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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.

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.

CowPER.

Light and Glory of the Word.

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.

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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!

Jan-1657

S. M.

214.

WATTS.

Power of God's Word.

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!

O may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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