L. M.

210.

BOWRING.

Progress of Gospel Truth.

1 UPON the Gospel's sacred page
The gathered beams of ages shine;
And, as it hastens, every age

But makes its brightness more divine.

2 On mightier wing, in loftier flight,
From year to year does knowledge soar;
And, as it soars, the Gospel light

Adds to its influence more and more.

3 Truth, strengthened by the strength of thought, Pours inexhaustible supplies,

Whence sagest teachers may be taught,
And wisdom's self becomes more wise.

4 More glorious still as centuries roll,
New regions blessed, new powers unfurled,
Expanding with the expanding soul,
Its waters shall o'erflow the world;

5 Flow to restore, but not destroy;
As when the cloudless lamp of day
Pours out its flood of light and joy,
And sweeps each lingering mist away.

C. M.

211.

Light and Glory of the Word.

COWPER.

1 THE Spirit breathes upon the word,
And brings the truth to sight;

Precepts and promises afford

A sanctifying light.

2 A glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun!

It gives a light to every age;
It gives, but borrows none.

3 The hand that gave it still supplies
"The gracious light and heat;
His truths upon the nations rise,
They rise, but never set.

4 Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,

As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

C. M.

212.

TATE & BRADY.

"Thou shalt teach them to thy children." Psalm 78.

1 HEAR, O my people! to my law
Devout attention lend;

Let the instruction of my mouth
Deep in your hearts descend.

2 My tongue, by inspiration taught,
Shall parables unfold,
Dark oracles, but understood,
And owned for truths of old:

3 Which we from sacred registers
Of ancient times have known,
And our forefathers' pious care
To us has handed down,

4 That generations yet to come
Should to their unborn heirs
Religiously transmit the same,
And they again to theirs;

5 To teach them that in God alone Their hope securely stands;

That they should ne'er his works forget, But keep his just commands.

L M.

213.

WATTS.

God's Glory in the Gospel.

1 Now to the Lord a noble song!
Awake, my soul, awake, my tongue!
Hosanna to the Eternal Name,
And all his boundless love proclaim.

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

3 But in the Gospel of thy Son
Are all thy mightiest works outdone;
The light it pours upon our eyes
Outshines the wonders of the skies.

4 Our spirits kindle in its beam :
It is a sweet, a glorious theme:
Ye angels, dwell upon the sound!
Ye heavens, reflect it to the ground!

1 BEHOLD, the morning sun

Begins his glorious way;

His beams through all the nations run, And life and light convey.

2 But where the Gospel comes, It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,
And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is thy word!
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And we securely trust.

4 My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
I never read in vain,

O may

But find the path to heaven.

C. M.

215.

WATTS.

Instruction from the Scriptures. Psalm 34.

1 How shall the young secure their hearts
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.

2 When once it enters to the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.

3 'T is like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.

4 Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure is every page!

That holy book shall guide our youth, And well support our age.

C. M.

216.

WATTS.

The Blessings of the Gospel.

1 BLEST are the souls that hear and know
The Gospel's joyful sound;
Peace shall attend the paths they go,
And light their steps surround.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up,
Through their Redeemer's name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor dares the world condemn.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Israel, thy King for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.

1

IMPOSTURE shrinks from light, And dreads the curious eye: But sacred truths the test invite, They bid us search and try.

2 O may we still maintain

A meek, inquiring mind;
Assured we shall not search in vain,
But hidden treasures find.

3 With understanding blest,

Created to be free,

Our faith on man we dare not rest,
Subject to none but thee.