2 3 4 5 6 S. M. Bradley Ch., 442. Gosport, 53. BEHOLD what wondrous grace The Father has bestow'd On sinners of a mortal race, To call them sons of God! 'Tis no surprising thing, That we should be unknown; The Jewish world knew not their King, God's everlasting Son. Nor doth it yet appear How great we must be made; But when we see our Saviour here, A hope so much divine May trials well endure, May purge our souls from sense and sin As Christ the Lord is pure. If in my Father's love I share a filial part, Send down thy Spirit like a dove, We would no longer lie Like slaves beneath the throne; My faith shall Abba, Father, cry, And thou the kindred own. Our wandering feet thy favours bring To the fair chambers of the King. 4 [Wonder and pleasure tune our voice To speak thy praises, and our joys: Our memory keeps this love of thine Beyond the taste of richest wine.] 5 Though 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. 6 [While at his table sits the King, Hr loves to see us smile and sing; Our graces are our best perfume, And breathe like spikenard round the room.] 7 As myrrh new bleeding from the tree, Such is a dying Christ to me; And while he makes my soul his guest, Thy bosom, Lord, shall be my rest. 8 [No beams of cedar, or of fir, Can with thy courts on earth compare; 65 1 The kingdoms of the world become the 3 The angry nations fret and roar, 1 2 Seeking the pastures of Christ. Sol. Song i. 7. THOU HOU whom my soul admires above All earthly joy, and earthly love, Tell me, dear Shepherd, let me know, Where doth thy sweetest pasture grow' 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. 13 Why should thy bride appear like one That turns aside to paths unknown? My constant feet would never rove, Would never seek another love. 4 [The footsteps of thy flock I see; Thy sweetest pastures here they be; A wond'rous feast thy love prepares, Bought with thy wounds, and groans, and tears. 5 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 leads me home.] 3 Beneath his cooling shade I sat, To shield me from the burning heat; Lie down and rest upon my heart: away, No mortal joys are worth thy stay. 4'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. 5 The 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. 6 And when we hear our Jesus say, Rise up, my love, make haste away!' Our hearts would fain outfly the wind, And leave all earthly loves behind. 70 L. M. Langdon, 217. Monmouth, 382. Christ inviting, and the church's answer. Sol. Song ii. 14, &c. [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. 2'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. 3Thy voice to me sounds ever sweet; My graces in thy count'nance meet; Though the vain world thy face despise, 'T is bright and comely in mine eyes.' 4 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.] 5 [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. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.] 2 Then I arise, and search the street, Till I my Lord, my Saviour meet; I ask the watchmen of the night, 'Where did you see my soul's delight?' 3 Sometimes I find him in my way, Directed by a heavenly ray; 4 I leap for joy to see his face, And hold him fast in mine embrace. [I bring him to my mother's home, 5 He gives me there his bleeding heart, 3 Let every act of worship be Like our espousals, Lord, to thee; Like the dear hour when from above We first received thy pledge of love. 4 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. 5 Each following minute, as it flies, Increase thy praise, improve our joys, Till we are raised to sing thy name At the great supper of the Lamb. 6 Oh 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. 73 ΚΕ L. M. Horsley, 205, Simeon, 357. The church's beauty in the eyes of Christ. Sol. Song iv. 1, 10, 11, 7, 9, 8. IND 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.' 2 [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.'] 3 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. 4 Defiled and loathsome as we are, He makes us white, and calls us fair; Adorns us with that heavenly dress, His graces and his righteousness. 5 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.' 6 He calls me from the leopard's den, From this wide world of beasts and men, To Zion, where his glories are; Not Lebanon is half so fair. 7 Nor dens of prey, nor flowery plains, made peculiar ground; A little spot enclosed by grace 2 Like trees of myrrh and spice we stand Planted by God the Father's hand; And all his springs in Zion flow 3 Awake, O heavenly wind! and come, 5 [Let my Beloved come and taste 75 L. M. New Court, 173. Sion, 358. 1 The description of Christ the Beloved. Sol. Song v. 9-16. THE HE wondering world inquires to know 2 Yes! my Beloved to my sight 3 White is his soul, from blemish free; 9 His mouth, that pour'd out long com [saints: plaints, Now smiles, and cheers his fainting His countenance more graceful is Than Lebanon with all its trees. 10 All over glorious is my Lord, Must be beloved, and yet adored; His worth if all the nations knew, Sure the whole earth would love him too. 76 L.M. Walton, 352. Power, 478. 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. 2 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. 3 [In vineyards planted by his hand, Where fruitful trees in order stand: He feeds amidst the spicy beds, Where lilies show their spotless heads. 4 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.] 5 [He takes my soul ere I'm aware, And shows me where his glories are: No chariots of Amminadib The heavenly rapture can describe. 60 may my spirit daily rise On wings of faith above the skies, 77 L. M. Truro, 105. Peter's 359. NOW in the galleries of his grace 78 1 L. M. Ulverston, 179. Oswestry, 514. The strength of Christ's love. [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? 2 This is the spouse of Christ our God, 4 Stronger than death thy love is known, 5 But I am jealous of my heart, 6 'Till thou hast brought me to thy home, And like a giant doth rejoice To run his journey through the skies: 2 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. 3 O like the sun may I fulfil The appointed duties of the dayWith ready mind and active will March on and keep my heavenly way. 4 [But I shall rove and lose the race, If God, my sun, should disappear, And leave me in this world's wide maze, 5 Lord, thy commands are clean and pure, 6 Give me thy counsel for my guide, 80 L. M. Tranquillity, 350. An evening hymn. Ps. iv.8; iii. 5, 6. 1 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. 2 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. 3 I lay my body down to sleep, Peace is the pillow for my head; 4 In vain the sons of earth or hell 5 [Faith in his name forbids my fear; 6 Thus when the night of death shall come, 81 L. M. Fawcett, 184. Eversley, 335. A song for morning or evening. Lam. iii. 23. Isa. xlv. 7. Y God, how endless is thy love! Thy gifts are every evening new, And morning mercies from above Gently distil like early dew. 2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night, 1 82 L. M. Paul's, 246. Buxton, 347. Their natures, when compared with his, Are neither holy, just, nor wise. 3 But how much meaner things are they 114 L. M. Rushden, 468. Simeon, 337. Salvation, righteousness, and strength in Christ. Isa. xlv. 21-25. EHOVAH speaks! let Israel hear, JEH Let all the earth rejoice and fear, While God's eternal Son proclaims His sovereign honours and his names. 21 am the last, and I the first, The Saviour God, and God the just; There's none beside pretends to show Such justice and salvation too. 3[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. 4 '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.] 5 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. 6 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.' 85 S. M. Bradley Ch., 442, Lisbon, 547, 1 2 The same. THE Lord on high proclaims His Godhead from his throne! 'Mercy and justice are the names By which I will be known. 'Ye dying souls that sit In darkness and distress, Look from the borders of the pit To my recovering grace.' |