2 I was not born for earth and sin,
Nor can I live on things so vile;
Yet I would stay my Father's time,
And hope and wait for heaven awhile.

3 Then, dearest Lord, in thine embrace
Let me resign my fleeting breath,
And, with a smile upon my face,
Pass the important hour of death.

HYMN 118. Long Metre.

The Priesthood of Christ.

1 BLOOD has a voice to pierce the skies, Revenge, the blood of Abel cries

;

But the dear stream when Christ was slain
Speaks peace as loud from every vein.

2 Pardon and peace from God on high,
Behold he lays his vengeance by,
And rebels that deserv'd his sword,
Become the favourites of the Lord.

3 To Jesus let our praises rise
Who gave his life a sacrifice;
Now he appears before his God,
And for our pardon pleads his blood.

HYMN 119. Common Metre.

The Holy Scriptures.

1 LADEN with guilt, and full of fears, I fly to thee, my Lord,

And not a glimpse of hope appears
But in thy written word.

2 The volume of my Father's grace
Does all my griefs assuage:
Here I behold my Saviour's face
Almost in every page.

3 [This is the field where hidden lies
The pearl of price unknown,
That merchant is divinely wise
Who makes the pearl his own.]

4 [Here consecrated water flows
To quench my thirst of sin;
Here the fair tree of knowledge grows,
Nor danger dwells therein.]

5 This is the judge that ends the strife,
Where wit and reason fail;
My guide to everlasting life
Through all this gloomy vale.

60 may thy counsels, mighty God,
My roving feet command;
Nor I forsake the happy road
That leads to thy right hand.

1

2

3

HYMN 120. Short Metre.

The Law and Gospel joined in Scripture.

THE Lord declares his will,
And keeps the world in awe;
Amidst the smoke on Sinai's hill
Breaks out his fiery law.

The Lord reveals his face,
And smiling from above

Sends down the gospel of his grace,
Th' epistles of his love.

These sacred words impart
Our Maker's just commands;
The pity of his melting heart,
And vengeance of his hands.

4 [Hence we awake our fear,
We draw our comfort hence;

5

6

The arms of grace are treasur'd here,
And armour of defence.

We learn Christ crucify'd,
And here behold his blood;
All arts and knowledges beside
Will do us little good.]

We read the heavenly word,
We take the offer'd grace,
Obey the statutes of the Lord,
And trust his promises.

Against a book divine;

Where wrath and lightning guard the page, Where beams of mercy shine.

1 THE law commands, and makes us know

What duties to our God we owe;

But 'tis the gospel must reveal

Where lies our strength to do his will.

2 The law discovers guilt and sin,

And shows how vile our hearts have been;
Only the gospel can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

3 What curses doth the law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears
Pardoning the guilt of numerous years.

4 My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the law,
Fly to the hope the gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

1 My

HYMN 122. Long Metre,

Retirement and Meditation.

God, permit me not to be

A stranger to myself and thee;
Amidst a thousand thoughts I rove
Forgetful of my highest love.

2 Why should my passions mix with earth,
And thus debase my heavenly birth?
Why should I cleave to things below,
And let my God, my Saviour go?

3 Call me away from flesh and sense, One sovereign word can draw me thence; I would obey the voice divine,

And all inferior joys resign.

4 Be earth with all her scenes withdrawn, Let noise and vanity be gone;

1

In secret silence of the mind

My heaven, and there, my God I find,

HYMN 123. Long Metre.

The Benefit of public Ordinances.

AWAY from every mortal care,
Away from earth our souls retreat;
We leave this worthless world afar,
And wait and worship near thy seat.