BLESS'D be the everlasting God,

The Father of our Lord:

Be his aboundinng mercy prais'd,
His majesty ador'd.

2

When from the dead he rais'd his son,
And call' him to the sky,
He gave our souls a lively hope
That they should never die.

3

What though our inbred sins require
Our flesh to see the dust?

Yet as the Lord our saviour rose,
So all his foll'wers must.

4

There's an inheritance divine
Reserv'd against that day;
'Tis uncorrupted, undefil'd,
And cannot waste away.

5

Saints by the pow'r of God are kept,
Till the salvation come :

We walk by faith, as strangers here,
Till Christ shall call us home.

HYMN 197. L. M.

WHY sinks my weak, desponding mind?
Why heaves my heart the anxious sigh?
Can sov❜reign goodness be unkind?
Am I not safe if God be nigh?

2

He holds all nature in his hand :

That gracious hand on which I live,

Does life, and time, and death command,
And has immortal joys to give.

3

"Tis he supports this fainting frame, On him alone my hopes recline; The wond'rous glories of his name,

How wide they spread! how bright they shine!

4

Infinite wisdom! boundless pow'r !
Unchanging faithfulness and love!
Here let me trust, while I adore,
Nor from my refuge e'er remove.

HYMN 198. S. M.

FAITH ;-'tis a precious grace,

Where'er it is bestow'd!

It boasts of a celestial birth,

And is the gift of God!

2

Jesus it owns a King,

An all-anointing Priest;

It claims no merit of its own,

But looks for all in Christ.

3

To him it leads the soul,

When fill'd with deep distress ; Flies to the fountain of his blood, And trusts his righteousness.

Since 'tis thy work alone,
And that, divinely free;

Lord, send the spirit of thy son
To work this faith in me.

HYMN 199. S. M.

Now let our voices join
To form a sacred song;
Ye pilgrims, in Jehovah's ways,
With music pass along.

2

How strait the path appears,
How open and how fair!
No lurking gins t' entrap our feet;
No fierce destroyer there.

3

But flow'rs of paradise
In rich profusion spring;
The Sun of glory gilds the path,
And dear companions sing.

4

See Salem's golden spires
In beauteous prospect rise;

And brighter crowns than mortals wear,
Which sparkle through the skies.

5

All honour to his name,
Who marks the shining way;
To him, who leads the wand'rers on
To realms of endless day.

HYMN 200. P. M.

CHILDREN of the heav'nly King,
As ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise,
Glorious in his works and ways!

2

Ye are trav'ling home to God,
In the ways the Fathers trod ;

They are happy now, and ye
Soon their happiness shall see.
3

O, ye banish'd seed, be glad!
Christ our Advocate is made!
Us to save, our flesh assumes,
Brother to our souls becomes.

4

Shout, ye little flock and bless'd,
You on Jesus' throne shall rest :
There your seat is now prepar'd,
There your kingdom and reward.

5

Fear not, brethren, joyful stand
On the borders of your land:
Jesus Christ, your Father's Son,
Bids you, undismay'd, go on.

6

Lord, obediently we go,
Gladly leaving all below;

Only thou our leader be,

And we still will follow thee.

JESUS! I love thy charming name,

'Tis music to mine ear ;

Fain would I sound it out so loud,

That earth and heav'n might hear.
2

Yes, thou art precious to my soul,
My transport and my trust;
Jewels, to thee, are gaudy toys,
And gold is sordid dust.

3

All my capacious pow'rs can wish,
In thee doth richly meet;

Nor to my eyes is light so dear,
Nor friendship half so sweet.

4

Thy grace shall dwell upon my heart,
And shed its fragrance there;
The noblest balm of all its wounds,
The cordial of its care.

5

I'll speak the honours of thy name
With my last labouring breath;
And dying, clasp thee in my arms,
The antidote of death.

HYMN 202. C. M.

HAIL, Alpha and Omega, hail!

Author of all our faith,
The Finisher of all our hopes,
The Truth, the Life, the Path.

2

Hail! First and Last, the Morning Star,
In whom we live and move;
Increase our little spark of faith,
And purify our love.

3

Let that belief, which Jesus taught,
Be treasur'd in our breast;
The evidence of unseen joys,

The substance of our rest.

4

O, let us go from strength to strength,
From grace to greater grace;

From one degree of faith, to more,
Till we behold thy face.