The heaven-born Soul rising to God.
ISE, my soul, and stretch thy wings,
Thy better portion trace;
Rise from transitory things,
Tow'rds heav'n thy native place:
Sun, and moon, and stars decay,
Time shall soon this earth remove;
Rise my soul, and haste away,
To seats prepar'd above.
2 Rivers to the ocean run,
Nor stay in all their course :
Fire ascending seeks the sun,
Both speed them to their source;
So a soul that's born of God
Pants to view his glorious face,
Upward tends to his abode,
To rest in his embrace.
3 Cease, ye pilgrims, cease to mourn,
Press onward to the prize;
Soon our Saviour will return,
Triumphant in the skies:
Yet a season, and you know,
Happy entrance will be giv'n;
All our sorrows left below,
And earth exchang'd for heav'n.
NOW let a true ambition rise,
And ardour fire our breast,
To reign in worlds above the skies,
In heav'nly glories drest.
2 Behold Jehovah's royal hand
A radient crown display,
Whose gems with vivid lustre shine,
While stars and suns decay.
3 Away, each grov'ling anxious care,
Beneath a Christian's thought;
I spring to seize immortal joys,
Which my redeemer bought.
4 Ye hearts, with youthful vigour warm,
The glorious prize pursue;
Nor shall ye want the goods of earth,
While heav'n is kept in view.
114 Substantial bliss in the enjoyment of Christ. P. M.
IS in vain to seek for bliss,
Lasting bliss can ne'er be found,
Till we reach where Jesus is,
Till we tread on heav'nly ground;
Nothing round these spangled skies,
Nothing on this earthly globe
Yields to me substantial joys,
Or is lovely as my God.
2 But 'tis heav'n to taste his love,
Heav'n to feel his quick'ning grace ;
And the heav'n I hope above,
Is to see my Jesu's face;
There are pleasures all sincere,
There no dreg of guilt defiles
Long, my soul, to leave this sphere,
Pant to reach th' eternal hills.
3 Come, blest Spirit from above,
Bear my sinking courage up,
Pledge of my Redeemer's love,
Calm my fears, support my hope;
Then let waves and thunder roar,
I shall feel thy peace divine,
Till I reach the blissful shore,
Till the heav'nly throng I join.
4 Fellow saints, this bliss pursue,
Press ye on to reach the prize;
Bid the flatt'ring world adieu,
Fix above, your longing eyes:
Lo! the kind Redeemer waits,
To receive you to his breast;
Open stand the blissful gates,
Angels call you there to rest
115 "Visit me with thy Salvation."
ESUS, my Almighty Saviour,
Prostrate at thy feet I lie;
Humbly I entreat thy favour
Condescend to hear my cry.
At thy gracious invitation,
I approach thy throne divine;
Visit me with thy salvation,
Gently tell me, thou art mine.
2 When I was to thee a stranger,
Wand'ring in forbidden ways,
From the paths of sin and danger,
Thou didst call me by thy grace.
Let not then my foes confound me;
Thou art all my help and hope;
Let thy arms of love surround me,
Let thy mercy hold me up.
3 Still I need thy gracious keeping;
Sin and hell my faith assail;
Oft my days are spent in weeping,
Lest my foes should yet prevail.
Heal my soul, thou great Physician,
Ease me of my pain and grief;
Bow thine ear to my petition,
Kindly send me some relief.
4 Grant me thy divine direction
In the way that I should go;
Let thy hand be my protection
From the pow'r of ev'ry foe.
Gracious Saviour, never leave me,
While my toils and conflicts last;
To thy kind embrace receive me,
When the storms of life are past.
The sacrifice of praise.
ET ev'ry tuneful accent rise,
To him that rules the earth and skies. The infinite unknown;
His goodness shines around the sphere, And richly crowns the rolling year, With blessings from his throne.
2 'Tis he ordains the blooming spring, Her softest sweetest charms to bring, And wear her lovely dress; "Tis he that clothes the fertile vale, Bids fragrance breathe in ev'ry gale, The rural scene to bless.
3 But he hath richer gifts in store,
For which our grateful hearts adore
The source of ev'ry good;
He gives us, rebels lost in sin,
Pardon, and peace, and life divine
Through a Redeemer's blood.
4 When destitute of help and hope,
His sov'reign mercy rais'd us up,
And snatch'd us from despair;
So free, so boundless is his love,
He calls us to the realms above,
And soon shall bring us there.
5 Our voices should in concert join
In songs of harmony divine;
The theme is ever new:
Let music all her graces bring,
Awake, awake each tuneful string,
To pay the tribute due.
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