O may thy doctrine drop like rain,
And, like the silent dew, distil.
6 While we attend thy church's care,
O grant us wisdom from above;
With cautious steps, and humble prayer,
May we fulfil the works of love.

HYMN 258. Double Long Metre.

WHEN

The Star of Bethlehem,

HEN marshall'd on the nightly plain,
The glitt'ring host bestud the sky;

One star alone, of all the train,

Can fix the sinner's wand'ring eye.
Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks,
From ev'ry host, from ev'ry gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

2 Once on the raging seas I rode,

The storm was loud, the night was dark, The ocean yawn'd, and rudely blow'd

The wind, that toss'd my found'ring barque. Deep horror then my vitals froze ;

Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem; When suddenly a star arose,

It was the Star of Bethlehem.

3 It was my guide, my light, my all;
It made my dark forebodings cease;
And, through the storm and danger's thrall,
It led me to the port of peace.
Now safely moor'd, my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in night's diadem,

For ever and for evermore,
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

HYMN 259.

Hymn.

C. M.

HY presence, Lord, gives pure delight,

THY

Our sorrows takes away;

Dispels the darkness of our night,
And spreads effulgent day.

2 Like water to the thirsty soul
Are flowings of thy love,

Thy spirit sways with soft control,
And bears our thoughts above.

3 Why should we then decline from thee?
In search of folly rove?

Or strive to set our passions free
From the soft bands of love?

4 Extend around thy loving arms,
Infold us in thy breast,

Where, captives to resistless charms,
Our wavering souls may rest.

5 Raise in our breasts a quick'ning zeal,
That faith which works by love;
And to our strengthen'd eyes reveal
Our life in Christ above.

HYMN 260. L. M.

H. BALLOU.

Christ the Light and Life of the World.
EHOLD the light! now see it rise,

Whilst night and darkness flee apace,
Before the Saviour's day of grace.

2 The sun's bright beam shall now expire
In brighter rays and warmer fire;
Nature, regenerate and pure,

Shall rise to glory and endure.

3 No winter shall these climes annoy,
No chilling blasts young buds destroy;
The tree of life its fruit shall yield,
And dying man of death be heal'd.

4 Seraphic raptures swell the theme,
And joys bewilder like a dream;
Then wait, my soul, the perfect day;

Yet walk the bright, the shining way. H. BALLOU

HYMN 261. C. M.

Daily and Nightly Devotion.

BEFORE the rosy dawn of day,

To thee, my God, I'll sing;

Awake, my soft and tuneful lyre
Awake, each charming string.
2 Awake, and let thy flowing strains
Glide through the midnight air,
While high amidst the silent orbs
The silver moon rolls clear:

3 While all the glitt'ring, starry lamps
Are lighted in the sky;

And set their Maker's greatness forth
To thy admiring eye.

4 Awake, my soft and tuneful lyre,
Awake, each charming string;
Before the rosy dawn of day,

To thee, my God, I'll sing.

5 Thou, round the heav'nly arch dost draw A vast and sable veil,

Which all the beauties of the world
From mortal eyes conceal.

6 Again the sky with golden beams
Thy skilful hands adorn;

And paint, with cheerful splendour gay,
The fair ascending morn.

7 And, as the gloomy night returns,
Or smiling day renews,

Thy constant goodness still my soul
With benefit

pursues.

8 For this, I'll midnight vows to thee
With early incense bring;

And, ere the rosy dawn of day,
Thy lofty praises sing.

HYMN 262. C. M.

Thanksgiving for manifold Blessings. Ps. xviii. 46-50.
EHOVAH lives, and be his name
By ev'ry heart ador’d!

JE

From

to age age

he is the same,

The only God and Lord!

2 He is our Rock when troubles rise,
And storms and tempests low'r;
He rides triumphant in the skies,
And saves us by his power.
3 Salvation to the Lord belongs,
We give Jehovah praise;

Lift up our hearts, and holy songs
To our Deliv'rer raise.

4 He saves from danger, death and hell,
From fear, distress, and harm;
Makes ev'ry soul in safety dwell,
For mighty is his arm.

5 Great is the mercy we have found,
And great shall be our praise:

We'll spread his power and mercy round,
And songs of honour raise.

HYMN 263. C. M.

Unbounded Goodness.

MMORTAL Fountain of my life,
My last, my noblest end;

Eternal centre of my soul,

Where all its motions tend.

2 Thou object of my dearest love,
My heavenly paradise,

The spring of all my flowing joys,
My everlasting bliss.

3 My God, my hope, my vast reward,
And all I would possess ;

Still more than these pathetic names
And charming words express.

PROUD.

THE

Celebration of the Lord. is. xi.

THE joyful, happy day appears.
Jehovah dries his Zion's tears!
He comes to bless the humble race,
And show the wonders of his grace
2 Great God, my praise shall rise to thee,
Thy seeming anger's turn'd from me;
My comforts now thou wilt restore,
And weeping Zion weep no more.
3 Behold our God, the mighty God,
Who spread the num'rous worlds abroad,
Is our salvation; we rejoice,

And praise his name with cheerful voice.
4 We'll trust in him, nor be afraid,
Jehovah is our fortress made;

He is our strength, his arm is strong,
And we'll exalt him in our song.
5 Wells of salvation open stand,
And living waters bless the land;
And while we draw, with joys divine,
Our grateful praises, Lord, are thine.

HYMN 265.

PROUD.

Tens and Elevens Metre.

Adoration of God's Greatness, Mercy, &c. Ps. cxiv. 1-8.

THY

HY name we extol, Jehovah our King, Forever in thee we'll triumph and sing; From morning to ev'ning thy goodness we'll praise, And while we have being thy honour we'll raise. 2 How great is the Lord! no tongue can make known The infinite God, eternal his throne;

And great be his praises, by all be they giv'n, By men and by angels, on earth and in heav'n. 3 The works of his hand declare his vast might; His terrible acts are holy and right;

His truth and his justice are seen in his ways, And his mighty wonders demand highest praise.