() wondrous grace! O glorious hour Which made the great salvation known!
Though we should trace the globe around,
Where'er the human foot hath trod,
There will be no religion found,
So safe to man, so just to God.
How well its blessed truths agree!
How wise and holy each command!
Its promises how sure they be!
How firm our hope and comfort stand!
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In vain shall all its foes devise
To shake my faith with treacherous art;
My soul thy wisdom justifies,
And binds thy gospel to my heart.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
GOD, who in various methods told
His mind and will to saints of old,
Sent Christ, his Son, with truth and grace,
To teach us in the latter days.
Our nation reads the written word,
That book of life, that true record :
The bright inheritance of heaven
Is by this sure conveyance given.
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God's kindest thoughts are here express'd,
Able to make us wise and bless'd :
The doctrines are divinely true,
Fit for reproof and comfort too.
Oh render thanks to God above,
For his rich grace, his boundless love!
Let all mankind receive his word,
And every nation praise the Lord.
The Excellency of the Gospel.
GOD, in the gospel of his Son,
Makes his eternal counsels known :
'Tis here his richest mercy shines;
And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
Wisdom its dictates here imparts,
To form our minds, to cheer our hearts:
Its influence makes the sinner live;
It bids the drooping saint revive.
Our raging passions it controls,
And comfort yields to contrite souls;
It brings a better world in view,
And guides us all our journey through.
May this bless'd volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye,
Till life's last hour my soul engage;
And be my chosen heritage.
The Gospel a glorious Light.
THE gospel, like another sun,
Shines with a glorious ray; Chasing the darkness of the night, It spreads the moral day.
What blessed truths this book reveals!
What hope its pages give!
Pardon and peace the gospel brings,
And bids the sinner live.
Purer than silver most refin'd
Its holy precepts shine;
The promises most precious are;
The examples are divine.
The Father's grace, the Saviour's love,
Adorn the sacred page;
Our youth it guides, and well supports
Our most enfeebled age.
Immortal life it brings to light-
A life of perfect joy;
Pleasures refin'd which always charm,
Delights which never cloy.
Thy gospel, Lord! demands our praise;
For this thy name we bless :
Oh may our hearts, as well as tongues,
Its glorious power confess.
Praise for the Gospel of Christ.
PRAISE to thy gracious name, O Lord!
For all the blessings of thy word;
For that pure light which guides our way
From earth towards realms of endless day.
Praise for the grace by Christ reveal'd;
For hopes of pardoning mercy seal'd:
Praise for his gospel, where is given
The pledge of life, the hope of heaven.
There knowledge of the noblest kind
Expands and elevates the mind:
His heavenly doctrine, plain as true,
Instructs, reproves, and comforts too.
How brightly there thy glories shine!
Wisdom and mercy all divine;
Whate'er can fill the soul with love,
And form it for the bliss above,
Oh grant us grace, Almighty Lord,
To read and mark thy blessed word!
Its truth with meekness to receive,
And in its holy spirit live.
Divine Love displayed in the Blessings of the Gospel.
To thee, my heart, Eternal King!
Would now its thankful tribute bring;
To thee its humble homage raise,
In songs of ardent, grateful praise.
All nature shows thy boundless love,
In worlds below, and worlds above;
But in thy blessed word I trace
The richer glories of thy grace.
There what delightful truths are given;
There Jesus shows the way to heaven;
His name salutes my listening ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.
There Jesus bids our sorrows cease,
And gives the labouring conscience peace;
Raises our grateful feelings high,
And points to mansions in the sky.
For love like this, oh may my song
Through endless years thy praise prolong;
And distant climes thy name adore,
Till time and nature are no more!
BEHOLD! the grace appears,
The blessing promis'd long!
Angels announce the Saviour near,
In this inspiring song:
"Glory to God on high,
And heavenly peace on earth; Good will to men, to angels joy, At the Redeemer's birth!'
In worship so divine
Let men employ their tongues: With the celestial hosts we join, And loud repeat their songs.
Glory to God on high!
And heavenly peace on earth; Good will to men, to angels joy, At our Redeemer's birth.
Oн let your mingling voices rise
In grateful raptures to the skies,
And hail a Saviour's birth!
Let songs of joy the day proclaim,
When Jesus, gift of mercy, came
To bless the sons of earth.
He came to bid the weary rest,
To heal the sinner's wounded breast,
To bind the broken heart,
To spread the light of truth around,
And to the world's remotest bound
The heavenly gift impart.
He came our trembling souls to save, From sin, from sorrow, and the grave, And chase our fears away;
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