3 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.1 NOW may the God of power and grace 19 G PART IV. 6 8's. New Court, 173. The books of nature and of Scripture. REAT God, the heaven's well-order'd frame Declares the glories of thy name; There thy rich works of wonder shine: A thousand starry beauties there, A thousand radiant marks appear, Of boundless power and skill divine. 2 From night to day, from day to night, The dawning and the dying light Lectures of heavenly wisdom read; With silent eloquence they raise Our thoughts to our Creator's praise, And neither sound nor language need. 3 Yet their divine instructions run Far as the journeys of the sun, And every nation knows their voice: The sun, like some young bridegroom dress'd, Breaks from the chambers of the east, Rolls round, and makes the earth rejoice. 4 Where'er he spreads his beams abroad, PAUSE. 5 I love the volumes of thy word; What light and joy those leaves afford To souls benighted and distress'd! Thy precepts guide my doubtful way, Thy fear forbids my feet to stray, Thy promise leads my heart to rest. 6 From the discoveries of thy law The perfect rules of life I draw, These are my study and delight: Not honey so invites the taste, Nor gold that hath the furnace pass'd Appears so pleasing to the sight. 7 Thy threat'nings wake my slumbering eyes, And warn me where my danger lies; But 't is thy blessed gospel, Lord, That makes my guilty conscience clean, Converts my soul, subdues my sin, And gives a tree but large reward. 8 Who knows the errors of his thoughts? Attend his people's humble cry; 2 The name of Jacob's God defends 5 Some trust in horses train'd for war, Our foes shall fall and die with shame, Or quit the field with shameful flight.] 7 Now save us, Lord, from slavish fear; Now let our hopes he firm and strong, Till the salvation shall appear, And joy and triumph raise the song. 21 1 C. M. Milbourn Port, 183. THE king, O Lord, with songs of praise 2 Thy sure defence thro' nations round 3 Then let the king on God alone His mercy shall support the throne, 4 But, righteous Lord, his stubborn foes 5 When thou against them dost engage, Their hopes and them consume. 6 Thus, Lord, thy wondrous power declare And thus exalt thy fame; Whilst we glad songs of praise prepare 21 L. M. Ayliffe-street, 241. Ver. 1-9. Christ exalted to the kingdom. DAVID rejoiced in God his strength, Raised to the throne by special grace; But Christ, the Son, appears at length, Fulfils the triumph and the praise. 2 How great is the Messiah's joy In the salvation of thy hand! Lord, thou hast raised his kingdom high, And given the world to his command. 3 Thy goodness grants whate'er he will, Nor doth the least request withhold; Blessings of love prevent him still, And crowns of glory, not of gold. 4 Honour and majesty divine Around his sacred temples shine; Bless'd with the favour of thy face, And length of everlasting days. 5 Thine hand shall find out all his foes; And as a fiery oven glows With raging heat and living coals, So shall thy wrath devour their souls. 22 PART I. C. M. Crowle, 3. Ver. 1-16. The sufferings and death of Christ. 1 WHY has my God my soul forsook, Nor will a smile afford? (Thus David once, in anguish, spoke, And thus our dying Lord.) 2 Though 't is thy chief delight to dwell Among thy praising saints, Yet thou canst hear a groan as well, 3 Our fathers trusted in thy name, 4 Shaking the head, they pass me by, 5 But thou art he who form'd my flesh 6 Why will my Father hide his face, PAUSE. 7 Behold thy darling left among The cruel and the proud; As bulls of Bashan, fierce and strong, As lions roaring loud. 8 From earth and hell my sorrows meet To multiply the smart; They nail my hands, they pierce my feet, And try to vex my heart. 9 Yet if thy sovereign hand let loose 10 My God, if possible it be, 11 My heart dissolves with pangs unknown, In groans I waste my breath; Thy heavy hand hath brought me down Low as the dust of death. 12 Father, I give my spirit up, My dying flesh shall rest in hope, 22. PART II. C. M. Charmouth, 28 Ver. 20, 21, 27-31. Christ's sufferings and kingdom. 1'NOW from the roaring lion's rage, Lord, protect thy Son; Nor leave thy darling to engage 2 Thus did our suffering Saviour pray, 3 Great was the victory of his death, 4 A num'rous offspring must arise 5 The meek and humble souls shall see His table richly spread; And all that seek the Lord shall be 6 The isles shall know the righteousness Of our incarnate God: And nations yet unborn profess 4 Barbarous people! cruel priests! 5 They wound his head, his hands, his feet, 23 1 ΜΥ, Y Shepherd is the living Lord; Now shall my wants be well supHis providence and holy word [plied; Become my safety and my guide. 2 In pastures where salvation grows He makes me feed, he makes me rest; There living water gently flows, And all the food 's divinely bless'd. 3 My wandering feet his ways mistake, But he restores my soul to peace, And leads me, for his mercy's sake, In the fair paths of righteousness. 4 Though I walk through the gloomy vale, Where death and all its terrors are, My heart and hope shall never fail, For God my Shepherd's with me there. 5 Amidst the darkness and the deeps, Thou art my comfort, thou my stay; Thy staff supports my feeble steps, Thy rod directs my doubtful way. 6 The sons of earth and sons of hell Gaze at thy goodness, and repine To see my table spread so well With living bread and cheerful wine. 7 [How I rejoice when on my head Thy Spirit condescends to rest! 'T is a divine anointing, shed Like oil of gladness at a feast. 8 Surely the mercies of the Lord Attend his household all their days: Y Shepherd will supply my need, In pastures fresh he makes me feed, 2 He brings my wandering spirit back, And leads me, for his mercy's sake, 3 When I walk through the shades of Thy 24 C. M. 1 Liverpool, 83. Dwelling with God. HE earth for ever is the Lord's, With Adam's numerous race; He raised its arches o'er the floods, And built it on the seas. 2 But who, among the sons of men, May visit thine abode? He that has hands from mischief clean 3 This is the man may rise and take 4 Now let our souls, immortal powers, To meet the Lord prepare, Lift up their everlasting doors, and birds; He raised the building on the seas, 2 But there's a brighter world on high, 3 He that abhors and fears to sin, Him shall the Lord the Saviour bless, PAUSE. 5 Rejoice, ye shining worlds on high, 3 4 S. M. Clapton, 55. Ver. 12, 14, 10, 13. Divine instruction. W That fears to offend his God; That loves the gospel's joyful sound, And trembles at the rod? THERE shall the man be found The Lord shall make him know The wonders of his covenant show, Pelham, 333. Ver. 1-11. Waiting for pardon and direction. 25 PART I. S. M. My wandering feet have trod? Doth but enlarge my woe; My spirit languishes, my heart Is desolate and low. ways, And try my reins, and try my heart; My faith upon thy promise stays, Nor from thy law my feet depart. 2 I hate to walk, I hate to sit With men of vanity and lies; The scoffer and the hypocrite Are the abhorrence of mine eyes. 3 Amongst thy saints will I appear With hands well-wash'd in innocence; But when I stand before thy bar, The blood of Christ is my defence. 4 I love thy habitation, Lord, The temple where thine honours dwell; There shall I hear thine holy word, And there thy works of wonder tell. 5 Let not my soul be join'd at last With men of treachery and blood, Since I my days on earth have pass'd Among the saints, and near my God. 27 1 PART I. C. M. Arabia, 324. Ver. 1-6. The church our delight and safety. THE Lord of Glory is my light, God is my strength, nor will I fear 2 One privilege my heart desires: Among the churches of thy saints, 3 There shall I offer my requests, 4 When troubles rise, and storms appear, 5 Now shall my head be lifted high 4 My fainting flesh had died with grief, 5 Wait on the Lord, ye trembling saints, And keep your courage up: He 'll raise your spirit when it faints, And far exceed your hope. 29 Storm and thunder. 1 GIVE to the Lord, ye sons of fame, Give to the Lord renown and power; Ascribe due honours to his name, And his eternal might adore. 2 The Lord proclaims his power aloud, Over the ocean and the land; His voice divides the watery cloud, And lightnings blaze at his command. 3 He speaks, and tempest, hail, and wind Lay the wide forests bare around; The fearful hart, and frighted hind, Leap at the terror of the sound. 4 To Lebanon he turns his voice, And, lo, the stately cedars break; The mountains tremble at the noise, The valleys roar, the deserts quake. 5 The Lord sits sovereign on the flood, The Thunderer reigns for ever King; But makes his church his bless'd abode, Where we his awful glories sing. 30 PART I. 6 In gentler language there, the Lord 1 I 3 His anger but a moment stays; 30 1 2 Let not thy face be hid from me, Nor frown my soul away; God of my life, I fly to thee In a distressing day. FIRM And I presumed 'twould ne'er be night; Fondly I said within my heart, 'Pleasure and peace shall ne'er depart.' 2 But I forgot thine arm was strong, Which made my mountain stand so long; Soon as thy face began to hide, |