THE SCRIPTURES.

179.

L. M.

Nature and Scripture. Ps. 19.

WATTS.

1 THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord;
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.

2 The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3 Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So when thy truth began its race,
It touched and glanced on every land.

4 Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest
Till through the world thy truth has run -
Till Christ hath all the nations blest
That see the light or feel the sun.

5 Great Sun of righteousness! arise; Bless the dark world with heavenly light; Thy gospel makes the simple wise; Thy laws are pure thy judgments right,

6 Thy noblest wonders here we view
In souls renewed and sins forgiven:
Lord, cleanse my sins, my soul renew,
And make thy word my guide to heaven.

180.

L. M. 61.

MONTGOMERY.

The Same. Ps. 19.

1 THY glory, Lord, the heavens declare ;
The firmament displays thy skill;
The changing cloud, the viewless air,
Tempest and calm, thy word fulfil;
Day unto day doth utter speech,
And night to night thy knowledge teach.

2 Though voice nor sound inform the ear,
Well known the language of their song
When, one by one, the stars appear,
Led by the silent moon along;

Till round the earth, from all the sky,
Thy beauty beams on every eye.

3 Waked by thy touch, the morning sun Comes like a bridegroom from his bower, And, like a giant, glad to run

His bright career with speed and power·
Thy flaming messenger, to dart

Life through the depth of Nature's heart.

4 While these transporting visions shine
Along the path of providence,
Glory eternal, joy divine,

Thy word reveals, transcending sense:
My soul thy goodness longs to see,—
Thy love to man, thy love to me.

181.

S. M.

The Same. Ps. 19.

WATTS.

1 BEHOLD, the lofty sky
Declares its maker, God,
And all his starry works on high
Proclaim his power abroad.
2 The darkness and the light
Still keep their course the same,
While night to day, and day to night,
Divinely teach his name.

3 In every different land

Their general voice is known;
They show the wonders of his hand,
And orders of his throne.
4 Ye Christian lands, rejoice!
Here he reveals his word;
We are not left to nature's voice
To bid us know the Lord,

5 His statutes and commands
Are set before your eyes;
He puts his gospel in our hands,
Where our salvation lies.

6 His laws are just and pure;
His truth without deceit;
His promises forever sure,
And his rewards are great.

182.

C. M.

The Same.

ANONYMOUS.

1 GREAT God! with wonder and with praise

On all thy works 1 look;

But still thy wisdom, power, and grace
Shine brightest in thy book.

2 The fields provide me food, and show
The goodness of the Lord;
But fruits of life and glory grow
In thy most holy word.

3 Here are my choicest treasures hid;
Here my best comfort lies;
Here my desires are satisfied,
And here my hopes arise.

4 Lord, make me understand thy law,
Show what my faults have been,
And from thy gospel let me draw
Pardon for all my sin.

5 O let me love my Bible more,
And take a fresh delight
By day to read these wonders o'er,
And meditate by night.

183.

C. M.

*COWPER.

Glory of the Sacred Page.

1 WHAT glory gilds the sacred page,
Majestic like the sun!

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

2 The hand that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
Its truths upon the nations rise
They rise, but never set.
3 Let everlasting thanks be thine
For such a bright display:
It makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

4 My soul rejoices to pursue
The paths of truth and love,

Till glory break upon my view
In brighter worlds above.

184.

C. M.

WATTS.

Perfection of the Scriptures. Ps. 119. 1 LET all the heathen writers join To form one perfect book:

Great God, if once compared with thine,
How mean their writings look!

2 Not the most perfect rules they gave
Could show one sin forgiven,
Nor lead a step beyond the grave;
But thine conduct to heaven.

3 I've seen an end of what we call
Perfection here below:

How short the powers of nature fall,
And can no further go!

4 In vain we boast perfection here
While sin defiles our frame,
And sinks our virtues down so far,
They scarce deserve the name.

5 Our faith, and love, and every grace,
Fall far below thy word;

But perfect truth and righteousness
Dwell only with the Lord.

185.

L. M.

* WATTS

Prophecy and Inspiration.

1 'Twas by an order from the Lord The ancient prophets spoke his word; His Spirit did their tongues inspire,

And warmed their hearts with heavenly fire.