As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.
With steadfast zeal may I pursue
The steps of him I love,
Till glory breaks upon my view
In brighter worlds above.
The Happiness of Christians.
How welcome is their voice,
Who speak the Saviour's name;
Who bring salvation on their tongues,
And terms of peace proclaim!
How grateful is the sound!
How good the tidings are!
Which by the gospel Jesus sends
To raise his triumphs here.
3
How blessed are our ears,
That hear the joyful sound;
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found!
4
Christians, unite your tongues,
And cheerful notes employ;
Let saving love inspire your songs,
And heathens learn the joy.
The perfect Law of Liberty.
BEHOLD that wise, that perfect law,
Which noblest freedom gives;
Oh may it all our souls refine,
And sanctify our lives!
Not with a transient glance survey'd,
And in an hour forgot;
But deep inscrib'd on every heart,
To reign o'er every thought.
Great Author of each perfect gift!
Thy sovereign power display;
That our ungrateful wandering hearts
May hearken and obey.
Inspir'd by thee, our feeble souls
Shall pass victorious on;
As the faint dawning light improves
To all the blaze of noon.
The Word of God the best Guide of Youth.
How shall the young secure their hearts,
And guard their lives from sin?
Thy word the choicest rules imparts,
To keep the conscience clean.
When once it penetrates the mind,
It spreads such light abroad,
The meanest souls instruction find,
And raise their thoughts to God.
'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.
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.
THE morn of life, how fair and gay!
How cheering and how new!
What hopes illume each opening day,
And brighten every view!
Youth's ardent minds, with joy elate,
Elastic and sincere,
Suspect no ills that may await,
Nor yield a thought to fear.
But slippery is the path they tread,
In pleasure's dangerous way;
A thousand snares around them spread,
And oft their feet betray.
How shall they, then, their course pursue, Through life's uncertain road?
What friendly hand will point their view To duty and to God?
In God's own word the way is sure,
And clear to every eye;
It leads us in a path secure
To brighter worlds on high.
The Word of God the Guide to Heaven.
BEHOLD! the morning sun
Begins his glorious way;
His beams through all the nations run,
And life and light convey.
But where the gospel comes,
It spreads diviner light;
There sinners learn to know the Lord,
And guide their steps aright.
How perfect is thy word,
And all thy judgments just!
For ever sure thy promise, Lord!
And men securely trust.
My gracious God, how plain
Are thy directions given !
Oh may I never read in vain,
But find the path to heaven.
131.
The Book of Grace.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Excellency and Success of the Gospel.
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.
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.
Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ hath all the nations blest
That see the light, or feel the sun.
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.
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.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
PARENT of good! thy gospel's power
The reign of darkness hath o'erthrown;
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