12 Since all this frame of things must end, as Heaven has so decreed,

How wise our inmost thoughts to guard, and watch o'er ev'ry deed.

13 Expecting calm th' appointed hour, when, nature's conflict o'er,

1

A new and better world shall rise,
where sin is known no more!

221.

1 JOHN iii. 1-4.

BEHOLD th' amazing gift of love

the Father hath bestow'd

On us, the sinful sons of men,

to call us sons of God.

2 Conceal'd as yet this honour lies, by this dark world unknown,

A world that knew not when he came,
ev'n God's eternal Son.

3 High is the rank we now possess;
but higher we shall rise;
Though what we shall hereafter be
is hid from mortal eyes:

4 Our souls, we know, when he appears,
shall bear his image bright;
For all his glory, full disclos'd,
shall open to our sight.

5 A hope so great, and so divine,
may trials well endure;

And purify the soul from sin,

as Christ himself is pure.

R

182

222.

REV. i. 5-9.

1 To him who lov'd the sons of men,
and wash'd us in his blood,
To royal honours rais'd our head,
and made us priests to God:

2 To him let ev'ry tongue be praise,
and ev'ry heart be love!

All grateful honours paid on earth,
and nobler songs above!

3 Behold, on flying clouds he comes!
his saints shall bless the day;

While they who pierc'd him sadly mourn in anguish and dismay.

4 I am, he saith, the First, and Last;
time centres all in me;

Th' Almighty God, who was, and is,
and ever-more shall be.

223.

REV. i. 7.

1 LO! he comes with clouds descending,

Once for favour'd sinners slain!

Thousand, thousand saints, attending,
Swell the triumph of his train!

Hallelujah!

Jesus comes to earth again!

2 Ev'ry eye shall now behold him,
Rob'd in dreadful majesty!

They who set at nought, and sold him,
Pierc'd, and nail'd him to the tree,
Deeply wailing,

Shall the true Messiah see.

3 But his saints, by man rejected,
Joyful, meet him in the air!

Now the joys they long expected
They with Christ are call'd to share:
Hallelujah!

For the day of God prepare!

224.

REV. V. 6, to the end.

1 HARK! how th' adoring hosts above

with songs surround the throne!

Ten thousand thousand are their tongues; but all their hearts are one.

2 Worthy the Lamb who died, they cry, to be exalted thus;

Worthy the Lamb, let us reply, for he was slain for us.

3 To him be power divine ascrib'd,
and endless blessings paid;
Salvation, glory, joy, remain
for ever on his head.

4 Thou hast redeem'd us with thy blood,

and set the pris'ners free;

Thou mad'st us kings and priests to God, and we shall reign with thee.

5 From ev'ry kindred, ev'ry tongue,

thou brought'st thy chosen race;

And distant lands and isles have shar'd'
the riches of thy grace.

6 Let all who dwell above the sky,

or on the earth below,

With fields, and floods, and ocean's shores,

to thee their homage show..

7 To him who sits upon

the throne,

the God whom we adore,

And to the Lamb who once was slain,

be glory evermore.

225.

REV. vii. 13, to the end.

1 How bright these glorious spirits shine!

whence all their white array? How came they to the blissful seats of everlasting day?

2 Lo! these are they from suff'rings great, who came to realms of light,

And in the blood of Christ have wash'd
those robes which shine so bright.

3 Now, with triumphal palms, they stand
before the throne on high,

And serve the God they love, amidst
the glories of the sky.

His presence fills each heart with joy,
tunes ev'ry mouth to sing;

By day, by night, the sacred courts

with glad hosannaḥs ring.

5 Hunger and thirst are felt no more, nor suns with scorching ray;

God is their sun, whose cheering beams diffuse eternal day.

6 The Lamb who dwells amidst the throne, shall o'er them still preside;

Feed them with nourishment divine,
and all their footsteps guide.

7 'Mong pastures green he'll lead his flock,
where living streams appear;
And God the Lord from ev'ry eye
shall wipe off ev'ry tear.

226.

REV. XX. 12.

1 THE Judge ascends his awful throne!

He makes each secret sin be known;
And all, with shame confess their own.
O then! what int'rest shall I make
To save my last important stake,
When the most just have cause to quake!

2 Thou! mighty, formidable King,
Thou! mercy's inexhausted spring,
Some comfortable pity bring!
Forget not what my ransom cost,
Nor let my dear-bought soul be lost,
In storms of guilty terror toss'd!

3 Thou! who for me did'st feel such pain, Whose precious blood the cross did stain, Let not those agonies be vain!