3 The world recedes: it disappears; Heaven opens on my eyes; my ears With sounds seraphic ring.

Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly!
O grave, where is thy victory?
Ŏ death, where is thy sting?

THE SCRIPTURES.

676

C. M.

Riches of God's word.

THE counsels of redeeming grace

THE

The sacred leaves unfold;

And here the Saviour's lovely face
Our raptured eyes behold.

2 Here light descending from above
Directs our doubtful feet;
Here promises of heavenly love
Our ardent wishes meet.

3 Our num'rous griefs are here redress'd,
And all our wants supplied:
Naught we can ask to make us blest
Is in this book denied.

4 For these inestimable gains,
That so enrich the mind,

O may we search with eager pains,
Assured that we shall find.

677

Excellency and sufficiency.

C. M.

ATHER of mercies, in thy word
What endless glory shines;

Forever be thy Name adored

For these celestial lines.

2 Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.

3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer sweets than nature knows
Invite the longing taste.

4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around;
And life, and everlasting joys,
Attend the blissful sound.

5 O may these heavenly pages be
Our ever dear delight;

And still new beauties may we see,
And still increasing light.

6 Divine Instructer, gracious Lord,
Be thou forever near;

Teach us to love thy sacred word,
And view the Saviour there.

678

C. M.

Light and glory of the sacred page.

WHAT glory gilds the sacred page!

Majestic, like the sun,

It gives a light to every age;

It gives, but borrows none.

2 The power that gave it still supplies
The gracious light and heat;
Its truths upon the nations rise:
They rise, but never set.

3 Lord! everlasting thanks be thine
For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.

4 Our souls rejoicingly pursue
The steps of Him we love,
Till glory break upon our view
In brighter worlds above.

679

C. M.

The Spirit's enlightening influences.
YOME, Holy Ghost, our hearts inspire;
Let us thine influence prove;—

Source of the old prophetic fire;
Fountain of life and love.

2 Come, Holy Ghost, for moved by thee
The prophets wrote and spoke:
Unlock the truth, thyself the key;
Unseal the sacred book.

3 Expand thy wings, Celestial Dove,
Brood o'er our nature's night;
On our disorder'd spirits move,
And let there now be light.

4 God, through himself, we then shall know, If thou within us shine;

And sound, with all thy saints below,

The depths of love divine.

680

The revealing Spirit.

ATHER of all, in whom alone

C. M.

F we live, and move, and breathe;

One bright, celestial ray dart down,
And cheer thy sons beneath.

2 While in thy word we search for thee,
(We search with trembling awe ;)
Open our eyes, and let us see

The wonders of thy law.

3 Now let our darkness comprehend
The light that shines so clear;
Now the revealing Spirit send,
And give us ears to hear.

4 Before us make thy goodness pass,
Which here by faith we know;

Let us in Jesus see thy face,

And die to all below.

681

C. M.

Perfection of the law and testimony.
HY law is perfect, Lord of light;
Thy testimonies sure;

TH

The statutes of thy realm are right,
And thy commandment pure.

2 Let these, O God, my soul convert,
And make thy servant wise;
Let these be gladness to my ears,-
The dayspring to mine eyes.

3 By these may I be warn'd betimes;
Who knows the guile within?
Lord, save me from presumptuous crimes;
Cleanse me from secret sin.

4 So may the words my lips express,
The thoughts that throng my mind,-
O Lord, my strength and righteousness,
With thee acceptance find.

682

HOW

1

Safety in keeping God's precepts.
[OW perfect is thy word,
Thy judgments all are just;
And ever in thy promise, Lord,
May man securely trust.
2 I hear thy word in love ;-
In faith thy word obey;
O send thy Spirit from above,

S. M.

To teach me, Lord, thy way. T

3 Thy counsels all are plain,

Thy precepts all are pure;

And long as heaven and earth remain,
Thy truth shall still endure.cti

4 O may my soul, with joy,

Trust in thy faithful word;

Be it through life my glad employ,
To keep thy precepts, Lord.

683

Preciousness of the Bible.

C. M.

HOW precious is the book divine,

By inspiration given;

Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine,
To guide our souls to heaven.

2 It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts," In this dark vale of tears;

And life, and light, and joy imparts,
And banishes our fears.

3 This lamp, through all the tedious night Of life, shall guide our way;

Till we behold the clearer light

Of an eternal day.

684

Light upon the narrow path.

C. M.

BRIGHT was the guiding star that led,

With mild, benignant ray, The Gentiles to the lowly shed Where the Redeemer lay.

2 But lo! the Scriptures' clearer light Now points to his abode;

It shines through sin and sorrow's night,
To guide us to our God.

3 O let us tread the narrow path,
While light and grace are given;
And thus escape the coming wrath,
And reign with him in heaven.

685

1st P. M. 6 lines 8s.

The divine Interpreter.
PIRIT of Truth, essential God,

SPIRIT

Who didst thine ancient saints inspire, Shed in their hearts thy love abroad,

And touch their hallow'd lips with fire:

Our God from all eternity,

World without end we worship thee.