HE counsels of redeeming grace
The sacred leaves unfold:
And here the Saviour's lovely face
Our raptured eyes behold.
2 Here light descending from above
Directs our doubtful feet;
Here promises of heavenly love
Our ardent wishes meet.
3 Our numerous griefs are here redress'd,
And all our wants supplied:
Naught we can ask to make us bless'd
Is in this book denied.
4 For these inestimable gains,
That so enrich the mind,
O may we search with eager pains,
Assured that we shall find.
ATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines!
For ever be thy name adored
For these celestial lines.
2 Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;
Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.
3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.
4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life, and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.
5 O may these heavenly pages be
My ever dear delight;
And still new beauties may I see,
And still increasing light!
6 Divine Instructer, gracious Lord,
Be thou for ever near;
Teach me to love thy sacred word,
And view my Saviour there!
536 Milton-p. 145.] 1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.
PIRIT of truth, essential God,
ancient inspire,
Shed in their hearts thy love abroad,
And touch their hallow'd lips with fire: Our God from all eternity,
World without end we worship thee.
2 Still we believe, almighty Lord,
Whose presence fills both earth and heaven, The meaning of the written word
Is by thy inspiration given;
Thou only dost thyself explain
The secret mind of God to man.
3 Come, then, divine Interpreter,
The Scriptures to our hearts apply;
And, taught by thee, we God revere,
Him in three persons magnify:
And still the triune God adore,
Who was, and is, for evermore.
537 Clarke-p. 149.] 1st P. M. 6 lines 8s. LEADER of faithful souls, and guide
Of all that travel to the sky,
Come, and with us, e'en us abide,
Who would on thee alone rely;
On thee alone our spirits stay,
While held in life's uneven way.
2 Strangers and pilgrims here below,
This earth we know is not our place;
But hasten through the vale of wo,
And, restless to behold thy face,
Swift to our heavenly country move,
Our everlasting home above.
3 We have no 'biding city here,
But seek a city out of sight;
Thither our steady course we steer,
Aspiring to the plains of light,
Jerusalem, the saints' abode,
Whose Founder is the living God.
4 Patient th' appointed race to run,
This weary world we cast behind;
From strength to strength we travel on,
The New Jerusalem to find;
Our labour this, our only aim,
To find the New Jerusalem.
6 Through thee, who all our sins hast borne,
Freely and graciously forgiven,
With songs to Zion we return,
Contending for our native heaven; That palace of our glorious King; We find it nearer while we sing.
6 Raised by the breath of love divine, We urge our way with strength renew'd; The church of the first-born to join,
We travel to the mount of God; With joy upon our heads arise,
And meet our Saviour in the skies.
538 Richmond-p. 259.] 10th P. M. 8 lines 8s.
LONG to behold him array'd
With glory and light from above;
The King in his beauty display'd,
His beauty of holiest love:
I languish and sigh to be there,
Where Jesus hath fix'd his abode ;
O when shall we meet in the air,
And fly to the mountain of God!
2 With him I on Sion shall stand,
For Jesus hath spoken the word,
The breadth of Immanuel's land
Survey by the light of my Lord :
But when on thy bosom reclined,
Thy face I am strengthen'd to see,
My fulness of rapture I find,
My heaven of heavens in thee.
3 How happy the people that dwell
Secure in the city above!
No pain the inhabitants feel,
No sickness or sorrow shall prove.
Physician of souls, unto me
Forgiveness and holiness give;
And then from the body set free,
And then to the city receive.
539 Paradise-p. 40.] C. M.
HERE is a land of pure delight,
Where saints immortal reign;
Infinite day excludes the night,
And pleasures banish pain.
2 There everlasting spring abides,
And never-with'ring flowers:
Death, like a narrow sea, divides
This heavenly land from ours.
3 Sweet fields beyond the swelling flood
Stand dress'd in living green;
So to the Jews old Canaan stood,
While Jordan roll'd between.
4 Could we but climb where Moses stood,
And view the landscape o'er;
Not Jordan's stream, nor death's cold flood,
Should fright us from the shore.
540 Neginoth-p. 171.] 1st P. M. 6 lines Ja.
THOU, Lord, on whom I still depend,
Shalt keep me faithful to the end;
I trust thy truth, and love, and power,
Shall save me till my latest hour;
And when I lay this body down,
Reward with an immortal crown.
2 Jesus, in thy great name I go,
To conquer death, my final foe;
And when I quit this cumb'rous clay,
And soar on angels' wings away,
My soul the second death defies,
And reigns eternal in the skies.
3 Eye hath not seen, nor ear hath heard,
What Christ hath for his saints prepared,
Who conquer through their Saviour's might,
Who sink into perfection's height,
And trample death beneath their feet,
And gladly die their Lord to meet.
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