow old and die.

HYMN 40. (3d as the 148th Psalm.)

[To God the Father's throne]

To God the Father's throne
Perpetual honours raise;
Glory to God the Son,
To God the Spirit praise:
And while our lips
Their tribute bring,
Our faith adores
The name we sing.

HYMN 41. (As the 148th Psalm.)

[To our eternal God]

Or thus:

To our eternal God,
The Father and the Son,
And Spirit all divine,
Three mysteries in One,
Salvation, power,
And praise be given,
By all on earth
And all in heaven.

HYMN 42. (L. M.) The HOSANNA; or, Salvation ascribed to Christ.

I

Hosanna to king David's Son
Who reigns on a superior throne;
We bless the prince of heavenly birth
Who brings salvation down to earth.

II

Let every nation, every age,
In this delightful work engage;
Old men and babes in Sion sing
The growing glories of her King.

HYMN 43. (C. M.)

[Hosanna to the Prince of grace]

I

Hosanna to the Prince of grace,
Sion, behold thy King;
Proclaim the Son of David's race,
And teach the babes to sing.

II

Hosanna to th'Incarnate Word,
Who from the Father came;
Ascribe salvation to the Lord,
With blessings on his name.

HYMN 44. (S. M.)

[Hosanna to the Son]

I

Hosanna to the Son
Of David and of God,
Who brought the news of pardon down,
And bought it with his blood.

II

To Christ the anointed King
Be endless blessings given,
Let the whole earth his glory sing
Who made our peace with heaven.

HYMN 45. (As the 148th Psalm.)

[Hosanna to the King]

I

Hosanna to the King
Of David's ancient blood;
Behold he comes to bring
Forgiving grace from God:
Let old and young
Attend his way,
And at his feet
Their honours lay.

II

Glory to God on high,
Salvation to the Lamb;
Let earth, and sea, and sky
His wondrous love proclaim:
Upon his head
Shall honours rest,
And every age
Pronounce him blest.
END OF THE THIRD BOOK.