3.

"Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But your griefs, for ever ending,
Find eternal noon in me:

God shall rise, and, shining o'er you,
Change to day the gloom of night;
He, the Lord, shall be your glory,
God, your everlasting light."

238. C. M.

NEEDHAM.

Prayer for the diffusion of the gospel.

1.

GREAT God of grace, arise and shine With beams of heavenly light: From this dark world of sin dispel The long and doleful night.

2.

Let no inferior being share

The honours due to thee;
May every nation know thy name,
And thy salvation see!

3.

No more may persecution dare
To lift her iron rod;

No longer shed the blood of saints,
And plead a zeal for God!

4.

With its own pure and native light,
Lord, may thy gospel shine!
May error fly like noxious mists
Before this light divine!

5.

Whilst heaven-born truth her charms reveals,

May love each breast inspire; Nor one base passion ever mix To quench this sacred fire!

239. L. M. WATTS.

The glory and success of the gospel.

1.

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.

2.

The rolling sun, the changing light,
And nights and days thy power confess;
But the blest volume thou hast writ
Reveals thy justice and thy grace.

3.

Sun, moon, and stars convey thy praise
Round the whole earth, and never stand:
So, when thy truth began its race,
It touch'd and glanced on every land.

4.

Nor shall thy spreading gospel rest,
Till through the world thy truth has run;
Till Christ has all the nations blest

That see the light or feel the sun.

5.

Great sun of righteousness, arise,

Bless the dark world with heavenly light;,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise,
Thy laws are pure, thy judgements right.

6.

Thy noblest wonders here we view
In souls renew'd and sins forgiven;
Lord, cleanse our sins, our souls renew,
And make thy word our guide to heaven.

240. P. M. JOHN TAYLOR.

The gospel triumphant.

1.

STILL in shades of midnight darkness
Abject sits the Pagan world;
There the banner of salvation

Pregnant time hath ne'er unfurl'd;
Nor their idols

From their blood-stain'd altars hurl'd.

2.

Yet the promise stands securely,
And Messiah's reign shall spread;
Not in vain his glorious conquest;
Not in vain the Saviour bled.
Chief immortal!

God's own hand hath crown'd thy head.

3.

To this blessed dispensation
Millions yet unborn shall fly;
See the rising splendour beaming
Till it gilds the western sky.
Glorious gospel!

Still thy triumphs multiply!

BOOK V.

ON THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER.

241. P. M.

WARRINGTON COLLECTION.

The God and Father of Christ to be praised.

1.

COME, all ye sons of Adam, and raise A song unto God; how lovely his praise! Adore him who reigns in his glory above, And fills the wide earth with his tokens of love.

2.

His breath is your life; your reason, a ray Effused from his light to guide all your way; He heals your diseases, your wants he supplies,

And wipes away tears from the penitent's eyes.

3.

Dash down your false gods of silver and stone, Him worship who made earth and heaven alone;

His prophet, his son, his salvation receive; Flee, flee from perdition, obey him and live.

4.

O Father of men! in mercy command
Thy gospel to shine on all human land;
That, far as the sun e'er diffuses his flame,
Thy praises may rise in Messiah's great name.

FATHER of all! where shall we find
A temple suited to thy praise?
To thee, the uncreated mind,
What earthly altar shall we raise !

2.

We'll call a multitude around,

And gladly seek the house of
prayer;
There thy salvation we have found,
And still, O God, we'll seek it there.

3.

From breast to breast the holy flame
Shall kindle round the sacred place;
At once we'll hymn our Father's name,
At once we'll seek our Father's face.

4.

There, heavenly Father, condescend
To meet us with peculiar love;

And when the hymns of earth shall end,
We'll give thee nobler hymns above.