C. P. M.

86.

The Excellency of Christ.

1 OH! could I speak the matchless worth,Oh! could I sound the glories forth, Which in my Saviour shine;

I'd soar and touch the heavenly strings,
And vie with Gabriel while he sings,
In notes almost divine.

2 I'd sing the characters he bears, And all the forms of love he wears Exalted on his throne;

In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would, to everlasting days,
Make all his glories known.
3 Soon the delightful day will come,
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see his face;

Then, with my Saviour, brother, friend,
A blest eternity I'll spend-
Triumphant in his grace.

C. M.

87.

Christ, the living Fountain.

1 THERE is a fountain filled with blood, Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,
Lose all their guilty stains.

2 The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day;

And there may I, though vile as he,
Wash all my sins away.

3 Dear dying Lamb! thy precious blood
Shall never lose its power,

Till all the ransomed church of God
Be saved, to sin no more.

4 E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply,

Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be, till I die.

5 Then in a nobler, sweeter song,
I'll sing thy power to save,
When this poor lisping, stammering tongue
Lies silent in the grave.

88.

C. M.

Sun of Righteousness.

1 RISE, glorious Sun! supremely bright,
Diffuse thy rays abroad;

Scatter the shades of gloomy night,
And show the heavenly road.

2 With healing in thy wings, arise
On this dark soul of mine;

Oh! pour thy glories from the skies,
And give me life divine.

3 Though thorns and briers, pits and snares, Beset the path I go,

89.

One ray of thine dispels my fears,
And guides me safely through.

S. M.

Christ, suffering for our Sins.

1 LIKE sheep we went astray,
And broke the fold of God;
Each wandering in a different way,
But all the downward road.

2 How dreadful was the hour,

When God our wanderings laid,
And did at once his vengeance pour
Upon the shepherd's head!

3 How glorious was the grace,

When Christ sustained the stroke!
His life and blood the shepherd pays,
A ransom for the flock.

4 But God shall raise his head,

O'er all the sons of men,

And make him see a numerous seed
To recompense his pain.

5 "I'll give him," saith the Lord,
"A portion with the strong;
He shall possess a large reward,
And hold his honors long."

90.

L. M.

The Teaching of Jesus.

1 HOW sweetly flowed the gospel's sound From lips of gentleness and grace,

While listening thousands gathered round, And joy and reverence filled the place! 2 From heaven he came, of heaven he spoke, To heaven he led his foll'wers' way; Dark clouds of gloomy night he broke, Unveiling an immortal day.

3 Come, wanderers! to my Father's home,
Come, all ye weary ones! and rest;—
Yes, sacred Teacher! we will come
Obey, and be for ever blest.

4 Decay, then, tenements of dust!
Pillars of earthly pride! decay;
A nobler mansion waits the just,
And Jesus has prepared the way.
S. M.
Preserving Grace.

91.

1 TO God, the only-wise,

Our Saviour and our King,
Let all the saints, below the skies,
Their humble praises bring.

2 'Tis his almighty love,

His counsel and his care,
Preserves us safe from sin and death,
And every hurtful snare.
3 He will present our souls,

Unblemished and complete,
Before the glory of his face,

With joys divinely great. 4 Then all the chosen seed

Shall meet around the throne;
Shall bless the conduct of his grace,
And make his wonders known.
5 To our Redeemer-God,

Wisdom, with power, belongs;
Immortal crowns of majesty,
And everlasting songs.

L. M.

92.

Love of Christ.

1 I WAS a traitor doomed to die, Bound to endure eternal pains;

When Jesus saw me from on high,

Was moved by love, and broke my chains.

2 Did melting pity stoop so low,

The Lord from heaven pour out his blood,
To save our rebel-race from wo,
And be our advocate with God?

3 Infinite mercy! boundless love!

Stand in amaze, ye rolling skies!
The Son of God, his grace to prove,
Hangs on a tree, and groans, and dies!

S. M.

The Light of the World.

93.

1 HOW heavy is the night

That hangs upon our eyes,
Till Christ, with his reviving light,
Over our souls arise!

2 Our guilty spirits dread

To meet the wrath of heaven:
But in his righteousness arrayed,
We see our sins forgiven.

3 Unholy and impure

Are all our thoughts and ways;
His hands infected nature cure,
With sanctifying grace.

4 The powers of hell agree
To hold our souls in vain:
He sets the sons of bondage free,
And breaks the cursed chain.

5 Lord! we adore thy ways

To bring us near to God;

Thy sovereign power, thy healing grace,
And thine atoning blood.

7s.

94.

Sun of Righteousness.

1 CHRIST, whose glory fills the skies,-
Christ, the true, the only light,-
Sun of Righteousness! arise,

Triumph o'er the shades of night:
Day-spring from on high! be near,
Day-star! in my heart appear.

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn,
If thy light is hid from me;
Joyless is the day's return,

Till thy mercy's beams I see;
Till they in ward light impart,—
Peace and gladness to my heart.
3 Visit, then, this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy divine!
Scatter all my unbelief:
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

C. M.

95.

Praise to the Redeemer.

1 PLUNGED in a gulf of dark despair,
We wretched sinners lay,
Without one cheerful beam of hope,
Or spark of glimmering day.

2 With pitying eyes the Prince of grace Beheld our helpless grief;

He saw, and-Oh! amazing love!-
He ran to our relief.

3 Down from the shining seats above,
With joyful haste he fled,
Entered the grave in mortal flesh,
And dwelt among the dead.

4 Oh! for this love let rocks and hills
Their lasting silence break;
And all harmonious human tongues
The Saviour's praises speak.

5 Angels! assist our mighty joys;
Strike all your harps of gold;
But when you raise your highest notes,
His love can ne'er be told.

C. M.

96.

Pearl of great Price.

1 YE glittering toys of earth! adieu ;A nobler choice be mine;

A real prize attracts my view,—
A treasure all divine.