The Word of God the best Guide of Youth.

1

How shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.

2

When once it penetrates the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.

3

"Tis like the sun, a heavenly light,
That guides us all the day;
And, through the dangers of the night,
A lamp to lead our way.

4

Thy word is everlasting truth;
How pure its sacred page!

That holy book shall guide our youth,
And well support our age.

The Word of God the best Guide of Youth.

1

THE morn of life, how fair and gay !
How cheering and how new!

What hopes illume each opening day,
And brighten every view!

2

Youth's ardent minds, with joy elate,

Elastic and sincere,

Suspect no ills that may await,
Nor yield a thought to fear.

3

But slippery is the path they tread,
In pleasure's dangerous way;
A thousand snares around them spread,
And oft their feet betray.

4

How shall they, then, their course pursue, Through life's uncertain road?

What friendly hand will point their view To duty and to God?

5

In God's own word the way is

And clear to every eye;

It leads us in a path secure
To brighter worlds on high.

is sure,

The Word of God the Guide to Heaven.

1

BEHOLD! the morning sun

Begins his glorious way;

His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.

2

But where the gospel comes,

It spreads diviner light;

There sinners learn to know the Lord,
And guide their step saright.

3

How perfect is thy word,
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord,
And men securely trust.

Oh

4

My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given!
may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.

131. P. M.

The Book of Grace.

1

How precious, Lord, thy holy word!
What light and joy its truths afford
To souls benighted and distress'd!
Thy precepts guide our doubtful way;
Thy fear forbids our feet to stray;
Thy promise leads the heart to rest.

2

Thy threatenings wake our slumbering eyes,
And warn us where our danger lies;
While gospel truth and grace divine
Inspire the heart with filial love,
Exalt and fix our hopes above,
And make the willing spirit thine.

3

From the discoveries of thy law,
The perfect rules of life we draw ;
Be these our study and delight:
May every deed, and word, and thought,
To truth and duty's standard brought,
Become well pleasing in thy sight.

4

Oh may thy word those faults reveal, Which blind self-love may yet conceal, And from presumptuous sins restrain! Thus taught to use the book of grace, We'll raise a grateful song of praise, That we possess it not in vain.

132. L. M.

The Excellency and Success of the Gospel.

1

THE heavens declare thy glory, Lord!
In every star thy wisdom shines;
But when our eyes behold thy word,
We read thy name in fairer lines.

2

Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand;
So, when thy truth began its race,
It darted light from land to land.

3

Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,

Till through the world thy truth has run; Till Christ hath all the nations bless'd That see the light, or feel the sun.

4

Oh may his noon-day glory rise,

And bless the world with heavenly light!
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgments right.

5

Thy noblest wonders here we view,
In souls renew'd, and sins forgiven:

Lord! cleanse my sins, my soul renew, And make thy word my guide to heaven. 133. L. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel.

1

PARENT of good! thy gospel's power The reign of darkness hath o'erthrown; O wondrous grace! O glorious hour Which made the great salvation known!

2

Though we should trace the globe around,
Where'er the human foot hath trod,
There will be no religion found,
So safe to man, so just to God.

3

How well its blessed truths agree !
How wise and holy each command!
Its promises how sure they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stand!

4

In vain shall all its foes devise

To shake my faith with treacherous art;
My soul thy wisdom justifies,
And binds thy gospel to my heart.

134. L. M.

The Excellency of the Gospel.

1

GOD, who in various methods told
His mind and will to saints of old;
Sent Christ, his Son, with truth and
To teach us in the latter days.

grace,