His secret bounty largely flows,
And brings unask'd relief.
5 To gentle offices of love,
His feet are never slow:
He views through mercy's melting eye
A brother in a foe.
6 To him protection shall be shown;
And mercy from above
Descend on those who thus fulfil,
The perfect law of love.
The Example of Jesus.
1 BEHOLD, where, in a mortal form,
Appears each grace divine;
The virtues, all in Jesus meet,
With mildest radiance shine.
2 To spread the rays of heav'nly light,
To give the mourner joy,
To preach glad tidings to the poor,
Was his divine employ.
5 Mid keen reproach and cruel scorn,
Patient and meek he stood;
His foes ungrateful sought his life;
He labour'd for their good.
4 To God he left his righteous cause,
And still his task pursu'd;
While humble pray'r, and holy faith,
His fainting strength renew'd.
5 In the last hour of deep distress,
Before his father's throne,
With soul resign'd, he bow'd and said,
Thy will, not mine, he done!"
6 Be Christ our pattern, and our guide!
His image may we bear!
0 may we tread his holy steps,
His joy and glory share!
Christ's Resurrection the Pledge of ours, 1 Pet. i. 3—6.
1 BLESS'D be the everlasting God,
The Father of our Lord;
Be his abounding mercy prais'd,
His majesty ador'd.
2 When from the dead he rais'd his Son,
And call'd him to the sky,
He gave our souls a lively hope
That they should never die.
3 What though his uncontroll'd decree
Command our flesh to dust;
Since Christ, our pledge and pattern, rose,
So all his foll'wers must.
4 There's an inheritance divine,
Reserv'd against that day;
'Tis incorrupted, undefil'd,
And fadeth not away.
5 We by thy pow'r, O God! are kept Till this deliverance come;
We walk by faith as strangers here,
Till thou shalt call us home.
Confidence founded in the Fear of God.
1 BLESS'D is the man who fears the Lord :
His well establish'd mind,
In ev'ry varying scene of life,
Shall true composure find.
2 Oft through the deep and stormy sea,
The heav'nly footsteps lie;
But on a glorious world beyond,
His faith can fix its eye.
3 Though dark his present prospects be,
And sorrows round him dwell,
Yet hope can whisper to his soul,
That all shall issue well.
4 Full in the presence of his God,
Through ev'ry scene he goes;
And fearing him, no other fear
His steadfast bosom knows.
5 No dangers can his soul alarm,
No gloomy views affright;
For faith assures his humble heart,
Whatever is, is right.
The Gospel Jubilee.
ye the trumpet, blow
The gladly solemn sound;
Let all the nations know,
To earth's remotest bound,
The year of Jubilee is come;
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.
2 Behold the Son of God,
Commission'd from above,
To all the human race,
The messenger of love;
The year of Jubilee is come,
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.
3 The gospel trumpet sounds;
Let all the nations hear,
And earth's remotest bounds
Before the throne appear;
The year of Jubilee is come,
Return, ye ransom'd sinners, home.
The Birth of Christ. Luke it. 14.
1 BEHOLD! the grace appears,
The blessing promis'd long;
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this triumphant song:
2 "Glory to God on high,
And heav'nly peace on earth,
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At the Redeemer's birth
3 In worship so divine,
Let saints employ their tongues ;
With the celestial host we join,
And loud repeat their songs.
4 Glory to God on high,
And heav'nly peace on earth;
Good-will to men, to angels joy,
At our Redeemer's birth!
Support in Death. Ps. xxiii.
1 BEHOLD the gloomy vale,
Which thou, my soul ! must tread,
Beset with terrors fierce and pale,
That leads thee to the dead.
2 Ye pleasing scenes, adieu !
Which I so long have known:
My friends, a long farewell to you!
For I must pass alone.
3 But see a ray of light,
With splendour all divine,
Breaks through these dreary realms of night,
And makes their horrors shine.
4 Where death, where darkness reigns,
Jehovah is my stay ;
His rod my trembling feet sustains,
His staff defends my way.
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