780

1

HOW divine, how sweet the joy,
When but one sinner turns,

And, with an humble, broken heart,
His sins and errors mourns!

2 Pleased with the news, the saints below
In songs their tongues employ;
Beyond the skies the tidings go,
And heaven is filled with joy.

3 Well pleased, the Father sees and hears
The conscious sinner's moan;

Jesus receives him in his arms,
And claims him for his own.

4 Nor angels can their joys contain,
But kindle with new fire;

"The sinner lost is found," they sing, And strike the sounding lyre.

781

1

S. M.

Joy in the Conversion of Sinners.

WHO can forbear to sing,

SWAIN.

Who can refuse to praise,
When Zion's high, celestial King
His saving power displays? -

2 When sinners at his feet,

By mercy conquered, fall?

When grace, and truth, and justice meet,
And peace unites them all?

3 Who can forbear to praise

Our high, celestial King,

When sovereign, rich, redeeming grace
Invites our tongues to sing?

782

C. M.

The Change effected by Grace.

WATTS.

1 WHEN God revealed his gracious name

And changed my mournful state.

My rapture seemed a pleasing dream,
The grace appeared so great.

2 The world beheld the glorious change, And did thy hand confess;

My tongue broke out in unknown strains, And sung surprising grace.

3" Great is the work," my neighbors cried, And owned thy power divine; "Great is the work," my heart replied, "And be the glory thine."

4 The Lord can clear the darkest skies,
Can give us day for night,

Make drops of sacred sorrow rise
To rivers of delight.

5 Let those who sow in sadness wait
Till the fair harvest come;

They shall confess their sheaves are great, And shout the blessings home.

783

Christ our Confidence.

1 M Thou Lamb of Calvary:

Y faith looks up to thee,

Saviour divine,

Now hear me while I pray;
Take all my guilt away;
O, let me, from this day,
Be wholly thine.

2 May thy rich grace impart
Strength to my fainting heart;
My zeal inspire;

As thou hast died for me,
O, may my love to thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be—
A living fire.

3 While life's dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread,
Be thou my Guide;
Bid darkness turn to day,
Wipe sorrow's tears away,
Nor let me ever stray

From thee aside.

4 When ends life's transient dream,
When death's cold, sullen stream
Shall o'er me roll,

Blest Saviour, then, in love,
Fear and distress remove;
O, bear me safe above-
A ransomed soul.

784

1

E

TERNAL Father, God of love,
To thee our hearts we raise;
Thy all-sustaining power we prove,
And gladly sing thy praise.

2 Thine, wholly thine, O, let us be;
Our sacrifice receive;

Made, and preserved, and saved by thee,
To thee ourselves we give.

3 Come, Holy Ghost, the Saviour's love
Shed in our hearts abroad;

So shall we ever live, and move,
And be with Christ in God.

785

1

E

NTERNAL Saviour, God of love,
Abused, insulted Friend,

O, from thy lofty throne above,
Thy saving mercy send.

2 Here lies my naked, guilty heart,
Before thy piercing eye;

To me thy healing touch impart;
O, reach me, for I die.

3 All that my future life shall know
Of love, and joy, and light,

Shall burn for thee, and shine and glow
By thine effectual might.

4 Thus to thy claim my trembling soul
Her sweet submission brings,

And thus, while changing ages roll,
Shall rest beneath thy wings.

786

F

THE CHURCH.

S. M.

Gospel Order.

AR as thy name is known

WATTS.

The world declares thy praise;

Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne,
Their songs of honor raise.

2 With joy thy people stand
On Zion's chosen hill,

Proclaim the wonders of thy hand,
And counsels of thy will.

3 Let strangers walk around
The city where we dwell,

Survey with care thine holy ground,
And mark the building well, -

4 The order of thy house,

The worship of thy court,

The cheerful songs, the solemn vows,—
And make a fair report.

5 How decent, and how wise!
How glorious to behold!

Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorned with gold.

6 The God we worship now
Will guide us till we die-

Will be our God while here below,
And ours above the sky.

787

C. M.

WATTS.

Christ the Foundation of his Church.

'B which God in Zion lays,

EHOLD the sure foundation stone,

To build our heavenly hopes upon,
And his eternal praise.

2 Chosen of God, to sinners dear,
Let saints adore the name;

They trust their whole salvation here,
Nor shall they suffer shame.

3 The foolish builders, scribe and priest, Reject it with disdain;

Yet on this rock the church shall rest,
And envy rage in vain.

4 What though the gates of hell withsteod
Yet must this building rise:
'Tis thine own work, almighty God,
And wondrous in our eyes.

788

1

I

S. M.

Attachment to the Church.

DWIGHT.

LOVE thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of thine abode,

The church our blest Redeemer saved
With his own precious blood.

2 I love thy church, O God;

Her walls before thee stand,
Dear as the apple of thine eye,
And graven on thy hand.

3 For her my tears shall fall;

For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be given,
Till toils and cares shall end.

4 Beyond my highest joy

prize her heavenly ways,

sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

5 Jesus, thou Friend divine,

Our Saviour and our King,
Thy hand, from every snare and foe,
Shall great deliverance bring.

6 Sure as thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be given

The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heaven."