Whilst with a grateful heart we share
These pledges of our Saviour's care.
2 The Saviour, when to heaven he rose,
In splendid triumph o'er his foes,
Scatter'd his gifts on men below,
And wide his royal bounties flow.
3 Hence sprang th' Apostle's honour'd name,
Sacred beyond heroick fame;
Hence dictates the prophetick sage,
And hence the evangelick page.
4 In lower forms to bless our eyes,
Pastors from hence and Teachers rise;
Who, though with feebler rays they shine,
Still mark a long extended line.
5 From Christ their varied gifts derive,
And, fed by him, their graces live ;
Whilst, guarded by his potent hand,
Amidst the rage of hell they stand.
6 So shall the bright succession run,
Though all the courses of the sun;
Whilst unborn churches, by their care,
Shall rise and flourish large and fair.
7 Jesus, our Lord, their hearts shall know
The spring whence all these blessings flow;
Pastors and people shout his praise,
Through the long round of endless days.
HYMN LXXI. Common Metre.
The Excellency and Sufficiency of the Scriptures.
1 FATHER of mercies! in thy word
What endless glory shines! For ever be thy name ador'd, For these celestial lines.
2 Here may the wretched sons of want
Exhaustless riches find;
Treasures beyond what earth can grant,
And lasting as the mind.
3 Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
And yields a free repast;
Sublimer fruits than nature knows,
Invite the longing taste.
4 Here the Redeemer's welcome voice
Spreads heavenly peace around ;
And life and everlasting joys
Attend the blissful sound.
5 O may these heavenly pages be
Our study and delight;
And still new beauties may we see,
And still increasing light.
6 Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,
Be thou for ever near;
Teach us to love thy sacred word,
And view our Saviour there.
1 FATHER of mercies! send thy grace,
All powerful, from above,
To form, in our obedient souls,
The image of thy love.
2 O may our sympathizing breasts
That generous pleasure know;
Kindly to share another's joy,
And weep for others' woe.
3 Whene'er the helpless sons of want In low distress are laid,
Soft be our hearts their pains to feel,
And swift our hands to aid.
4 So Jesus look'd on wretched man,
When seated in the skies;
Amidst the glories of that world,
He felt compassion rise.
5 On wings of love the Saviour flew,
To raise us from the ground;
And shed his rich and precious blood,
A balm for every wound.
HYMN LXXIII. Long Metre. or b
Humility.
I FOLLY builds high upon the sand;
But lowly let my basis be;
Firm as a rock, my hope shall stand,
Deep founded in humility.
2 Content, when threat'ning ills obtrude, Sweet meek eyed patience arm my soul; And let a prudent fortitude
Teach me my passions to control.
3 My God, I long to know thee still,
To love and fear and trust thee more;
To live submissive to thy will,
And whilst I feel thy grace, adore.
4 My faith and love, obedient be,
O Saviour, to thy just commands !
My ardent soul still follows thee,
And trusts her interest in thy hands.
5 Let love and mercy all divine,
Justice descending from the skies,
Kindness and truth my heart incline
Still to forgive my enemies.
6 Thus may I act the christian part,
The social, humane and divine ;
Whilst a wise zeal inspires my heart,
Then shall I know that heaven is mine.
HYMN LXXIV. Common Metre. * or b
Abraham's Blessing extended to the Gentiles.
1 GENTILES by nature, we belong
To the wild olive wood;
Grace took us from the barren tree,
And grafts us on the good.
2 With the same blessings, grace endows
The Gentile as the Jew!
If pure and holy be the root,
Such are the branches too.
3 Then let the children of the saints
Be sanctified to God;
In that great covenant, confirm'd
By water and by blood.
Thus to the parents, and their seed,
Shall thy salvation come;
And numerous households meet at last
In one eternal bome.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
1 GOD, in the gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known;
And sinners of a humble frame
May taste his grace, and learn his name.
2 Wisdom its dictates here imparts,
To form our minds, to cheer our hearts;
Its influence makes the sinner live,
It bids the drooping saint revive.
Our raging passions it controls,
And comfort yields to contrite souls ;
It guides us all our journey through,
And brings a better world to view.
May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye;
To life's last hour, my soul employ,
And fit me for the heavenly joy.
Sincerity and Hypocrisy.
GOD is a Spirit, just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind;
In vain to heaven we raise our eyes,
And leave our hearts behind.
Nothing but truth before his throne
With honour can appear;
The painted hypocrites are known,
Through the disguise they wear.
3 Their lifted hands salute the skies,
Their bended knees the ground;
But God abhors the sacrifice,
Where not the heart is found.
4 Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways,
And make my soul sincere ; Then shall I stand before thy face,
And find acceptance there.
HYMN LXXVII. Long Metre. or b
1 GOD of eternity, from thee
Did infant time its being draw;
Minutes and days and months and years
Revolve by thy unvaried law.
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