ON THE SPREAD OF THE GOSPEL.
Rochdale p. 140.] HYMN 474 4 8s & 2 6s.
JESUS, thou soul of all our joys,
For whom we now lift up our voice,
And all our strength exert;
Vouchsafe the grace we humbly claim;
Compose into a thankful frame,
And tune thy people's heart.
2 While in the heavenly work we join,
Thy glory be our whole design,
THY glory, not our own:-
Still let us keep our end in view,
And still the pleasing task pursue,
To please our God alone.
3 The secret pride, the subtle sin,
O let it never more steal in,
To' offend thy glorious eyes!
To desecrate our hallow'd strain,
And make our solemn service vain,
And mar our sacrifice.
4 To magnify thy awful name,
To spread the honours of the Lamb,
Let us our voices raise;
Our souls' and bodies' powers unite,
Regardless of our own delight,
And dead to human praise.
5 Still let us on our guard be found,
And watch against the power of sound,
With sacred jealousy:
Lest, haply, sense should damp our zeal,
And music's charms bewitch and steal
Our heart away from thee.
6 That hurrying strife far off remove,
That noisy burst of selfish love,
Which sweils the formal song;
The joy from out our hearts arise,
And speak and sparkle in our eyes,
And vibrate on our tongue.
7 Thee let us praise, our common Lord,
And sweetly join with one accord
Thy goodness to proclaim:
Jesus, thyself in us reveal,
And all our faculties shall feel
Thy harmonizing name.
8 With calmly reverential joy,
O let us all our lives employ
In setting forth thy love!
And raise in death our triumph higher,
And sing, with all the heavenly choir,
That endless song above.
Delacourt-p. 27.] HYMN 475. C. M.
ONCE more we come before our God;
Once more his blessings ask:
O may not duty seem a load!
Nor worship prove a task.
2 Father, thy quick'ning Spirit send
From heaven, in Jesus' name,
To make our waiting minds attend,
And put our souls in frame.
3 May we receive the word we hear,
Each in an honest heart;
And keep the precious treasure there,
And never with it part.
4 To seek thee all our hearts dispose,
To each thy blessings suit,
And let the seed thy servant sows,
Produce abundant fruit.
Alfreton p. 60.] HYMN 476. L. M.
NATHER of all, whose powerful voice Call'd forth this universal frame! Whose mercies over all rejoice,
Through endless ages still the same;
Thou by thy word upholdest all;
Thy bounteous love to all is show'd:
Thou hear'st thy every creature's call,
And fillest every mouth with good.
2 In heaven thou reign'st enthror'd in light,
Nature's expanse before thee spread;
Earth, air, and sea, before thy sight,
And hell's deep gloom, are open laid!
Wisdom, and might, and love, are thine,
Prostrate before thy face we fall,
Confess thine attributes divine,
And hail thee sovereign Lord of all.
3 Thee, sovereign Lord, let all confess,
That move in earth, or air, or sky:
Revere thy power, thy goodness bless,
Tremble before thy piercing eye;
All ye who owe to him your birth,
In praise your every hour employ:
Jehovah reigns! be glad, O earth;
And shout, ye morning stars, for joy!
SON of thy Sire's eternal love,
Take to thyself thy mighty power;
Let all earth's sons thy mercy prove,
Let all thy wond'rous grace adore;
The triumphs of thy love display;
In every heart reign thou alone,
Till all thy foes confess thy sway,
And glory end what grace begun.
2 Spirit of grace, and health, and power,
Fountain of light and love below;
Abroad thy healing influence shower,
O'er ali the nations let it flow;
Inflanie our hearts with perfect love,
In us the work of faith fulfil;.
So not heaven's host shall swifter move,
Than we on earth to do thy will.
3 Father, 'tis thine each day to yield
Thy children's wants a fresh supply;
Thou cloth'st the lilies of the field,
And hearest the young ravens cry;
On thee we cast our care; we live
Thro' thee, who know'st our every need;
O feed us with thy grace, and give
Our souls this day the living Bread!
ETERNAL, spotless Lamb of God,
Before the world's foundation slain!
Sprinkle us ever with thy blood:
O cleanse, and keep us ever clean!
To every soul, (all praise to thee!)
Our bowels of compassion move:
And all mankind by this may see,
God is in us; for God is love.
2 Giver and Lord of life, whose power
And guardian care for all is free,
To thee, in fierce temptation's hour,
From sin and Satan let us flee;
Thine, Lord, we are, and ours thou art:
In us be all thy goodness show'd;
Rerew, enlarge, and fill our heart,
With peace, and joy, and heaven, and God.
3 Blessing and honour, praise and love, Co-equal, co-eternal Three,
In earth below, in heaven above,
By all thy works be paid to thee!
Thrice holy, thine the kingdom is,
The power omnipotent is thine:
And when created nature dies,
Thy never-ceasing glories shine.
Middletown-p. 152.] HYMN 477. 8 lines 78.
EE how great a flame aspires,
Kindled by a spark of grace!
Jesus' love the nations fires,
Sets the kingdoms on a blaze.
To bring fire on earth he came;
Kindled in some hearts it is:
O that all might catch the flame,
All partake the glorious bliss!
2 When he first the work begun,
Small and feeble was his day:
Now the word doth swiftly run,
Now it wins its wid'ning way:
More and more it spreads and grows,
Ever mighty to prevail;
Sin's strong holds it now o'erthrows,
Shakes the trembling gates of hell.
3 Sons of God, your Saviour praise!
He the door hath open'd wide;
He hath given the word of grace,
Jesus' word is glorified;
Jesus, mighty to redeem,
He alone the work hath wrought;
Worthy is the work of him,
Him who spake a world from nought,
4 Saw ye not the cloud arise,
Little as a human hand?
Now it spreads along the skies,
Hangs o'er all the thirsty land;
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