3 What curses does the law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears,
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.
4 My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law;
Fly to the hope the gospel gives:
The man that trusts the promise, lives.
125 THE LAW AND GOSPEL JOINED IN S. M.
HE Lord declares his will,
And keeps the world in awe; Amidst the smoke on Sinai's hill, Breaks out his fiery law.
2 The Lord reveals his face,
And smiling from above
Sends down the gospel of his grace,
The epistles of his love.
3 These sacred words impart
Our Maker's just commands; The pity of his melting heart, And vengeance of his hands.
4 Hence we awake our fear,
We draw our comfort hence;
The arms of grace are treasured here,
And armour of defence.
5 We learn Christ crucified,
And here behold his blood:
All arts and knowledges beside
Will do us little good.
6 We read the heavenly word,
We take the offered grace,
Obey the statutes of the Lord,
And trust his promises.
7 In vain shall Satan rage
Against a book divine,
Where wrath and lightning guard the page,
Where beams of mercy shine.
126 EXCELLENCE OF RELIGION.
OELIGION is the chief concern
Of mortals here below,
May I its great importance learn,
Its sovereign virtue know!
2 More needful this, than glittering wealth,
Or aught the world bestows;
Nor reputation, food or health,
Can give us such repose.
3 Religion should our thoughts engage, Amidst our youthful bloom;
"Twill fit us for declining age,
And for the awful tomb.
4 O may my heart, by grace renewed,
Be my Redeemer's throne;
And be my stubborn will subdued,
His government to own.
5 Let deep repentance, faith and love,
Be joined with godly fear;
And all my conversation prove
My heart to be sincere.
127 THE GOSPEL, A SOURCE OF BLESSEDNESS. C. M.
NOT to the terrors of the Lord,
The tempest, fire and smoke;
Not to the thunder of that word,
Which God on Sinai spoke;
2 But we are come to Sion's hill,
The city of our God,
Where milder words declare his will,
And spread his love abroad.
3 Behold the innumerable host
Of angels clothed in light;
Behold the spirits of the just,
Whose faith is turned to sight.
4 Behold the blest assembly there,
Whose names are writ in heaven;
And God, the judge of all, declares
Their vilest sins forgiven.
5 The saints on earth, and all the dead,
But one communion make;
All join in Christ, their living Head,
And of his grace partake.
6 In such society as this
My weary soul would rest:
The man that dwells where Jesus is,
Must be for ever blest.
PERFECTION OF THE GOSPEL. L. M.
THIS is the word of truth and love,
Sent to the nations from above:
Jehovah here resolves to show
What his almighty grace can do.
2 This remedy did wisdom find,
To heal diseases of the mind;
This sovereign balm, whose virtues can
Restore the ruined creature, man.
3 The gospel bids the dead revive;
Sinners obey the voice and live:
Dry bones are raised and clothed afresh,
And hearts of stone are turned to flesh.
4 Where Satan reigned in shades of night,
The gospel sheds a heavenly light;
Our lusts its wondrous power controls,
And calms the rage of angry souls.
5 Lions and beasts of savage name,
Put on the nature of the Lamb;
While the wide world esteem it strange,
Gaze and admire, and hate the change.
6 May but this grace my soul renew,
Let sinners gaze, and hate me too;
The word that saves me does engage
A sure defence from all their rage.
FULNESS OF THE GOSPEL.
GOD, in the gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known;
Where love in all its glory shines,
And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
2 Here sinners, of an humble frame,
May taste his grace, and learn his name;
May read, in characters of blood,
The wisdom, power and grace of God.
3 The prisoner here may break his chains;
The weary rest from all his pains;
The captive feel his bondage cease;
The mourner find the way of peace.
4 Here faith reveals to mortal eyes
A brighter world beyond the skies:
Here shines the light which guides our way,
From earth to realms of endless day.
50 grant us grace, almighty Lord,
To read and mark thy holy word;
Its truths with meekness to receive,
And by its holy precepts live.
THE GOSPEL FEAST.
N Sion, his most holy mount,
God will a feast prepare;
And Israel's sons, and Gentile lands
Shall in the banquet share.
2 Marrow and fatness are the food,
His bounteous hand bestows:
Wine on the lees and well refined,
In rich abundance flows.
3 See, to the vilest of the vile
A free acceptance given!
See, rebels, by adopting grace,
Sit with the heirs of heaven.
4 The pained, the sick, the dying now
To ease and health restored,
With eager appetites partake
The bounties of thy board.
5 But 0 what draughts of bliss unknown,
What dainties shall be given,
When, with the myriads round the throre,
We join the feast of heaven.
6 There joys immeasurably high
Shall satisfy the soul,
And springs of life, that never dry,
In thousand channels roll.
THE GOSPEL'S JOYFUL SOUND.
NOME, dearest Lord, who reignest above,
And draw me with the cords of love,
And while the gospel does abound,
0 may I know the joyful sound!
2 Sweet are the tidings, free the grace,
It brings to our apostate race:
It spreads a heavenly light around;
O may I know the joyful sound!
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