Cold as his nightly feelings are,
While light and darkness strive,
Soon as he sees the morning star,
His trembling hopes revive.
He girds his loins, and trims his lamp,
And upward speeds his way,
Through legal fears, and sensual damp,
He reaches perfect day.
GREAT King of kings, eternal God,
Shall mortal creatures dare to raise
Their songs to thy supreme abode,
And join with angels in thy praise ?
The brightest seraph veils his face;
And low before thy dazzling throne,
With prostrate homage all confess,
Thou art the infinite unknown.
Man, ah, how far remov'd below!
Wrapt in the shades of gloomy night,
His brightest day can only shew,
A few faint streaks of distant light.
But see the bright, the morning star!
His beams shall chase the shades away;
His beams resplendent from afar,
Sweet promise of immortal day!
To Christ our longing eyes we raise,
Our guide to thee, the great unknown;
Through him, O may our humble praise,
Accepted rise before thy throne.
Christ our advocate. John xvii. 24.
AWAKE, sweet gratitude! and sing
Th' ascended Saviour's love :
Sing how he lives to carry on
His people's cause above..
With cries and tears he offer'd up
His humble suit below;
But with authority he asks,
Enthron'd in glory now.
For all that come to God by him,
Salvation he demands;
Points to their names upon his breast,
And spreads his wounded hands.
His sweet atoning sacrifice
Gives sanction to his claim:
"Father, I will that all my saints
"Be with me where I am."
Eternal life, at his request,
To every saint is given:
Safety below, and after death
The plenitude of heaven.
The intercession of Christ. Heb. vii. 25.
HE lives, the great Redeemer lives,
(What joy the blest assurance gives!)
And now before his Father God,
Pleads the full merits of his blood.
Repeated sins awake our fears,
And justice arm'd with frowns appears;
But in the Saviour's glorious face,
Sweet mercy smiles, and all is peace.
Hence, then, ye black, despairing thoughts,
Above our fears, above our faults
His pow'rful intercessions rise,
And guilt recedes, and terror dies.
In ev'ry dark distressful hour,
When sin and satan join their pow'r;
Let this sweet hope repel the dart,-
That Jesus bears us on his heart.
Great Advocate, almighty Friend,
On him our humble hopes depend!
Our cause can never, never fail,
For Jesus pleads and must prevail.
Christ the life of the soul. John xiv. 19.
WHEN sins and fears prevailing rise,
And fainting hope almost expires;
Jesus, to thee I lift my eyes,
To thee I breathe my soul's desires.
Art thou not mine, my living Lord,
And can my hope, my comfort die,
Fix'd on thine everlasting word,
That word which built the earth and sky ?
If my immortal Saviour lives,
Then my immortal life is sure;
His word a firm foundation gives,
Here let me build and rest secure.
Here let my faith unshaken dwell,
Immoveable the promise stands ;
Not all the pow'rs of earth or hell,
Can e'er dissolve the sacred bands.
Then O, my soul, thy trust repose;
If Jesus is for ever mine,
Not death itself, that last of foes
Shall break a union so divine.
JESUS, Redeemer, Saviour, Lord,
The weary sinner's Friend;
Come to my help, fulfil thy word,
And bid my struggles end.
Thy pow'rful Spirit can subdue,
The yet unconquer'd sin :
Cleanse thou this heart and make it new,
And write thy law within.
Bound down with twice ten thousand ties;
Yet let me hear thy call;
My soul in confidence shall rise,
And gladly break through all.
Speak, and the deaf shall hear thy voice;
The blind his sight receive;
The dumb in songs of praise rejoice;
The heart of stone, believe.
Thou canst o'ercome this soul of mine;
Thou canst victorious prove;
For everlasting strength is thine,
And everlasting love!
HYMN LXIX.
Sin the cause of Christ's death.
WAS it for sin, for mortal guilt,
The Saviour gave his vital blood;
For sin amazing anguish felt,
The wrath of an offended God?
When bleeding, groaning, on the tree,
He breath'd such agonizing cries,
When nature suffer'd, Lord, with thee,
And darkness cloth'd the morning skies?
And shall I harbour in my breast,
(Tremble my soul at such a deed)
This dreadful foe, this fatal guest?
'Twas sin that made my Saviour bleed.
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